Refinery Operations

Engineering Solutions, Maintenance, Reliability, Automation and Equipment Relevant to Refinery Processing and Operations
May 03, 2010 Volume:1 Issue :1

FEATURE: Distillate Pool Maximization by Additional LCO Hydroprocessing

Processing increasing volumes of LCO through diesel hydrotreaters requires the ability to improve cetane uplift and ASTM color specifications involving catalyst systems capable of saturating PNAs. Several options are considered for upgrading LCO, taking into account feed endpoints, reactor severity and temperature, hydrogen partial pressures and LHSV
Brian Watkins, David Krenzke and Chuck Olsen, Advanced Refining Technologies

CC light cycle oil (LCO) has long been a common component of feed to diesel hydrotreaters and more recently, there has been greater interest in processing higher quantities of LCO due to economic considerations and to meet market demand for ULSD products. Increasing the quantity of LCO to the diesel hydrotreater impacts hydrotreater performance and resulting ULSD product properties. Additional LCO has the combined effect of lowering diesel pool cetane as well as limiting end of run (EOR) by making it difficult to maintain diesel ASTM color specifications. The extent of LCOs impact depends upon a number of factors including the amount and endpoint of LCO in the feed, and the catalyst used in the ULSD unit. These challenges can be overcome with the proper choice of a catalyst system and an understanding of the impact LCO has on both unit performance and ULSD product quality. It is generally accepted that the LCO addition to the feedstock increases feed severity and requires higher reactor temperature (relative to straight run [SR] feeds) in order to meet product sulfur targets (e.g., less than 10 ppm). When comparing pilot plant data demonstrating the effect on reactor temperature (increase) with feed LCO ranging from 0 to 75%, It is clear that even low levels of LCO can impact catalyst activity. For example, at high severity (<50ppm sulfur), about 45 F higher temperature is required for 15% LCO, and this increases to 65 F higher temperature for 30% LCO relative to the straight run

feed. The required activity debit reaches 100 F for the feed containing 50% LCO. In addition to the amount of LCO, the endpoint also has a significant influence on feed reactivity. Pilot testing has shown that increasing LCO endpoint by 30F (by D2887) can require nearly 30F higher temperature for ULSD sulfur levels.1 Units processing significant amounts of LCO also need special attention in order to meet product cetane requirements. LCOs have very high concentrations of naphthalene- type aromatic species, which have very low cetane numbers, causing LCO to have relatively low cetane, which will be

discussed further. The increased processing of LCO will also have an impact on the product total and polynuclear aromatic (PNA) concentration, which is very dependent on the catalyst system in place. Figure 1 shows how increasing LCO concentration in the feedstock can affect
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in this issue
Feature
Distillate Pool Maximization by Additional LCO Hydroprocessing, B. Watkins, D. Krenzke and C. Olsen, Advanced Refining Technologies

unit automation

DCS Systems in Catalytic Conversion Units Improve Efficiency

editorial Comment

Company proFile

Uncovering the Hidden Costs of Delaying Turnarounds

A Box 4 U Meets Demand for Blast Resistant Modules

reFining teChnology

reFinery parlanCe
What is Meant by Blowdown?

Processing Coker Naphtha in Distillate Hydrotreaters Butadiene Polymerization Refractory Requirements Increasing
Copyright 2010. Refinery Operations

