[murthy ns]

Thanks Evan for the update. I understand a few refiners On line spalling two to three times followed by one time pigging. Further it is reported that online spalling does not completely restore the Tube skin temp.

[murthy ns]

I have seen refiners cutting back crude intake when major secondary processing units like HCU or FCC or Coker goes for TA. We do store HCGO with suitable addition of anti-oxidants so that there is no gum formation during storage. I am aware of sale of VGO fractions in international market. Perhaps buyers can accept HCGO in such blends within fixed Bromine number. Other alt could be making bitumen out of Coker feed with corresponding cut back on Coker thru put inter-alia HCGO make. Other options for HCGO will be to produce bunker fuel or use HCGO as fertilizer feed stock. Best of luck in managing HCGO.

[murthy ns]

Thanks Evan & Paul for your valuable responses. If I go by the four issues that you have mentioned viz. + Delay in cycle step causing temporary slow down; + Decoking or coke handling equipment failure; + Structure valve issues; and + Heater Fouling and subsequent decoking, can we say that in any calendar year roughly 90%+ downtime can be attributed to the last issue i.e. heater fouling and subsequent decoking.

As regards, attending RefComm® Mumbai. I will leave a word with my management and take further. Thanks once again for the information.

[Author]

Posts