Large Petrochemical Complex Research Articles

Graphical modeling method application in construction of petrochemical plant block-diagram

The article represents a block diagram executed by a new method. A traditional block diagram has quite a few drawbacks: place and location of blocks are not clearly defined; orientation and direction of lines are not determined by their configuration and material flow properties; communications within the plant structure form an intricate network of lines; it is difficult to trace some connections as well as to extract information contained in the diagram; the system of relationships is impossible to visually identify. Thus, the conventional methods of block diagram construction create cumbersome and uninformative graphical representations of production. The new method involves graphical modeling. Optimization of petrochemical production graphical representation is carried out on the example of a plant which is a structural unit of the largest petrochemical complex in Russia. An analysis of petrochemical production structure was carried out, its results are presented. The plant has two productions: production of ethylene, propylene and liquid pyrolysis products containing a significant amount of aromatic hydrocarbons; plastics production. The plant production cycle is divided into petrochemical process blocks. Each production consists of several process blocks. A linear network with process blocks is constructed. Elements and their connecting bonds are arranged in a certain order. The plant block diagram is constructed by connecting all the blocks of single processes. This graphical model of a plant block diagram is more descriptive and easier to use for system analysis; it forms unified graphical representation of a petrochemical plant. Due to the graphical modeling method system, petrochemical production block diagrams are represented in a significantly simplified form, convenient for analysis, storage, processing and using the information contained in graphic models of petrochemical processes.

A Study of the Relationships Between Proximity to an Industrial Complex and Blood Lead Levels and Urinary Cadmium Levels

Background: Most people spend their time in their house, and live around their residence. So, we supposed that their exposure levels were associated with the location of residence. Aims: The goal of this study was to investigate the relationships between proximity to an industrial complex and blood lead levels and urinary cadmium levels. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey and analyzed blood lead and urinary cadmium levels using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAs). Data was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The distance between the residence and an industrial complex was calculated through a Geographical Information System (GIS). Results: A total of 967 residents living near a large petrochemical complex in Ulsan participated. The geometric mean levels of blood lead and urinary cadmium were 1.70 ?g/dl (male: 1.77 ?g/dl, female: 1.67 ?g/dl), and 0.72 ?g/g creatinine (male: 0.49 ?g/g cr. female: 0.89 ?g/g cr.), respectively. Blood lead and urinary cadmium levels both increased with age and were higher among smokers compared to never smokers.Results from multiple logistic regression analysis showed that urinary cadmium levels for subjects aged less than 20 years old were negatively associated with distance from the industrial area to the residence (OR=1.09[1.05-1.14]). The results, however, indicated that the blood lead levels were positively associated with the distance (OR=0.77[0.70-0.82]) Conclusions: The results of this study support that proximity to an industrial complex is related to urinary cadmium values for children. A positive finding with blood lead can be explained by the ambiguity of lead exposure sources in the general environment.

Using pollution roses to assess sulfur dioxide impacts in a township downwind of a petrochemical complex

This study used pollution roses to assess sulfur dioxide (SO2) pollution in a township downwind of a large petrochemical complex based on data collected from a single air quality monitoring station. The pollution roses summarized hourly SO2 concentrations at the Taishi air quality monitoring station, located approximately 7.8–13.0 km south of the No. 6 Naphtha Cracking Complex in Taiwan, according to 36 sectors of wind direction during the preoperational period (1995–1999) and two postoperational periods (2000–2004 and 2005–2009). The 99th percentile of hourly SO2 concentrations 350˚ downwind from the complex increased from 28.9 ppb in the preoperational period to 86.2–324.2 ppb in the two postoperational periods. Downwind SO2 concentrations were particularly high during 2005–2009 at wind speeds of 6–8 m/sec. Hourly SO2 levels exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health-based standard of 75 ppb only in the postoperational periods, with 65 exceedances from 0–10˚ and 330–350˚ downwind directions during 2001–2009. This study concluded that pollution roses based on a single monitoring station can be used to investigate source contributions to air pollution surrounding industrial complexes, and that it is useful to combine such directional methods with analyses of how pollution varies between different wind speeds, times of day, and periods of industrial development. Implications: The pollution roses summarize SO2 concentrations by wind direction and to investigate source contribution to air quality. Percentile statistics can catch pollution episodes occurring in a very short time at specific wind directions and speeds. The downwind areas have already exceeded regulated 1-hr SO2 standard since the operation of the complex.

