Feedback on my last blog “Can Feed Sulfur be Both Good and Bad,” led to our new topic on catalyst pinning. This is a great topic suggested by a LinkedIn connection. With that, I went to the Internet and searched for articles published on “Catalyst Pinning”. I found several, but they were all scholarly articles that […]
This blog provides some historical context to my previous blog, Metal Catalyzed Coking and feed Sulfur (S) requirements. Moreover, I will also address the flip-side of too little feed S and discuss the impact of too much and its effect on catalyst performance. I’ll also cover how catalyst Surface Area (SA) impacts the recovery from […]
A look back on my career and customers that faced significant MCC formation/damage and insight into how to avoid the same fate. Metal Catalyzed Coking is a term that is known by most within the Catalytic Naphtha Reforming community. Particularly those that run in Aromatics Mode, but also those that run in Motor Fuels. MCC is unique […]
A topic that frequently comes up in consultation is how to posture a hydrotreater or hydrocracker when a short, temporary shutdown is needed (with no catalyst change). These short outages can last from a few hours to a few weeks and sometimes, rarely, a few months. Often, the biggest choice in how to posture a […]
A quantitative method for selecting emergency actions could prevent hydrocracker reactor temperature excursion and runaway while avoiding flaring. Recently published article in PTQ Q3 2023 Issue (digitalrefining.com). An excerpt from the article is below… Refiners use multiple emergency actions to react to a reactor temperature excursion or reactor runaway in a hydrocracking unit. Automatic depressuring […]
I had multiple requests to discuss how to evaluate purchased feedstocks for hydroprocessing units. As always, I’ll present some ideas and welcome further comments and thoughts. Jack be nimble, Jack be quick! In my background, the question of whether to purchase a feedstock for a hydroprocessing unit comes up with very little notice and sometimes […]
This is the third of 3 articles discussing relief issues for Hydroprocessing Units. Last month we discussed Separator Blow-through. As discussed, the five main lessons from that article are: Relief valves on low-pressure separators must be designed for vapor blow-through The design vapor blow-through rate must consider all potentially open level-control valves and bypass valves […]
Article appears in the March/April 2023 issue of Inspectioneering Journal Introduction Fluid catalytic cracking units (FCCUs) have been fundamental to refinery operations and economics for many decades, with the very oldest operating units achieving 70 years of service. With no new refineries on the horizon for the United States and operating demands changing, maintaining these […]
This is the 2nd of 3 articles discussing relief issues for Hydroprocessing units. Last month, we discussed backflow prevention (CLICK HERE for 1st article). As a reminder, the three main lessons from that article are: Backflow protection must be provided on low-pressure to high-pressure interfaces including feed streams, wash water streams, and lean amine streams […]
Over the next few months I will cover relief issues for Hydrotreaters and Hydrocrackers. This topic will be the subject of an AFPM Safety Bulletin to be released in 2Q, 2023. Relief design and operation for hydroprocessing units has unique requirements compared to other refinery units because of the high-pressure-to-low-pressure interfaces. The trick is to […]
