Preface to the Second Edition
This Second Edition of the Handbook of Petroleum Processing follows in the
footsteps and traditions of the First Edition. We have greatly updated and expanded
the information and scope in this edition. We have included many new processes
and unconventional feedstocks that are encountered in today’s facilities. The book
has been reorganized to better facilitate its use as a reference.
This Handbook provides a basic knowledge of petroleum refining and
processing as a foundation. This general knowledge may be sufficient for many
users, but we have continued to provide detailed, practical approaches to designing
units and solving the most common challenges facing today’s processing and
design professionals. Where possible, we have included additional information
for those who must operate the process units. Not all the information is at the
same level of detail, but we have provided more detail in this edition about
operation-related issues.
Most of the calculation techniques described here are manual. We authors and
editors grew up using many of these methods; however, we recognize that computer
process simulation and applications play the major roles in designing and operating
plants today. Many of the methods provided here are behind the simulation software or can be converted easily to computer applications. These methods can
quickly provide rough checks on computer results, or they can be used if you do
not have a computer or simulation package readily available.
In different chapters, you will find the use of different units of measure. The
units reflect those familiar to the chapter authors. Some chapters provide both
English and metric units and some only English or only metric. The petroleum
industry is accustomed to mixing units and converting between units. In fact, many
product specifications use mixed systems. Several common conversion factors are
provided in Appendix D.
This edition of the Handbook was structured with both electronic and print
publication in mind. It is primarily conceived as a comprehensive book, and the
organization of the chapters reflects that premise. For electronic publication, however, we have made the individual chapters as self contained as possible. This
means that the information in a chapter generally includes the needed reference
materials. The self-contained approach only takes us so far. Lest we have to repeat
v
This Second Edition of the Handbook of Petroleum Processing follows in the
footsteps and traditions of the First Edition. We have greatly updated and expanded
the information and scope in this edition. We have included many new processes
and unconventional feedstocks that are encountered in today’s facilities. The book
has been reorganized to better facilitate its use as a reference.
This Handbook provides a basic knowledge of petroleum refining and
processing as a foundation. This general knowledge may be sufficient for many
users, but we have continued to provide detailed, practical approaches to designing
units and solving the most common challenges facing today’s processing and
design professionals. Where possible, we have included additional information
for those who must operate the process units. Not all the information is at the
same level of detail, but we have provided more detail in this edition about
operation-related issues.
Most of the calculation techniques described here are manual. We authors and
editors grew up using many of these methods; however, we recognize that computer
process simulation and applications play the major roles in designing and operating
plants today. Many of the methods provided here are behind the simulation software or can be converted easily to computer applications. These methods can
quickly provide rough checks on computer results, or they can be used if you do
not have a computer or simulation package readily available.
In different chapters, you will find the use of different units of measure. The
units reflect those familiar to the chapter authors. Some chapters provide both
English and metric units and some only English or only metric. The petroleum
industry is accustomed to mixing units and converting between units. In fact, many
product specifications use mixed systems. Several common conversion factors are
provided in Appendix D.
This edition of the Handbook was structured with both electronic and print
publication in mind. It is primarily conceived as a comprehensive book, and the
organization of the chapters reflects that premise. For electronic publication, however, we have made the individual chapters as self contained as possible. This
means that the information in a chapter generally includes the needed reference
materials. The self-contained approach only takes us so far. Lest we have to repeat
v