Petrochemicals

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...

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...

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...

The regulations for sulfur reduction in marine fuels are impacting the whole spectrum beginning from the production of the fuel in the refineries to the end use in Marine diesel engines. To start with, from 1/1/2010, the European Union regulations call for use of fuel with a maximum of 0.1% sulfur...

Ethylene producers have faced the challenge of feedstock contaminants for decades. However, with current industry transitions and surplus capacity, the low cost producer will have a real advantage in terms of survivability. The ability to leverage opportunities to improve the cost position on...

An ethylene decomposition occurred on the evening of May 15, 2008 during an ethylene plant turnaround. Ethylene was being supplied to downstream consumers via the pipeline through a metering station adjacent to the ethylene plant. The metering header consists of two meter runs to allow maintenance...

In recent years, the global tightening of emissions standards has created numerous challenges for the owners and operators of ethylene cracking furnaces. Achieving ultra-low NOx emission levels in ethylene cracking furnaces, where the operating temperatures routinely range between 2000°F to 2200°F...

EPA recently proposed &'Control of Emissions from New Marine Compression-Ignition Engines at or Above 30 Liters per Cylinder (published August 26, 2009)&' to reflect the emission limits recently adopted in amendments to Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of...

Many similar safety incidents occur in ethylene plants throughout the world. While these should be well known to plant operators, our paper lists these more common safety incidents along with their root causes. We then discuss several less common safety incidents that have occurred: • Heater over-...

At approximately 10:15 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2009, there was a sudden and large hydrocarbon release from a main process pipe in the Ethylene Unit at the Sunoco Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania Refinery. The release found an ignition source at an operating process furnace within 2 seconds, resulting in a...