In an effort to increase biofuel production by up to 1.3 million tons per year by 2023, Neste will upgrade the automation systems and software at its refinery in Tuas, Singapore. Digital technologies provider Emerson will handle the upgrade.

The handling of bulk solids has been tossed around for decades — literally. From fertilizer to food products, sugar to sludge pellets, and coffee to catalysts, the practice of heating, cooling or drying has been a part of virtually every industry built around free-flowing materials since the Industrial Revolution.

The US Chemical Safety Board released an updated animation detailing the tragic events that occurred 15 years ago at the BP America Refinery in Texas City, Texas, when a massive hydrocarbon release and ensuing explosion and fire killed 15 and injured 170 others. The explosion was a landmark investigation for the CSB and revealed safety gaps at refineries across the country.
 

Many refinery complexes in Texas are aging: At sites across the region, it is not uncommon to find boilers that are more than 50 years old. As a result, these facilities can be hit with costly unplanned outages as well as being subject to higher fuel costs due to inefficiency. 

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released a factual update into the June 21, 2019, explosion and fire at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refinery in Philadelphia, Pa. The update notes that a corroded pipe elbow appears to have ruptured in the alkylation unit, releasing process fluid that included over 5,000 lb of hydrofluoric (HF) acid.

Hengyuan Refining Company Berhad chose the Rotork client-support program (CSP) for the asset management of Rotork valve actuation equipment at its Port Dickson refinery in Malaysia. The CSP encompasses 157 Rotork electric actuators, a Rotork master station and Pakscan control-loop testing facility.

Energy improvement offers enormous potential for variable cost reduction and improved environmental performance. These types of improvements can be fast tracked and amplified via internet-based collaboration, but there is a risk that outsourced services can lead to a hollowing out of site expertise. 

A four-person investigative team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board continues to investigate the April 26 explosion at the Husky Energy oil refinery in Superior, Wis.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is investigating an explosion at the Husky Energy oil refinery in Superior, Wis., which injured 36 people. The explosion and fire have been tied to the refinery's fluid catalytic cracking unit.