Calendar oF events ContaCt us

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the product total aromatic content. The base SR feedstock used in this case has 1.1 wt% sulfur, 27.2 vol% total aromatics and 9.5 vol% PNAs. The LCO that was blended into this feed contained 2.01 wt% sulfur, 538 ppm nitrogen and 67 vol% total aromatics and 51.3 vol% PNAs. In this case ARTs high activity NDXi catalyst was used in an effort to provide maximum aromatic conversion. As the figure shows, there is a limit to the amount of aromatic saturation that can be achieved. PNA ring opening efficiency The PNA content of the products can also be a concern, due to a much higher starting concentration and the thermodynamic equilibrium constraint on conversion as the hydrotreater reaches the end-of-run (EOR). With the use of a selective ring opening (SRO) catalyst ART is able to improve the hydrotreaters ability to meet product total aromatic and PNA targets. The aromatic/PNA laden feedstocks previously discussed were also tested using a system containing NDXi and a layer of SRO catalyst at the bottom of the hydrotreater. The catalyst system provided the same HDS and HDN activity, and showed the ability to process additional LCO while achieving higher aromatic saturation conversion compared to the hydrotreating catalyst alone. Figure 2 shows the product total volume percent (vol%) aromatics with four feedstocks ranging from 0 to 75% LCO content. The use of a ring opening catalyst provides an additional decrease in total aromatic content, especially with the 50% and 75% LCO feedstocks. This benefit is also apparent at the higher temperatures with reduced product PNA concentrations relative to the hydrotreating catalyst alone as shown in Figure 3. Looking at just the 75% LCO feedstock and comparing the two catalyst systems, the benefit is more obvious as shown in Figure 4 for both total aromatics and PNA concentrations. The new SmART Catalyst System series with SRO catalyst capability is very effective for reducing aromatic rings, which translates to improved cetane and color performance. The aromatic reduction performance of both systems is shown in Figure 5 (page 3), which compares the two systems at 10 ppm sulfur. Aromatics and Cetane Paraffins, particularly normal paraffins, have very high cetane numbers (e.g., n-Hexadecane with cetane number: 100), while aromatics, especially naphthalene type aromatics, have very low cetane numbers (e.g., 1-Methylnaphthalene with cetane number: 0). Certain distillate range materials like FCC LCO are high in naphthalenes, which explains the low cetane number of LCO feedstocks. A survey of commercial operating units shows there are a number of operating parameters influencing cetane improvement in a diesel hydrotreater, most notably hydrogen partial pressure, liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) and feed API gravity (i.e. amount of LCO). Generally speaking, as LHSV decreases the potential cetane improvement increases. Commercial ULSD experience has shown that for LHSVs around 1 hr-1 or less, cetane increases (as measured by cetane index, ASTM D-976) of about 10 numbers are achievable provided the H2 pressure is high enough when processing LCO blends. At higher LHSVs (greater than
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about 1.7 hr-1) the potential cetane improvement decreases to about four (4) numbers or less. Not surprisingly, higher pressure units tend to achieve much larger cetane increases. It has been observed that the cetane uplift is typically less than six (6) numbers when unit pressure is less than 1000 Psig while the cetane uplift increases to 8-10 numbers as pressure increases beyond 1000 Psig.2 It is generally understood in the industry that FCC LCOs have the lowest cetane while SR materials have the highest cetane. Distillate feeds derived from coking operations tend to have a cetane similar to SR material, while kerosene tends to have somewhat lower cetane, owing to the lower boiling point. For the diesel range materials, the feeds with lower API gravity (LCO) have lower cetane index, demonstrating that within a given boiling range the API is a reasonable tool for estimating the cetane index. Figure 6 is a summary of commercial data from a ULSD unit using a SmART System, which operates at about 1300 Psig and slightly under 1 LHSV. The feed blend varies from 100% cracked stocks to 100% SR material. As the figure shows, the feed API gravity has a major effect on the cetane upgrade. At low feed API gravities (high LCO levels) the cetane index increase achieved in this unit is around nine (9) numbers compared to six (6) numbers or less for low (or no) LCO included in the feed (higher feed API gravities). Efficient Hydrogen Consumption As might be expected, there is an increased cost in hydrogen to achieving high cetane increases from feeds containing high proportions of LCO. Figure 7 shows how the H2 consumption increases with increasing cetane uplift from the same commercial ULSD unit. For cetane number increases of 5-8 numbers the H2 consumption is consistent with the rule of thumb that H2 consumption equals roughly (100 * cetane). Notice, however, that getting increases beyond the eight (8) numbers in this case come at a very large increase in H2 consumption; at 9-9.5 numbers of cetane improvement the H2 consumption is over 1200 SCFB, a 30% increase in H2 consumption per incremental cetane number. This suggests there is a practical limit to the cetane improvement achievable for a given set of feed, operating conditions and catalyst system. In this example it looks to be about eight (8) numbers. The majority of this increase in traditional cetane upgrading is due to the saturation of PNA compounds with some moderate amount of mono aromatic saturation. As previously inferred, PNA saturation can result in reasonable cetane improvement. As previously mentioned, the catalyst system has a significant impact on the degree of cetane uplift achievable in a hydrotreater. It is common knowledge that NiMo catalysts have a higher saturation activity than CoMo catalysts, and

