In this section of the site contributing authors submit interesting articles relating
to the various services, industries and research & development efforts of Becht.
A common error, when assessing and deciding whether to proceed with a capital project is to assume that the cost estimate is more accurate than it really is. Very often, the assessor is lulled into a false sense of security by statements such as “We have firm quotes for 80% of the items on the […]
Hydroprocessing Heat Exchanger Fouling due to Di-olefin Polymerization Over the past few months, I have received several questions about heat exchanger fouling in hydrotreaters due to polymerization of di-olefins and/or other gum precursors in the feed. I have seen plenty of heat exchangers foul in my career due to this mechanism and have found a […]
Serpentine coils in Delayed Coker Heaters are challenging to clean and inspect even while utilizing today’s latest technologies. Extensive fouling on the coils interior surface often warrants cleaning intervals of two years, or less, depending on online spalling capabilities. Mechanical decoking pigs are now commonly utilized to clean fouling (aka decoking), from the heater coils […]
Becht participated in the 10th Bottom of the Barrel Technical Conference (BBTC MENA) as a bronze sponsor in January 2024 in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This event was attended by 28 speakers, 104 delegates, and a dozen exhibitors. Jean-Gaël Le Floc’h participated in a panel session on “From Residue to Valuable Resources: Advancing Bottom of […]
In 1972, John Bockris was the pioneer in introducing the concept of the “Hydrogen Economy,” envisioning a future where hydrogen serves as a sustainable substitute for fossil fuels. This groundbreaking article subsequently gave rise to the term “Green Hydrogen,” which found its way into numerous publications across various industries. Over time, the terminology surrounding hydrogen […]
Erosion is a mechanical degradation process in which the material gradually wears off due to continuous impingement of abrasive solid particles, which leads to deformation, chipping, and/or cracking of the material surface. Erosion often occurs in various engineering flow systems where fluids are transported with entrained solid particles. In regions where the flow direction changes, […]
Scott Sayles, Robert Ohmes, Pattabhi Raman Narayanan and Jessica Hofmann A comprehensive review of renewable processes and feedstocks used in the production of renewable or synthetic fuels. Below is an expert from the article recently published in Decarbonisation Technology – February 2024 issue. https://ptqmagazines.digitalrefining.com/view/528948587/52/ The method of synthetic fuel production is dependent on the ability […]
ASME B31.12, Hydrogen Piping and Pipelines was first published in 2008 to address gaps in existing piping codes with respect to needs for hydrogen infrastructure applications. The standard includes consideration of the effect of hydrogen on material properties. It has been decided to incorporate relevant hydrogen service requirements into ASME B31.3 (piping) and ASME B31.8 […]
Turnaround cost estimating is notoriously poor. Previous studies have revealed systemic under-estimation of costs and over-confidence regarding the tightness of the accuracy ranges assigned to estimates. Part of the problem is the general lack of rigor in considering how to allow for uncertainties and risks in the estimate. There are essentially four areas of uncertainty […]
One aspect of process plant maintenance turnaround preparation efficiency that is often overlooked is the role of the steering team in ensuring turnaround success. In recent years it has become clear that a well-functioning Steering Team (or Steering Committee) is a vital component in successful turnaround preparation, planning, and execution. Frequently, process plant site leadership […]