Conference Presentations - 2010 AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety

War Strategies to Guarantee Peace Time in a Primary Fractionator

Mar 24, 2010
Emerentino B. Quadro
Braskem is a Brazilian petrochemicals manufacturer, producing monomers, resins and chemicals specialties. Its ethylene capacity is 2,500 Kty, distributed in four Olefins plants, all based on naphtha steam cracking. This paper reports a high rate of fouling in the Primary Fractionator, resulting in...

“Compression System Check Valve Failure Hazards”

Mar 24, 2010
Craig R. Thompson, Ralph King
Catastrophic equipment failure due to overpressure can potentially occur in the event of compression system discharge, interstage, and/or suction check valve failure, coincident with compressor shutdown. Depending on system design and application, overpressure values approaching or exceeding 300%...

The Effect of Turbulence on the Evaporation of LNG Spills on Water

Mar 24, 2010
An important element of the overall risk of near-shore and offshore LNG operations is the behavior of spills on water: how the spill first interacts with the water at the point of entry, how the liquid pool first forms and spreads and how the emanating vapors disperse. Several models exist for...

Silencing Deethanizer Reboiler Condensate Drum Hydraulic Hammer

Mar 24, 2010
Henry Z. Kister
A deethanizer reboiler condensate drum experienced hydraulic hammering when the reboiler operated at lower steam loads and when the column loads were reduced quickly. The condensate drum level indicator was unreliable and insensitive to the variations in level control valve opening. Condensate drum...

Fouling Mitigation of Quench Tower System

Mar 24, 2010
Holger Schmigalle
Gas cracking plants are especially sensitive to fouling in the quench water section. One main fouling mechanism in the quench tower and in the related equipment is the accumulation of material with a high pour point. Fouling can be avoided or at least significantly reduced if the pour point of the...

Impacts to the Ethylene Supply Chain from a Hurricane Disruption

Mar 24, 2010
Amy Sun
Analysis of chemical supply chains is an inherently complex task, given the dependence of these supply chains on multiple infrastructure systems (e.g., the petroleum sector, transportation, etc.). This effort requires data and information at various levels of resolution, ranging from network-level...

Designing for an LNG Loading Arm Failure

Mar 24, 2010
Dennis Taylor
Over the last few decades, LNG has vaulted onto the world stage as a viable candidate for future energy needs. Scores of studies have been done to illustrate the potential consequences of an accidental release of LNG. Some excellent studies have been reported, but uncertainties still exist because...

Technologies for Enhancing Refinery Gas Value

Mar 23, 2010
The trend of processing heavy and sour crude is resulting in 'fuel long' refineries which seek to export energy in the form of refinery fuel gas or are looking for other ways to extract value from the fuel gas system. There are common solutions that either are applicable to a few selected high-...

CFD Simulation of Vapor Dispersion from LNG Jetting and Flashing Releases

Mar 23, 2010
Filippo Gavelli
The analysis of LNG hazards, particularly in the context of onshore facility siting, has historically focused on the consequences of atmospheric pressure releases, such as would occur in the event of a storage tank breach. Recently, however, the issue of flammable vapor clouds formed by high-...

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