Q&A

(2014) Question 1: What independent protection layers (IPLs) are you using in cyclic reformers during regeneration to prevent hydrocarbon and oxygen mixing through isolation valves? What IPLs are you employing to prevent improper valve switching?

Protection of over-pressuring of upstream equipment is complicated. UOP takes multiple approaches to reduce this risk. Use of two check valves with dissimilar design in series reduces the reverse flow rates.

(2014) Question 2: Have seal-less pumps (magnetic drive or canned pumps) been used successfully in HF and sulfuric acid alkylation units? What services are considered for this equipment?

Have seal-less pumps (magnetic drive or canned pumps) been used successfully in HF and sulfuric acid alkylation units? What services are considered for this equipment?

(2014) Question 3: What considerations do you make in determining the need for a safety instrumented system (SIS) in an Isomerization unit? What safety integrity level (SIL) do you use for temperature excursions, liquids fed to the regeneration superheater, or other significant safety events? What typical unit design features do you implement to mitigate these safety events?

For chlorided-alumina catalyst systems (Penex™ and Butamer™ units), the top hazard events for which interlock systems are provided are: Reactor temperature excursion Excessive Temperature in Regenerant (Electric) Superheater.

(2014) Question 4: What are the recent safety improvements in the procedures or equipment for sampling sulfuric acid?

What are the recent safety improvements in the procedures or equipment for sampling sulfuric acid?

(2014) Question 5: What are your experiences with alternatives to gauge glasses in alkylation units? Are there any specific services where you prefer glass gauges?

Although gauge glasses can and have been used successfully in HF service, it is essential that proper design and very special operating procedures be followed in order to prevent serious incidents. In the past, gauge glasses were sometimes the only option to provide a reliable secondary indication of liquid levels in the HF Alky units in order to verify the sometimes-unreliable primary level instruments.

(2014) Question 6: What are the best practices for mitigating and monitoring Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) in cold services such as Alky/Isom units?

What are the best practices for mitigating and monitoring Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) in cold services such as Alky/Isom units?

(2014) Question 7: Comment on your experience with the value generation potential of each of the refinery gasoline processing units - reforming, naphtha hydrotreating, isomerization, alkylation, and FCC-gasoline post-treating. What interplay exists between the units that can be leveraged?

The naphtha catalytic reforming unit can be partially unloaded, by subtracting from its traditional feedstock the higher-boiling C6 hydrocarbons, including naphthenes, benzene and hexane.

(2014) Question 8: What are your typical run lengths between maintenance turnarounds for gasoline units? What evaluations do you make to ensure that a prolonged turnaround interval is the most profitable choice?

CCR Platforming Unit Customers report 3.2 years on average between turnarounds. And 10 % of the units exceed 5 years. Although, catalyst change-out frequently determined this time previously, the ability to change out “on the-fly” while maintaining operations has removed this constraint.

(2014) Question 9: With a significant portion of the current workforce eligible for retirement, what are you doing to preserve and pass-down the knowledge to the new employees entering the industry?

With a significant portion of the current workforce eligible for retirement, what are you doing to preserve and pass-down the knowledge to the new employees entering the industry?

(2014) Question 10: How do you assign process engineers responsibilities: are they divided by technology; operating complex; projects, etc.?

How do you assign process engineers responsibilities: are they divided by technology; operating complex; projects, etc.?

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