therefore the NiMo catalyst is expected to deliver greater cetane uplift. This is demonstrated by the pilot plant data summarized in Figure 8 (page 4). These data were generated using a 50% LCO containing feed, and show that the NiMo catalyst results in almost twice the cetane uplift compared to
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the CoMo catalyst. The SmART System, which utilizes both the CoMo and NiMo catalyst, results in a cetane uplift which is nearly two (2) numbers higher than the all CoMo system with only a small increase in hydrogen consumption. For H2 constrained refiners, this is an ideal solution for improving the product cetane. Cetane and Color improvement Both cetane and color improvement are related to aromatic ring removal. Saturating aromatic rings is an effective way to improve cetane, but there is a practical limit to the amount of cetane uplift that can be achieved as was previously shown in Figure 2. Furthermore, the reaction may become thermodynamically limited near EOR, resulting in a lower level of cetane uplift and possible color problems. A better approach is aromatic saturation followed by selective ring opening. The resulting paraffinic product has a higher cetane than the corresponding saturated ring and avoids the issue of thermodynamic control at EOR. ART is developing a SRO catalyst for use in high pressure hydrotreaters, which target cetane improvement. The following figures show the results of this new system compared to a high activity NiMo catalyst, NDXi. Pilot testing was carried out using a diesel feed containing 25% LCO at 1.0 LHSV, 1240 psi H2 pressure, and 3000 SCFB H2/Oil. The WABT for both catalyst systems was the same and resulted in 8-10 ppm sulfur product. Figure 9 shows the cetane index improvement for each system. Commercial ULSD experience has shown that units processing feeds containing high fractions of LCO and other cracked stocks, or units with insufficient hydrogen, can experience decreasing cetane uplift as the catalyst ages. The use of an SRO catalyst system will help to mitigate this effect and improve EOR cetane and product color. Certainly, one of the key considerations with the greater cetane improvement is efficient hydrogen use. The commercial data previously discussed in Figure 2 show that at cetane uplifts greater than eight (8) numbers, the H2 requirement for incremental cetane improvement increases significantly. Figure 10 gives the H2 consumption per unit cetane number increase for NDXi and the NDXi/SRO system. Even though the NDXi/SRO system gives a cetane improvement greater than 11 numbers, the H2 usage is more efficient than with typical hydrotreating. Table 1 compares the ULSD products from the two systems at less than 10 ppm sulfur. The data show that the system containing the SRO catalyst not only saturates more PNA rings, but also opens some of the rings resulting in higher cetane improvement. This is evidenced by the lower total aromatic concentration (and higher saturates) for the SRO system compared to the hydrotreating system. As has been mentioned, another product quality issue encountered when processing LCO - containing feeds is the

