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Concluding our coverage of the ARTC 15th Annual Meeting, GTForm takes a look at the petrochemical and operability and reliabilty streams.
The second day of the ARTC 15th Annual Meeting featured two technical streams, one focusing on the latest petrochemical technologies and the other on the latest techniques and options for improving reliability and reducing maintenance costs in refineries.
Stream A – Petrochemicals
Didier Lambert, Topnir, opened the petrochemical stream with a presentation on steam cracker optimisation through the use of an online measurement process, along with a general overview of Topnir’s offerings. He explained that the Topnir system is a turnkey system for the measurement of hydrocarbon properties in less than one minute and can operate on an offline and/or online basis. The 740,000tpa ethylene steam cracker at the Naphtachimie Total/Ineos joint venture was used as a case study for Topnir’s online analyser/pattern recognition technologies and its advanced process control/real-time optimisation systems. The former allowed much greater monitoring of potential ethylene content. Lambert also discussed how such systems can be used in the petrochemical industry to improve both furnace control and severity optimisation, potentially generating US$3–5 million in benefits a year, through greater yields, energy savings, tighter product quality and other factors, based on the results of a PetroChina case study.
Christian Dupraz, Axens, followed with a look at (R)FCC options for high propylene yield. According to Axens’ projections, an additional 4Mta of propylene production from refineries is expected to come online. He made the point that incremental fuel demand growth for all oil products is expected to be strong in the Asia-Pacific region, making product flexibility desired and that while options such as the recycling of light naphtha or a C4 cut appear attractive due to their simplicity, they are not selective for added propylene and have no impact on distillate yields, while Axens’ Flexene solution, which features a separate polynaphtha oligomerisation unit, allows an FCC to be optimised for production of either propylene, gasoline, jet fuel or diesel, creating significant flexibility.
Nicholas Kim, SK-KBR, spoke about Ole-SIV, a new paraffin/olefin separation via absorption process. After drawing attention to a CMAI forecast that predicts global butadiene use will grow at a CAGR of 3.7% from 2011 to 2015, with global capacity lagging behind (with a CAGR of 2.7% over the same period), Kim explained that Ole-SIV, does not require vacuum operation, can work in the vapour phase, is a constant pressure operation and a continuous process. It also features high olefin selectivity, and the process consists of three steps: adsorption, rinsing and deabsorption. Quoting a case study in South Korea, Kim said the process can result in a total investment saving of up to 21% (new) and 30% in the case of a revamp, while reducing energy consumption by up to 40%. He also explained that SK-KBR is in the final stages of researching and developing ethylene recovery from FCC off-gas and propylene splitting.
Stream B – Operability and reliability
Eva Andersson, Alfa Laval, began the stream with a look at the benefits of welded compact heat exchangers. She said heat recovery is currently often performed using outdated shell-and-tubes and a switch to welded compact heat exchangers can pay back in potentially less than six months, given the fact that their efficiency is up to 50% greater. Andersson also said the fouling rates are at least three times lower than with shell-and-tubes heat exchangers. In the case of a 50,000bpd refinery, replacement of shell-and-tube heat exchangers with Alfa Laval’s Compabloc solution resulted in fuel savings of US$850,000 a year, a reduction in CO2 emissions of 5,000tpa and a payback time of six months, while the time from initiation to commission was 20 months. Andersson also gave an example of a 150,000bpd refinery where the installation of Compabloc in a hydrogen production unit allowed the cooling water requirement to be reduced by 60%, and explained that spiral heat exchangers are well suited for heavy fouling applications by virtue of their self-cleaning design and allow longer service intervals and less downtime. She gave the example of the Nynäs bitumen refinery in Sweden where the replacement of shell-and-tube heat exchangers with 14 Compabloc units, resulted in a 96% reduction in associated maintenance costs.
Chanchana Payungwong, Thaioil, discussed the open-loop real-time optimisation of a Thaoil refinery’s utility system. The project was awarded at the end of 2009 and was a joint effort between Thaoil Group and Invensys. It made use of rigorous online modelling and equation-based optimisation (ROMeo). In 2011, the convergence of utility optimisation averaged 88%, and Payungwong explained that much of the benefits from optimisation have arised from minimisation of boiler fuel oil use through greater use of fuel gas, increased GTF power generation and WHR steam generation and a reduction in STG power production to maintain the steam and power balance. She finished by explaining that the next step will be a study to implement closed-loop real-time optimisation to fully capture the benefits of online optimisation.
