Chemical Industry News from India

New branch launched
DuPont India launched DuPont Pipeline Solutions, a cross-SBU effort between DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers and DuPont Powder Coatings to provide more focus on DuPont offerings to the pipe coating industry.  DuPont Pipeline Solutions will offer a three-layer polyethylene coating system that includes DuPont "Fusabond" and DuPont "Nap-Gard" to protect cross-country pipelines against corrosion and damage.  As a cost-effective mode of transportation, these pipelines carry oil, gas and water.  DuPont says the coating ensures a maintenance-free long service life for the pipelines.

Octene-based LLDPE launched
GAIL Ltd. has launched a film-grade linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) using octene as co-monomer from its Pata petrochemical plant.  With this launch, the company has entered the Rs. 250-crore domestic octene-based LLDPE market.  The company has a target of capturing 15-20% of the market share.

Joint venture
BP plc and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) have signed a letter of intent to form a 50/50 strategic joint venture covering the refining and marketing sector in India.  A major project as part of this venture will be the construction of a $3 billion refinery with an annual capacity of 9 million tons/year at Bhatinda in Punjab.  In addition, the companies will establish a retail service station network in preparation for the refinery coming on stream in 2009.  The joint venture will also provide assistance in crude selection and supply for other HPCL refineries and provide opportunities for HPCL to acquire/participate in refining and marketing assets that the BP group may identify from its overseas portfolio.  A joint working group will be established to develop the joint venture and examine a range of other opportunities, both in and outside of India.

Two coal gasification projects
ONGC is planning to commission two pilot coal gasification projects in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh by the end of the year.  The group has already entered into an MoU with Neyveli Lignite Corporation for an underground gasification project in Tamil Nadu and is planning a similar agreement with India's oldest coal PSU, Singareni Colleries Company Ltd. for gasifying surface coal.

Technically Speaking

What are some common causes of tube rupture in a hydrogen plant steam reformer?

The following factors lead to shortened tube life and may eventually result in tube rupture:

1. Prolonged operation at excessive tube skin temperatures
2. Thermal Cycling of the Reformer Furnace (Frequent plant shutdowns and restarts)
3. Wide variations in the feedgas composition (if no Pre-Reformer)
4. Loss of Catalyst Activity
5. Operation at too low inlet S/C ratio
6. Poor firing in furnace - direct flame impingement against the tubes
7. Uneven/Imbalanced heating in the radiant section

Also check out the case study below.

http://www.cheresources.com/Uploads/trinidad2.pdf

Source: CERP Message Board, Kevin Nurse