diesel product color, especially as the catalyst nears EOR. It is generally accepted that the species responsible for color formation in distillates are PNA molecules. Some of these PNAs are green/blue and fluorescent in color, which is apparent even at very low concentrations. Certain nitrogen (and other polar) compounds have also been implicated as problems for distillate product color and product instability. Work conducted by Ma et al. concluded that the specific species
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responsible for color degradation in diesel are anthracene, fluoranthene and their alkylated derivatives.3 Other work completed by Takatsuka et al showed that the color bodies responsible for diesel product color degradation were concentrated in the higher boiling points in the diesel (>480F) suggesting that color can be improved by adjusting the diesel endpoint. 4 PNAs such as these are readily saturated to one- and two-ringed aromatics under typical diesel hydrotreating conditions at start of run (SOR), but as reactor temperature increases towards EOR, an equilibrium constraint is reached whereby the reverse dehydrogenation reaction becomes more and more favorable. At some combination of low hydrogen partial pressure and high temperature, PNAs actually begin to form (or reform) resulting in a degradation of the diesel product color. Figure 11 summarizes data from a commercial ULSD unit using ART catalysts. The data show that the product color exceeded 2.5 ASTM, the pipeline color specification for diesel, at reactor outlet temperatures above 730F. The feed to this unit contained 30-50% LCO and it was operated at 1.0 LHSV and 850 Psig inlet pressure. Figure 12 summarizes some pilot plant data, which were generated as part of a larger color study using spent CDXi, a premium CoMo catalyst for ULSD.5 The figure shows a comparison of the diesel product color achieved from a SR feed and a 30% LCO blend at 2100 SCFB H2/Oil ratio and two pressures. The SR feed results in acceptable color over the wide range of temperatures and for both pressures shown. The product from the LCO blend, on the other hand, goes off color (>2.5 ASTM) between 730-740F at 800 Psig while at 1200 Psig the temperature can exceed 760F before going off color. This clearly demonstrates the significant impact that H2 partial pressure has on diesel product color when processing LCO-containing feeds. Figure 13 compares the product color achieved from NDXi and the NDXi/SRO system from the previously discussed pilot study. The SmART system using the SRO catalyst gives a 0.5 number ASTM color benefit over the NiMo only system. This improvement in product color allows refiners the option to run additional LCO or to add life at EOR
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before the products no longer meet the ASTM color specifications. n Literature cited 1. B. Watkins and C.Olsen, 2009 NPRA Annual Meeting, paper AM09-78 2. G.Rosinski and C.Olsen, Catalagram 106, Fall 2009 3. X. Ma et. al., Energy and Fuels, 10, pp 91-96 (1996) 4. T.Takatsuka et.al., 1991 NPRA Annual Meeting, Paper AM-91-39 5. G.Rosinski, B.Watkins and C.Olsen, Catalagrm 105, Spring 2009

The Authors Brian Watkins is Technical Service Engineer with Advanced Refining Technologies (ART) in Chicago, Illinois. Brian.Watkins@grace.com David Krenzke is Regional Technical Services Manager with ART in Richmond, California. David.Krenzke@chevron.com Chuck Olsen is Worldwide Technical Services Manager with ART in Chicago, Illinois. Chuck.Olsen@grace.com

Note: This article is based on a paper (AM-10-166) presented at the March 2010 NPRA Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

Editorial Comment
Uncovering the Hidden Costs of Delaying Turnarounds
Rene Gonzalez, Editor, Refinery Operations

In the current refinery downcycle, ex-

tended turnarounds typically average 17 days longer than previous turnaround cycles recorded during the 2006-2007 upcycle, according to data collected by The FCC Forum. During this period, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported refinery utilization rates averaging 92%. In the interest of capturing lucrative refining margins during an upcycle, while carefully balancing safety and reliability issues, turnaround duration must be carefully monitored. However, in todays low-margins cycle, extended turnaround cycles provide more flexibility to deal with the unforeseen problems that can be encountered in a turnaround. Refinery turnarounds and outages

occur most frequently in the first quarter and in the fall/autumn, when total petroleum product and crude oil demands are at their lowest points seasonally. Within those periods, other factors affect turnaround scheduling, such as availability of labor, given the very large swings in skilled workers needed for turnarounds. Since adequate skilled workers are not available to handle simultaneous large turnarounds, contract and engineering firms cannot schedule such activities at the same time. Many of the turnarounds planned for the second half of 2010 actually belong to the expanded scope of an integration project involving two separate refining facilities being networked to exchange intermediates. This involves installation of interconnected pipelines

that will permit transfer of various intermediate streams between the two facilities, such as with the integration of Holly Corporations Tulsa refinery west and east facilities. This will inevitably lead to better utilization of process technology and reduce operating costs. The added cost of extending a turnaround considering that todays run rates average less than 80% are many times justifiable. For example, as part of Holly Corporations integration of the Tulsa east and west facilities, expansion of the diesel hydrotreater unit at the east facility permits processing of high sulfur diesel to ULSD standards, thereby eliminating the need to construct a new diesel hydrotreater at the west facility as previously planned. n

