Handbook of Industrial Hydrocarbon Processes (eBook)

Handbook of Industrial Hydrocarbon Processes, Second Edition, provides an analysis of the process steps required to produce hydrocarbons from various raw materials and how the choice of a process depends not only on technology, but also on external effects, such as social and economic developments, political factors affecting the availability of raw materials, and environmental legislation. This book qualitatively examines chemical processes and plant design by showing the factors determining process structures, including the underlying chemistry, feedstock, product specifications and reactor design. The book also compares the processes for different products based on raw materials and manufacturing processes based on their respective applications.

With the addition of useful flowcharts that present an overview of the chemical processes, process design and equipment, this book is a valuable resource to industry professionals on how to understand how hydrocarbons are produced from different raw materials and how to develop an instinct for the right process development strategy.

• Provides a qualitative analysis of chemical processes and plant design by showing the factors determining process structures
• Presents chemical processes in an organized, easy-to-read and understandable manner with the use of useful flowcharts and concise descriptions
• Includes updates on changes in existing technological and chemical processes, as well as possible future improvements or changes to other more economic or more readily available feedstocks

James G. Speight is a senior fuel consultant as well as an Adjunct Professor of Chemical and Fuels Engineering at the University of Utah, USA. He is recognized internationally as an expert in the characterization, properties, and processing of conventional and synthetic fuels and as a chemist with more than 35 years of experience in thermal/process chemistry, thermodynamics, refining of petroleum, heavy oil, and tar sand bitumen, and physics of crude with emphasis on distillation, visbreaking, coking units, and oil-rock or oil catalyst interactions. Speight is currently Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Petroleum Science and Technology, Energy Sources-Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects, and Energy Sources-Part B: Economics, Planning, and Policy. He is also the author/editor/compiler of more than 25 books and bibliographies related to fossil fuel processing and environmental issues.

Speight was Chief Scientific Officer and then Chief Executive Officer of the Western Research Institute, Laramie, WY, USA, from 1984 to 2000. During this period he led a staff of more that 150 scientists, engineers, and technicians in developing new technology for gas processing, petroleum, shale oil, tar sand bitumen, and asphalt. Speight has considerable expertise in evaluating new technologies for patentability and commercial application. As a result of his work, he was awarded the Diploma of Honor, National Petroleum Engineering Society, for outstanding contributions to the petroleum industry in 1995 and the Gold Medal of Russian Academy of Sciences (Natural) for outstanding work in the area of petroleum science in 1996. He has also received the Specialist Invitation Program Speakers Award from NEDO (New Energy Development Organization, Government of Japan) in 1987 and again in 1996 for his contributions to coal research. In 2001, he was also awarded the Einstein Medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Natural) in recognition of outstanding contributions.

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Handbook of Industrial Hydrocarbon Processes, Second Edition, provides an analysis of the process steps required to produce hydrocarbons from various raw materials and how the choice of a process depends not only on technology, but also on external effects, such as social and economic developments, political factors affecting the availability of raw materials, and environmental legislation. This book qualitatively examines chemical processes and plant design by showing the factors determining process structures, including the underlying chemistry, feedstock, product specifications and reactor design. The book also compares the processes for different products based on raw materials and manufacturing processes based on their respective applications. With the addition of useful flowcharts that present an overview of the chemical processes, process design and equipment, this book is a valuable resource to industry professionals on how to understand how hydrocarbons are produced from different raw materials and how to develop an instinct for the right process development strategy. Provides a qualitative analysis of chemical processes and plant design by showing the factors determining process structures Presents chemical processes in an organized, easy-to-read and understandable manner with the use of useful flowcharts and concise descriptions Includes updates on changes in existing technological and chemical processes, as well as possible future improvements or changes to other more economic or more readily available feedstocks