Process equipment malfunctions: techniques to identify and correct plant problems

"Process Equipment Malfunctions offers proven techniques for finding and fixing process plant problems and contains details on failure identification. Diagnostic tips, examples, and illustrations help to pinpoint and correct faults in chemical process and petroleum refining equipment. Complex math has been omitted. An essential resource for plant operators and process engineers, this book is based on the author's long career in field troubleshooting process problems."

Print version ©2011.

Distillation tray malfunctions -- Packed tower problems -- Distillation tower pressure and composition control -- Salt and rust formation on tray decks -- Fractionator bottoms product stripping -- Heat extraction with pumparounds -- Reboiled and steam side strippers -- Inspecting tower internals-checklist -- Process reboilers-shell and tube -- Shell-and-tube heat exchangers in sensible heat transfer service -- Condenser limitations -- Air coolers-forced- and induced-draft air side malfunctions -- Cooling water: towers and circulation -- Steam condensate collection systems -- Steam quality problems -- Level control problems -- Excessive ambient heat losses -- Process plant corrosion -- Vapor-liquid separation vessels -- Knock-out drums; demisters and impingement plates -- Hydrocarbon-water separation-electric desalters and gravity settling -- Natural draft-fired heaters -- Tube failure in fired heaters -- Fired heaters: air preheaters -- Disabling safety systems -- Vacuum systems and steam jets -- Vacuum surface condensers and precondensers -- Excess gas overloads: vacuum system ejectors -- Centrifugal pump NPSH limitations: cavitation, seal, and bearing failures -- Centrifugal pum…