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Refining Technology
Processing Coker Naphtha in Distillate Hydrotreaters
Many refiners operating in ULSD markets have recently completed increases in coker unit capacity, resulting in the processing of higher volumes of coker naphtha through distillate hydrotreaters. Some of the processing challenges, while different from FCC LCOs, include nitrogen, olefin and silica contamination ith the increase in hydrotreating capacity seen in ULSD markets coinciding with coker capacity that has come online in the past three years, it comes as no surprise that attempts are being made to process higher percentages of coker naphtha through hydrotreaters. The processing challenges with upgrading coker naphtha through diesel hydrotreaters are closer in similarity to processing crude unit derived straight runs (SR), relative to FCC light cycle oil (LCO). There is a noticeable trend towards the processing of higher percentages of coker naphtha through appropriately designed hydrotreaters. It is important to clarify the type of hydrotreating unit being considered for coker naphtha processing, such as distillate hydrotreaters. Certain hydrotreaters processing coker naphtha may also be processing other challenging feedstocks, such as FCC LCO. One refiner that recently increased

delayed coking capacity as well as SR kerosene hydrotreating capacity plans to also use the kerosene hydrotreater to treat coker naphtha. The treated naphtha is then recovered as stripper overhead, and routed to another hydrotreater (naphtha hydrotreater) before processing in a catalytic reformer. For this refiner, the total feed to their kersosene hydrotreater includes 8-15% coker naphtha. However, there are important concerns with regard to processing coker naphtha in a kerosene or diesel hydrotreater. Some of these concerns include increased feed nitrogen and olefin content, increased fouling in the unit preheat train/reactor inlet, silicon fouling of diesel hydrotreating catalyst, and numerous other concerns. For some refiners, coprocessing coker naphtha with diesel or kerosene is the preferred option. One representative for a hydrotreating licensor noted that the coker

naphtha processing challenge is seen more often in refiners who have recently added delayed coking capacity. In these cases, the existing naphtha hydrotreater is small and operates at low pressure, so it is unable to handle neither the silica contaminants nor the increased nitrogen of the coker naphtha feedstocks. However, use of a properly designed diesel hydrotreater allows for a higher operating pressure and a greater catalyst volume, which allows for processing coker naphtha. To be sure, plans to add even small amounts of FCC LCO to distillate hydrotreaters processing coker naphtha should plan for higher increases in hydrogen partial pressures. For example, with LCO feeds making up less than 15 vol% to the diesel hydrotreater, H2 partial pressures approaching 1200 SCFM and 1.0 LHSV should be expected towards the hydrotreaters end-of-run. n

Buadiene Unit Polymerization Problems Resolved in 24 Hours

Polymerization in the extractive distillation section of butadiene units has been an ongoing problem for many operators. However, a methodology to modify and quickly remove the sticky substance avoids costly and timely mechanical cleaning and high-pressure hydroblasting Butadiene unit experienced a very sticky polymerization problem filling the units extractive distillation section. The section included three 93 meter towers. Polymer removal was very difficult and required at least 10 days during turnaround to resolve. Trays needed to be dismounted and cleaned off-site in order to remove the polymer. The scope of the job was to modify the polymer in order to facilitate subsequent mechanical removal of the polymer. A patented chemical was added to the system, which has been thereafter circulated. Polymer modification was

immediate. During circulation of the chemical, much of the polymer was removed and eliminated in the circulation pumps filters. In as little as one day the technology applied by ITW S.r.l. based in Italy (www.itw.it) was able to: - Remove about 6 cubic meters of (6 m3 ) polymer - Modify the polymer into a nonsticky substance, which was the jobs original target - Modify the polymer into small nonadhesive pieces (the previous polymer needed to be removed with very highpressure water jetting and was very
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Extractive distillation trays were metal-cleaned in just 24 hours using a patented chemical formula
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difficult to remove) - Solubilize part of the polymer. Subsequent to polymer modification, ITW performed unit degassing/ decontamination. Safe entry conditions were achieved in one day, as compared to three with the previous technique. At the manway opening, the extractive distillation towers were metal-clean, which far over-performed the scope of

the job (see image page 7). Some polymer collected at the bottom of the towers, but it was easy to access and remove. Some mechanical removal was also required, but it was very minor and required no high-pressure water jetting. Far more important, no tray dismounting was needed. Apart from petrochemical applications (e.g.,

butadiene, ethylene, styrene units), this technology resonates to other refinery applications, including: - FCCUs - Reformers and HDS units - Depropanizer/debutanizer columns and bottoms - Texas towers, vertical combined feed effluent exchangers. n

