Learning Refinery Processes

[Patassa]

I'm a Mechanical Engineer who after some time away at a design firm and medical school (long story) is returning to a refinery to do small projects. I have some organic chemistry under my belt so I have a small piece of the foundation needed to understand the process in a way that I didn't before. I was hoping you process engineers could give me some ideas of an efficient way to learn the fundamentals of refinery processes to be a more complete engineer in the refinery. I was considering reading a book like "Refining for the non technical person", etc. but I'd also be interested in studying a Mass/Heat/Momentum transfer book to get some fundamentals down. Just looking for some guidance, thanks.

 

[dogtop]

Patassa,

What about starting at:

http://www.gulfpub.com/product.asp?PositionID=1148892&ProductID=4791&PageID=22820?

HTH.

 

[TD2K]

OSHA has a reasonable summary

https://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/otm_iv/otm_iv_2.html

Petroleum Refining: Technology and Economics

https://www.crcpress.com/Petroleum-...th-Edition/Gary-Handwerk-Kaiser/9780849370380

(likely less expensive on Amazon)

http://www.processengr.com/ppt_presentations/oil_refinery_processes.pdf

 

[25362]

The 2 volumes of IP's Modern Petroleum Technology (WILEY) may be of help.

 

[jte]

Patassa-

My recommendation is that you stop considering reading a book like "Refining for the non technical person" and go and do it. Purchase Leffer's book

http://www.amazon.com/Petroleum-Ref...866&sr=8-1&keywords=oil+refining+nontechnical

and read it to get a good start. I'm a mechanical engineer by training, a pressure equipment mechanical design specialist by vocation, I've spent time at a design firm as well as a direct refinery employee and now consult to upstream and downstream, and the son of Chemistry professor (who had tons of pre-med students!) at a well regarded university. So our backgrounds are quite similar. Leffler's treatment of the subject is just right for me. After you get through that, you can narrow down your studies to particular areas of interest.

 

[Patassa]

Update:

I ordered and received Petroleum Refining in Nontechnical Language (as opposed to non-technical people) and it's absolutely perfect for what I needed. I'm working through it now and delighted by how clear and concise it's written but also how quickly I'm able to pick up all of the pieces I was formally missing. After I finish this, I will evaluate what and where to dig further, probably based on my assigned area (units). Thank you!