 |
 |
Focus On |
 |
| Petroleum Refining & Petrochemicals |
|
5/10/2018 |
|
engineering how-to
Inspecting Fractionation Towers
By Juan Manuel Sanchez, Álvaro Valverde, Carlos Di Marco and Eduardo Carosio, YPF S.A.
Distillation columns are often workhorses in the chemical process industries (CPI), and at times, it is necessary to physically inspect the interior of a column. This article demonstrates what an inspection can reveal, by sharing the experience of actual fractionation-tower inspections in a petroleum refinery. The points mentioned are intended to provide guidance to future tower inspectors, so that they can focus on extremely important and relevant points that will directly impact the operation of distillation columns. Typically, inspections are carried out by a number of different departments, each one focused on its particular area of concern. Column components are usually inspected by the equipment inspection department. The production department, besides checking if it is necessary to replace or repair internals, inspects if the tower is clean or if it has accumulated large quantities of coke, salt or corrosion products during operation. Cleaning, repairs and mountings are the responsibility of the maintenance department. A critical inspection is a tedious and often dirty task. It is necessary to remain inside the tower for hours. A job well-done, however, can identify potential problems and will save headaches when the tower is back in operation. »
|
 |
| Sponsored Content |
|
Liquid and Gas Pumps with Explosion-proof Motors
Trust KNF for proven liquid and gas diaphragm pumps with explosion-proof motors for use in safety-critical applications. These durable pumps are suited for NEC/CEC Class 1, Division 1, Groups C & D. IEC EX, ATEX, and other protection levels are available. UL/CSA approved. Liquid flowrates to 6 L/min at pressures to 88 psi. Gas flowrates to 300 L/min, pressures to 176 psi, vacuum to 29.86 in. Hg. KNF pumps are contamination and maintenance-free; liquid pumps are self-priming and can run dry without damage. Choose from a broad range of pump-head and diaphragm materials. Custom configurations for any quantity encouraged.
|
|
|
Distillation: How to Specify & Install Cartridge Trays
By Ruth R. Sands, DuPont Engineering Research & Technology
Cartridge trays consist of eight to ten trays preassembled in a bundle. The trays themselves can be of any type: sieve, valve, bubble cap or other. The tray decks are connected together by at least five tie-rods that run the length of the bundle. Spacer rods are inserted over the tie-rods to ensure the correct tray spacing. The bundle is bolted at the ends to make a complete unit, which is inserted into the column through a body flange. The bundles are bolted together as they are installed, so that all the trays in a section of column are connected together. Cartridge trays can be the perfect hardware solution for distillation columns that are less than 3 feet (0.9m) in diameter and have a unique need for trays. Packing is usually the preferred choice for small-diameter columns, but there are several circumstances in which trays are advantageous. Examples include fouling systems, certain foaming systems, high-pressure applications and systems that require high efficiency and a large turndown. All of these can be accommodated with various tray designs installed as cartridge units. Furthermore, cartridge trays can be installed much faster than traditional ring-supported trays. On the other hand, cartridge trays are less simple than traditional trays, and the key to success with them lies in understanding how cartridge trays are configured, specified and installed. »
|
 |
| Sponsored Content |
|
DeltaV™ v14 brings seamless integration to IIoT enabled devices with native OPC UA on its PK Controller, Application Stations and EIOC card. It’s never been easier to connect, access, and make decisions faster and more efficiently.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| |
Facts at Your Fingertips
| Distillation Tray Design |
| In a distillation column tray, vapor passes upward through liquid that is flowing across a horizontal perforated plate. Vapor passing through the perforated plate forms a two-phase mixture with the liquid and enables mass transfer contacting. This mixture is typically quite turbulent. Tray design must allow the turbulent liquid to fall away from the rising vapor. |
|
 |
|
|
what's new
May's Technology Profile describes a typical chlorohydrin process for propylene oxide production from propylene and chlorine.
Learn about recently published books on a variety of chemical engineering topics
NEW WEBINARS
This webinar will cover various aspects related to rupture discs, including discussion of different materials of construction, common installation errors and ensuring rupture disc accuracy.
This webinar will cover some advanced modeling methods for porous structures that can help to optimize filtration in diverse market sectors. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
from our bookstore
| DISTILLATION: Optimizing Outcomes Through Better Design and Operation |
| Distillation is one of the most fundamental unit operations used in chemical process plants. Efforts to properly design, specify and operate distillation columns are critical to optimal operation, as are the latest strategies for maintaining, troubleshooting and revamping them when necessary. And modern revamps typically include efforts to troubleshoot and upgrade ancillary equipment, such as reboilers, condensers, pumps, valves, heat exchangers and instrumentation. The engineering articles contained in this Chemical Engineering Guidebook share proven strategies and best practices aimed as improving distillation. Several articles focus on the use of process simulation to help engineers evaluate and improve the performance of proposed and existing distillation columns. |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
© 2018 Access Intelligence, LLC. All rights reserved.
|