Refractory Requirements Increasing

Highly Erosive Environments in FCCUs Call for Closer Attention to FCC Refractory Installation Practices

Catalyst circulating in an FCCU at

high velocity is extremely erosive. The refractory linings of the different parts of the catalyst circuit are resistant either to erosion or provide insulation. Both of these properties are necessary to prevent the outer carbon steel shell of the equipment from coming into contact with the hot catalyst. The maximum design temperature for carbon steel is 343C (650F). Above approximately 540C (1004F) its mechanical strength decreases dramatically and therefore it loses its ability to withstand internal pressure. If the refractory lining fails it will be

a very short time before the hot catalyst either erodes its way through the shell or weakens the shell to the extent that the internal pressure causes the shell to fail. Any loss of containment poses a significant threat to the safety of personnel and a high risk of fires and damage to the unit or entire refinery. FCCUs or cat crackers have been in operation worldwide for over 50 years and during that time the quality and reliability of the refractory linings has improved with operational experience and technological developments. However, refractory lining failure remains one of the most common reasons for unplanned

shutdown of FCCUs. The FCCU is one of the most important upgrading units in a fuels refinery complex with a large number of units taking feed from it. Therefore, its reliability is critical to the reliability and hence profitability of the refinery as a whole. It is not uncommon for unplanned FCCU shutdowns to cost between $500,000 and $1,000,000 per day depending on the size of unit and market conditions. Therefore, added investment in best refractory technology and maintenance practices is paramount if FCCU run lengths are to approach five years. n

Unit Automation
Modular Process Automation Captures Best Procedural Experience and Practices

Procedural operations are used in all

processes whether manually from standard operating procedures, prompted by a control system or fully automated. The key to the design of these procedures is the knowledge of the production operators. But, their operation can vary from shift-to-shift and site-to-site depending on the procedural knowledge of the operators. Good operators can provide significant operational savings to a manufacturer and also be a reliable interface when incidents arise. However, the most experienced operators in all process industries are starting to retire in large numbers, leaving a procedural

knowledge gap. To help alleviate this situation and to enable the refining industry to achieve their production objectives while meeting health, safety and environmental regulatory requirements, Yokogawa has announced at ARCs 2010 World Industry Forum the launch of Modular Procedural Automation (MPA). Operational knowledge and the accompanying skill sets are leaving the workplace due to retirement, and consequently the availability of good operators to run process systems is diminishing. states Maurice Wilkins, Vice President, Yokogawa IA Global Marketing Center By applying MPA a company can preserve the
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knowledge of the best operator on his or her best day every day, which enables running a process in an optimal state. MPA is an open and modular approach to procedures that is production-centric, not bound by systems and defines the right balance between manual, prompted, and automated procedures. Brent Lilienthal, General Manager North American Services says Start-ups and shutdowns need specific skills and are one of the biggest sources of risk in a production process, Maurice Wilkins adds effective grade changes and transitions can provide a
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source of competitive advantage for manufacturers if they are done the same way every time. MPA starts with a consultative assessment of a sites procedural needs. A recommendation will then be made as to the best platform for the customer to achieve their desired result. Prompted procedures may be implemented on any control system using Exapilot, while fully automated procedures may need Centum VP solution or a

combination of both. Processors have seen reductions of up to 98% of operator interactions during a polymer grade change and also a 69% reduction in crude switchover time in a refinery process. Brent Lilienthal also says: We cant provide the knowledge that these experienced operators have, but we can provide an effective methodology to preserve that knowledge in MPA. n

