Hydrocarbon Processing - April 2022 - 61

100th Anniversary
HP Flashback
LEE NICHOLS, Editor-in-Chief/Associate Publisher
Excerpts from the 1950s: Capacity expands after
WW2 and technologies and maintenance mature
The following is a mixture of technical articles, columns
and headlines published in the 1950s by Petroleum Refiner, the
forerunner to Hydrocarbon Processing. This collection of excerpts
provides a look into the major technological advancements
and topics/trends in the hydrocarbon processing industry
during that timeframe.
First postwar cargo of crude for rebuilt
Dunkirk refinery received
February 1950
Progress in new British refinery
E. N. Tiratsoo, February 1950
The first unit of the Shell Oil Co. refinery near Stanlow has
been completed and is in operation using crude oils from the
Middle East.
Propylene, a valuable feedstock for alkylation
E. C. Oden, W. J. Burch and G. R. Jones, March 1950
Alkylates produced in refinery alkylation processes have
high octane numbers, lead susceptibilities and heat values and
boil in the gasoline range to rank among the most important
components of aviation and motor gasolines. The reaction
most widely used in the process has been the combination of
isobutane and butylene.
This article provides data from the operation of a sulfuric
acid alkylation unit, on propylene, and shows the effect of the
major operating variables on aviation alkylate quality, alkylate
yield and acid consumption.
The new metals-Molybdenum, titanium and zirconium
May 1950
Techniques for producing and fabricating these new metals are
progressing rapidly, so that within the next few years, they should
take an important place in industry, along with the other special
metals such as stainless steel, super alloys, tantalum and others.
Pemex's Salamanca refinery is nearing completion
June 1950
The new $12-MM plant will help the geographical balance
of Mexico's refining and marketing area by providing a 60% increase
in refining capacity in the country.
Corrosion-resistant liners in refinery vessels
G. C. Carpenter, July 1950
The internal protection of refinery process vessels becomes
increasingly important as throughputs are increased and crude
oils become less sweet and saltier.
Bubble tray design and layout-Parts 1 and 2
J. A. Davies, August and September 1950
The bubble tray is possibly the most important single item
of equipment used in petroleum processing plants. Despite the
use of tens of thousands of these trays, both their initial design
and their performance in operation present certain mysteries to
engineers and operators alike.
In this series of articles, the author has organized the complete
tray calculation problem into an orderly routine. He has
attempted to provide sufficient information in practice, theory
and procedure to allow a person without considerable experience
to reach sound answers on bubble tray problems. Part 1
deals with the mechanical details of the bubble tray, while Part
2 covers the actual calculation of tray performance.
Work progresses on Europe's largest oil refinery
December 1950
Anglo-American Oil Co.'s $100-MM, 5-MMtpy refinery is
nearly completed. The plant is being built in Fawley, Hampshire,
England, approximately 15 mi southeast of Southhampton.
Once completed, the facility will produce 42,500 bpd of
crude naphtha and white spirit, 6,000 bpd of kerosene, 14,000
bpd of diesel fuels and gasoils, 6,000 bpd of light fuel oils,
30,000 bpd of bunker fuel and 3,500 bpd of asphalts.
Tuning automatic control systems
J. L. Serrill and L. E. Jewett, January 1951
This article describes a method by which plant instrument
adjustments can be made in orderly sequence to attain optimum
overall behavior of process units.
Maintenance facilities in gasoline cycling plants
H. Givens, April 1951
Downtime is a constant threat to even well-managed plants.
However, carefully planning repair procedures can significantly
mitigate such problems.
The petrochemical engineer looks at rocket fuels
M. Sittig, May 1951
The rocket-type aircraft engine appears to be susceptible to
improvements in performance because of fuel development,
Hydrocarbon Processing | APRIL 2022 61
Hydrocarbon Processing - April 2022

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