Shedding light on light: benefits of anthropogenic illumination to a nocturnally foraging shorebird

Intertidal habitats provide important feeding areas for migratory shorebirds. Anthropogenic developments along coasts can increase ambient light levels at night across adjacent inter-tidal zones. Here, we report the effects of elevated nocturnal light levels upon the foraging strategy of a migratory shorebird (common redshank Tringa totanus) overwintering on an industrialised estuary in Northern Europe. To monitor behaviour across the full intertidal area, individuals were located by day and night using VHF transmitters, and foraging behaviour was inferred from inbuilt posture sensors. Natural light was scored using moon-phase and cloud cover information and nocturnal artificial light levels were obtained using geo-referenced DMSP/OLS night-time satellite imagery at a 1-km resolution. Under high illumination levels, the commonest and apparently preferred foraging behaviour was sight-based. Conversely, birds feeding in areas with low levels of artificial light had an elevated foraging time and fed by touch, but switched to visual rather than tactile foraging behaviour on bright moonlit nights in the absence of cloud cover. Individuals occupying areas which were illuminated continuously by lighting from a large petrochemical complex invariably exhibited a visually based foraging behaviour independently of lunar phase and cloud cover. We show that ambient light levels affect the timing and distribution of foraging opportunities for redshank. We argue that light emitted from an industrial complex improved nocturnal visibility. This allowed sight-based foraging in place of tactile foraging, implying both a preference for sight-feeding and enhanced night-time foraging opportunities under these conditions. The study highlights the value of integrating remotely sensed data and telemetry techniques to assess the effect of anthropogenic change upon nocturnal behaviour and habitat use.

Assessment of Hazardous Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in a Residential Area abutting a Large Petrochemical Complex

The results of VOC monitoring in a residential area abutting a petrochemical complex and theinfluence of causative parameters on the concentration is discussed in this paper. The monitored datareveals that about 21 hazardous VOC are predominantly present in the study area. Toluene is the mostabundant compound of all. The mean concentration of benzene, a known carcinogen, is 38 μg/m3. The widevariation in toluene to benzene ratio (T/B) and the weak correlation between the concentration of variouscompounds and NOx indicate that they are contributed by multiple sources. There is no fixed patternobserved in the concentration variation between morning and evening samples. The BTEX ratio observedin this study varies from 1:2.6:0.3:0.2 to 1:9.5; 2.1:1.4. The study reveals that the hazardous VOC in thestudy area are contributed by multiple sources and that the concentration of some of them is very high.

거주지와 산업단지간의 거리와 혈 중 납 농도 및 요 중 카드뮴 농도의 상관관계에 관한 연구

Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate the relationships between proximity to an industrial complex and blood lead levels and urinary cadmium levels. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey and analyzed blood lead and urinary cadmium levels using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAs). Data was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. All statistical analyses were conducted with SAS software version 9.2. The distance between the residence and an industrial complex was calculated through a Geographical Information System (GIS). Results: A total of 967 residents living near a large petrochemical complex in Ulsan participated. The geometric mean levels of blood lead and urinary cadmium were (male: , female: ), and creatinine (male: cr. female: cr.), respectively. Blood lead and urinary cadmium levels both increased with age and were higher among smokers compared to never smokers. Both significantly showed a decreasing trend with rising income. Results from multiple logistic regression analysis showed that urinary cadmium levels for subjects aged less than 20 years old were negatively associated with distance from the industrial area to the residence. The results, however, indicated that the blood lead levels were positively associated with the distance. Conclusions: The results of this study support that proximity to an industrial complex is related to urinary cadmium values for children. A positive finding with blood lead can be explained by the ambiguity of lead exposure sources in the general environment.

Scientific Knowledge Networks in Peripheral Regions and Local Innovation Systems: The Case of Chemistry in the State of Bahia

Scientific production and technological innovation growth in Brazil are not homogeneous in its different regions despite its public policies. The same phenomenon can be observed within the states of the Brazilian Federation. This article examines the diffusion of scientific expertise in six public institutions of science and technology in the state of Bahia between 2004 and 2008. The state is the largest in the north-east of Brazil, an area marked by a semi-arid climate and a low human development index; however, it has a large chemical and petrochemical complex. This article, focusing on the scientific field of chemistry, is based on foundations of innovation and knowledge management, as well as social network analysis, aiming to examine relations between scientific production and institutional, structural and relational characteristics of inter- and intra-institutional scientific knowledge networks. The results show that public policies on science, technology and innovation regarding the peripheral regions need to be rethought.

Polymorphism of DNA repair genes (XRCC1, XRCC3, XPD, XPC) and risk of uterine myoma among women working in petrochemical complex

Uterine myoma is a multifactorial disease in which the development involving both genetic and environmental factors. In this study we analyzed polymorphisms of genes excision repair (XRCC1, XPD/ERCC2, XPC) and repair of double-stranded DNA breaks (XRC 3) among women working at a large petrochemical complex of "Salavatnefteorgsintez". It is established that a minor allele homozygous for the minor allele genotype and polymorphism Gln939Lys (rs2228001) XPC gene are associated with the risk of uterine myoma (OR = 3.9 CI 1.001-18.13 for genotype and OR = 2.3 CI 1.36-3.77 for allele).