Company Profile

Founded in 1998, A Box

A Box 4 U

4 U manufactures blast resistant modules (BRMs) and storage units. The company originally manufactured storage units, but quickly saw the need for worker safety in the petrochemical, chemical processing and construction industries. A Box 4 U is dedicated to safety in the workplace. A Box 4 U Blast Resistant Module was field tested for a 5psi (500 msec duration) blast. The blast utilized a 1250+ high explosive ANFO charge at a standoff distance of 110 ft. The module survived without any structural damage. The module was constructed to A Box 4 Us standard specifications with roof and wall panels strengthened with steel tube stiffeners. All components were found to respond at or below low medium range of damage. Damage to the nonstructural components such

as conduit pipes, light fixtures, HVAC unit and interior sheathing were minor and showed no damage. A Box 4 U engineered blast resistant modules/ buildings provide safety in a number of needs including: offices, conference rooms, equipment and sensitive storage as well as an industry exclusive, new Tool Cribs. Custom-designed and engineered blast resistant modules/buildings can also be designed to meet just about any process industry requirement. The latest offerings include the new Multi-Section BRMs, effectively doubling the width of a 12 ft BRM to 24 ft or more. All the usual A Box 4 U features are standard, including the companys world renowned blast resistance. With the only Multi-Section on the market with open design floor plans
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A Box 4 U is able to custom design and engineer any number of specialized, safe work environments. The new QUAD POD two story BRMs are the answer to limited space in the workplace. The Quad Pod features a standard A Box 4 U BRM and stacks the second BRM on top. QUAD PODS are available in all the companys standard leasing sizes: 8x20, 8x20, and 12x40. The QUAD POD is engineered to meet or exceed API 753 and is designed for ease of installation and teardown without welding on the job site. The A Box 4 U sales team works with the customer to create the payment plan, lease, purchase or lease-to-own that fits their budget. Contact: Rick Ciemny, Business Development Manager, 877-522-6948 toll free, rickc@abox4u.net and online www.abox4u.net n

A Box 4 U Blast Resistant Modules are field tested and proven blast resistant.

Refinery Parlance
What is Meant by Blowdown?

Blowdown refers to a piece of dis-

posal equipment in a pressure relieving system whose construction consists of a drum to collect liquids that are separated (knockout) from vapors and a vent stack, which is typically an elevated stack discharging vapors into the atmosphere without combustion or conversion of the separated fluid. Blowdowns

are separate vessels intended to receive surges of hydrocarbon, such as when de-inventorying a vessel for a planned shutdown or emergency discharges. Blowdowns are designed to collect liquids and to dispose of vapors safely. In the refining and petrochemical industry, hydrocarbons typically enter blowdowns as liquids, vapors, or

vapors entrained with liquids. Blowdowns typically include quench fluid systems, which reduce the temperature of hot, condensable hydrocarbons entering the blowdown as well as the associated vapor released via the vent stack. These systems can include internal baffles to help disengage liquids from hydrocarbon vapors. n

Calendar of Events
May 18-19 ERTC Asset Maximization Conference, Budapest, +44 (0)20 7484 9700, www.gtforum.com. 18-19 Euro Petroleum Consultants 4th Asia Bottom of the Barrel Technology Conference, Kuala Lumpur, +44 (0) 20 7357 8394, www.europetro.com 19-20 NPRA National Safety Conference & Exhibition, San Antonio, +1 (202) 457-0480, www.npra.org. 20-21 Euro Petroleum Consuntants 8th Asia Petrochemicals Strategy & Technology Conference, Kuala Lumpur, +44 (0)20 7357 8394 25-26 NPRA Reliability & Maintenance Conference & Exhibition, San Antonio, +1 (202) 457-0480, www.npra.org. June 13-17 Honeywell Users Group Americas Symposium, Phoenix, +1 800 822 7673, www.honeywellusersgroup.com. 21-24 Purvin & Gertz LPG Seminar, Singapore , +1 (713) 331 4000, www.purvingertz.com. 23-25 ERTC Training Seminar, Hydrogen Production by Steam Reforming, London, +44 (0)870 240 8859, www. gtforum.cocm.
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Rene Gonzalez Editor Refinery Operations PO Box 11283 Spring TX 77391 USA editor@refineryoperations.com Mobile: +1 713 449 5817 Office: +1 281 257 0582 Fax: +1 281 686 5846 www.refineryoperations.com Copyright 2010 by Refinery Operations. Reproduction prohibited except for further use by the purchaser and expressly prohibited for resale. This information is obtained from the public domain and the intelligence of the staff of Refinery Operations. While every effort is taken to ensure accuracy, it cannot be guaranteed that this information has not been superseded. Refinery Operations cannot be held liable for the results of actions taken based upon this information.
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