Hydrocarbon Processing - September 2022 - 47

HP Flashback
New weapon of science-Radioactive isotopes
May 1948
A research project to unlock the still unknown secrets that
make the conversion of coal and natural gas into gasoline possible
is underway by Gulf Oil Corp. Radioactive isotopes are
being applied to the study since the basic nature of the chemical
reaction of the process remains a mystery. Sufficient technical
knowledge exists to proceed with commercial production;
however, the ultimate possibilities of the reaction cannot be
judged until what happens in the reaction is better understood.
By sampling the presence of radioactive atoms in various stages
of the process by a Geiger counter, the researchers hope to trace
the course of carbon atoms and blueprint the entire reaction.
Industrial engineering in refinery maintenance planning
W. H. Reynolds, August 1948
The intention of this article is to emphasize the importance of
providing basic tools for the analysis and investigation of all plant
procedures. A " job order " system with resultant cost segregation
and accumulation is offered as a basis for improving plant routines.
Designing for efficiency-Gas compressor systems
T. G. Hicks, December 1948
Gas compression plays a necessary part in operations
throughout the refining, natural gasoline and petrochemical
processing plants. Whether the gas handled is from a field vacuum
gathering system, is being moved through a long-distance
pipeline or is evolved from a conversion reaction in a processing
facility, the problems of compressor installation and station design
are much the same. Certain utilities must be provided, piping
must be worked out to accommodate the process operating
conditions, adequate foundations must be designed and maintenance
requirements must be considered, among other factors.
Nuclear fission as a source of competitive energy
T. R. Hogness, April 1949
Currently, there is no such thing as atomic power, in the sense
of the strict definition of power. However, surely, we shall have
this power and in the not too distant future. The principles are
known, tentative designs for power reactors have been made,
and many necessary preliminary experiments are under way.
With our faith in the ability to solve a very difficult problem, feasibility
is fast growing into certainty.
Analytical instruments in automatic control systems
N. Gildersleeve, June 1949
There is a significant trend in process plant instrumentation
toward the more general use of analysis-type instruments for the
direct control of operating variables. The development of satisfactory
instrumentation for the automatic control of the physical
variables-temperature, pressure, flow, liquid level, etc.-resulted
in great improvement in process plant operation, so now
instruments capable of analyzing process stream compositions
will bring about smoother operation of process equipment and a
higher percentage of on-specification production.
Drainage time for bubble cap columns
J. L. Huitt, W. C. Ziegenhain, F. C. Fowler and
R. L. Huntington, November 1949
Hydrocarbon Processing's Centennial Anniversary | SEPTEMBER 2022 47
The time required for a fractionating column to drain after it
has been taken offline is a factor that enters the routine operation
of many plants employing distillation. However, literature reports
little, if any, experimental data on this operation and no method of
calculating this drainage time. This article addresses this challenge.
Power plants for modern refineries
T. G. Hicks, December 1949
Power plants serving today's refining, natural gasoline and
petrochemical plants have come a long way since the well-known
oil field boiler days. No longer is steam generation the only function
of the refinery power plant. Electricity in large quantities becomes
more necessary every time a new production operation is
introduced. With the decrease in availability of byproduct fuels,
refinery power plant efficiency takes on a new importance. To
achieve low cost production, today's refinery designer must strive
for the optimum balance obtainable between process and power
generating facilities. Obtaining such a balance is not readily done
because it involves a multitude of factors.
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Hydrocarbon Processing - September 2022

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