April 2010
The April edition covers a number of interesting subjects. In the first feature, Petrochemicals, the article delineates the use of the LP model to integrate planning and scheduling of a petrochemical facility. The focus section following this feature article looks at Electrostatic Reduction Technology (DERT), a new propriety media that reduces the electrostatic charging which results from non-conductive fluids, such as fuel, passing over nonconductive filter media at high flow rates. There is also a story on Sasol's breaking ground for an R8,4 billion Wax Expansion Project at its Sasolburg Sasol One Site. The first phase of the project will come into operation in 2012.
In the Pumps feature you will find information on stable temperature probes for hydraulic efficiency measurements developed by Robertson Technology in Australia for measuring the differential temperature across a pump to an accuracy of better than 1mK, with long-term stability over periods of years. Yet another feature, on Plant Maintenance, studies how the appropriate use of metrics will allow the Reliability Champion or ‘change agent' to focus their attention where the change management processes need it most.
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Comment Read Harrison Shumba's comments on "The Humble heat exchanger and global warming". Dr Shumba is a Senior Engineer at Sasol Synfuels Engineering The use of LP model to integrate planning and scheduling of the petrochemical facility by Z Chamane, Sasol Synfuels, Market and Process Integration, LP Planning and Scheduling, Secunda, SA This article highlights the generic integration of the planning and scheduling process in the petrochemical facility. The planning/scheduling is achieved by using LP modelling techniques where all production processes and constraints are expressed as a linear function. Different levels of LP decision-making process are highlighted. The conclusion drawn is that without proper integrated planning/scheduling the company will not be able to fulfill its market demands/commitments and hence losses in revenue. Stable temperature probes for hydraulic efficiency measurements This article is based on a presentation made at the 6th International Conference on Innovation in Hydraulic Efficiency Measurements, organized by the International Group for Hydraulic Efficiency Measurement, an independent group of people involved in hydraulic power plant efficiency measurements. This technology was applied to both portable and permanently installed (fixed) thermodynamic pump performance monitors, and was utilized for measurements with turbines.
The temperature probes are self-contained, with digitization of the signal occurring in the probe handle, close to the sensors. The connections to each temperature probe are the power supply (12VDC, 10 mA per probe), and a halfduplex RS485 interface. Up to 128 temperature and pressure probes can be daisy-chained on one RS485 interface. Not enough people? by Terry Jarrett, Vice President, Manufacturing Programs, Lafarge Technical Services (CTS), Pointe-Claire, QC, Canada It is surprising how similar the obstacles and issues are when undertaking an improvement initiative regardless of the industry. A previous article (‘Chemical Technology' July 2009, pp28-30) discussed the value of educating your employees on the benefits of Reliability Excellence. ‘Education' was identified as the first ‘force' that should be used in order to begin this change in culture from reactive to proactive. The second force or tool that should be utilized to drive behavior changes towards achieving and sustaining Reliability Excellence success is ‘Metrics'.
Monitoring of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs - metrics) throughout the life of a Reliability Excellence initiative will help to propagate that ‘change energy' needed to accelerate the rate of change in an organization and eventually achieve your reliability objectives.
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