Herman Lee, KBC, continued the theme of optimisation with a look at how plant reliability can be improved via an energy reduction and optimisation programme. He noted that typically energy efficiency programmes reduce energy costs by 15–20% and a 15% reduction typically translates into savings of US$21 million a year. Giving a case study of an Asian petrochemical plant, Lee said that while large cost savings were identified, partly from importing steam from a refinery, they were constrained by minimum turndown on the boiler and concerns over steam supply reliability from boiler shutdown, creating a need for further projects. He made the point that when considering investment aimed at overcoming energy efficiency constraints, it is important to consider how these may tie in with future plans for the site. Lee followed up with a look at an energy study performed for an Asian refinery, which resulted in a substantial drop in steam demand and increased operating flexibility. In addition, it changed the steam generation system from one that was unsafe when one main utility generator was offline to one that was unsafe only when two were offline.Concluding our coverage of the ARTC 15th Annual Meeting, GTForm takes a look at the... more
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The CIA is not now nor has ever been a central intel agency. It is the covert action arm of foreign policy. It overthrows or supports foreign Gvts while reporting "intelligence" justifying those activities. It Shapes its intelligence, even in such critical areas as Soviet nuclear Weapon capability, to support policy. Disinformation is a large part Of its covert action responsibility, and the American people are The primary target audience of its lies. ...... Mar 26, 1996 - Reuters news reports yesterday state that unrest in the Jabal Akhdar mountains of Eastern Libya is caused by armed rebels who may have joined escaped prisoners in an uprising against the government. This is an operation to overthrow Gaddafi led by Col. Khalifa Haftar, of a contra-style group based in the United States called the Libyan National Army. The army is the military wing of the Salvation Front for the Liberation of Libya. It is obvious that the CIA is behind this group and indicates a new "awakening" for the CIA now that it has been cleared and re-energized by all the various official exonerations; and led by the new Director Deutch who pushes for more covert operations. With "Mr. Intervention," Richard Haass of the Council on Foreign Relations advising the government on intervening via mililtary and covert operations toward China and probably also Libya and the rest of the world, we can expect a number of additional "successful" CIA covert operations similar to that of Vietnam, Central America and Afghanistan.......... read all Secret CIA BASE files http://www.makeahistory.com/index.php/recent-news/43035-cia-libya-links-The CIA is not now nor has ever been a central intel agency. It is the covert action... more
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At 10 AM ET today, the hacker group Anonymous shut down the website for Orlando Florida Guide as a show of support for the homeless activist group Food Not Bombs, as members have recently been arrested for violating an Orlando ordinance that requires a permit to share food in public places. In fact, FNB’s global president Keith McHenry was arrested in Orlando as he was protesting the city’s law and the recent arrests. http://www.makeahistory.com/index.php/free-stuff/42981-anonymous-were-going-to-disney-worldAt 10 AM ET today, the hacker group Anonymous shut down the website for Orlando... more
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In Cleveland, in the summer of 1975, all the bands were breaking up. The creative land rush of the years 1972-74 was played out. A generational window was passing over a mini sub-culture naively dedicated to the odd proposition that Rock Music was a serious art form. David Thomas had a group called Rocket From The Tombs. When it fell apart in the summer of 1975 he decided to record an artifact. This artifact, he hoped, would gain him entry into the Brotherhood of the Unknown that was gathering in used record bins everywhere. He thought Pere Ubu was a good name http://www.makeahistory.com/index.php/album-rewievs/42947-story-of-pere-ubu-10-albumsIn Cleveland, in the summer of 1975, all the bands were breaking up. The creative land... more
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An interesting peace walk held by a recent new organization for the people by the people with an interesting mix of people working for the betterment of Pakistan.
http://ozairrao.comAn interesting peace walk held by a recent new organization for the people by the... more
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Eta statement further goes on saying that Eta assures that it will stick to its commitment to a democratic solution through dialogue so that they (Basques) can decide their future according to their free will.
http://www.buzztab.com/world/eta-ceasefires-does-spanish-government/Eta statement further goes on saying that Eta assures that it will stick to its... more
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For a small country New Zealand has long been pumping out some impressive music. Way back in the 1960s it was crazed long-haired punkers messed up on all sorts of stuff - musical (the Pretty Things, Love, the 13th Floor Elevators, the Troggs and who-knows-what-else) and I guess otherwise. http://www.makeahistory.com/index.php/album-rewievs/2462-new-zealand-psychedelicFor a small country New Zealand has long been pumping out some impressive music. Way... more
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Here's a link to the official Elephant Six Townhall forum:
http://www.e6townhall.com/
E6 Townhall is an online community/forum dedicated to all things Elephant Six (obviously). Updates from the band members themselves on their current projects and things to come.Here's a link to the official Elephant Six Townhall forum:... more
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Regular concepts of progression, time and melody are set aside in favour of textural and timbrel sonic manipulation, completely in the moment. This album contains five improvised pieces of music recorded at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, in August 2009. http://www.makeahistory.com/index.php/free-improvised/411-fractureRegular concepts of progression, time and melody are set aside in favour of textural... more
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From The Cortinas to Lunatic Fringe and Disorder, Bristol had a huge Punk scene that has influenced, affected and stimulated a vast range of artists that operate in the city. Many of these artists produce music that wouldn’t necessarily suggest a Punk heritage but scratch beneath the surface of a lot of the major players in the Bristol milieu and you will find a fondness for the times of `spikey barnets’, limited musical ability, a `F*** You’ attitude and disrespect for the music industry and its poseur hierarchy. http://www.makeahistory.com/index.php/album-rewievs/398-dirty-hc-punkFrom The Cortinas to Lunatic Fringe and Disorder, Bristol had a huge Punk scene that... more
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There are one billion squatters globally, that is, about one in every six people on the planet. Yet, squatting is largely absent from policy and academic debate and is rarely conceptualized, as a problem, as a symptom, or as a social or housing movement. In many countries, squatting is in itself a crime; in others, it is only seen as a civil conflict between the owner and the occupants. "Squatters are usually portrayed as worthless scroungers hell-bent on disrupting society." Property law and the state have traditionally favored the property owner. However, in many cases where squatters had de facto ownership, laws have been changed to legitimize their status. http://www.makeahistory.com/index.php/recent-news/317-squatting-how-to-squat-in-abandoned-propertyThere are one billion squatters globally, that is, about one in every six people on... more
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"It's sort of like the old days of PiL, when the [Sex] Pistols went kaput," Lydon told Billboard. "We've got no backing – no recording company, no sponsors, nothing like that ... The only way we can make money is the touring, and then we can make a new album." . John Lydon and Public Image Ltd. performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live, in preparation for their North American tour and how odd that that their performance falls the day before former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren died. http://www.makeahistory.com/index.php/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&Itemid=41&id=59%3Apublic-image-ltd"It's sort of like the old days of PiL, when the [Sex] Pistols went... more
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