Environmental hazards and stress: evidence from the Texas City Stress and Health Study

Background:Substantial research has suggested that exposure to environmental health hazards, such as polluting industrial activity, has deleterious effects on psychological and physiological well-being. However, one gap in the existing literature...

Cumulative Cancer Risk from Air Pollution in Houston: Disparities in Risk Burden and Social Disadvantage

Air toxics are of particular concern in Greater Houston, home to one of the world's largest petrochemical complexes and a quarter ofthe nation's refining capacity. Much of this complex lies along a navigable ship channel that flows 50 miles from east of the central business district through Galveston Bay and into the Gulf of Mexico. Numerous communities, including both poor and affluent neighborhoods, are located in close proximity to the 200 facilities along this channel. Our aim is to examine the spatial distribution of cumulative, air-pollution-related cancer risks in Houston and Harris County, with particular emphasis on identifying ethnic, economic, and social disparities. We employ exposure estimates from NATA-1999 and census data to assess whether the cumulative cancer risks from air toxics in Houston (and Harris County) fall disproportionately on certain ethnicities and on the socially and economically disadvantaged. The cancer risk burden across Harris County census tracts increases with the proportion of residents who are Hispanic and with key indicators of relative social disadvantage. Aggregate disadvantage grows at each higher level of cancer risk. The highest cancer risk in Harris County is concentrated along a corridor flanking the ship channel. These high-risk neighborhoods, however, vary markedly in relative disadvantage, as well as in emission source mix. Much of the risk they face appears to be driven by only a few hazardous air pollutants. Results provide evidence of risk disparities from hazardous air pollution based on ethnicity and social disadvantage. At the highest levels of risk the pattern is more complex, arguing for a neighborhood level of analysis, especially when proximity to high-emissions industries is a substantial contributor to cumulative cancer risk.

Assessment of water availability within a heavy industrialized region

Water conflict and scarcity is a present reality world-wide, For high peak demands,hydrologic limitations required either finding a bigger source or building sufficient storage.This paper provides a well-documented case study of water reuse by proposing alternativeindustrial water harvest at the largest petrochemical complex of Latin America located at theState of Bahia, Brazil. Water balance concepts were used to access the water availability. Theobtained results imply in an averaged natural resources economy of 1,250 m3/h of water,which can be used alternatively to either human consumption or energy generation in Bahia'ssemi-arid regions.

The need for the “new health geography” in epidemiologic studies of environment and health

Growth during the past decade in what can be broadly referred to as social and environmental epidemiologic research has been an important contributor to an emerging understanding of environment and health relationships. While the incorporation of geographic information systems as well as concepts such as “neighborhoods” might be viewed as evidence of social epidemiology moving closer to health geography, I argue that the two fields are not well aligned. Health geography has much more to contribute to studies of environment and health, and attention by social epidemiologists to those potential contributions could help rectify this misalignment. This paper suggests a number of geographic perspectives on health and environment that could create useful connections between geography and public health, via social epidemiology. To illustrate this potential, I use an ongoing study of a Texas community exposed to a large petrochemical complex—an inquiry constructed in the mode of social epidemiology—as a case in point. I apply several perspectives and concepts from geography to the case study. Cultural ecology, discourse materialized, political ecology, and territoriality are used to assess the Texas City situation and suggest important types of understandings that can enhance the social epidemiology approach to environment and health. I conclude with a discussion of the prospects for a social epidemiology infused with this type of geographic thought and analysis.

PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC AUTOIMMUNE THYROIDITIS IN THE URBAN AREA NEIGHBORING A PETROCHEMICAL COMPLEX AND A CONTROL AREA IN SAO PAULO, BRAZIL

To evaluate the prevalence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis in 2 urban areas of metropolitan São Paulo (Brazil): Polo Area neighboring a large petrochemical complex and São Bernardo Campo Area (control area). Subjects were randomly included from the adult population (20 to 70 years of age) of both genders (women 80%, men 20%) who voluntarily agreed to participate. From the Polo Area, in the vicinity of a large petrochemical industrial complex, 409 subjects were included; from the control area (São Bernardo Campo Area) 420 individuals were included. All subjects were clinically examined, and a detailed record of past thyroid illness and medications was obtained. Ultrasonographic studies were performed using a portable GE Medical Systems apparatus. Blood samples were obtained for free T4, serum TSH, and serum anti-thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies. Urine specimens were collected in Monovette syringes for assaying iodine content. Salt samples were collected at households, and the iodine content was measured. Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis was diagnosed both echographically (marked hypoechogenicity) and immunologically (presence of autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase). In the Polo Area, 15.6% of the examined population had chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, and in the control area (São Bernardo Campo Area), 19.5% of the population had evidence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (P > 0.057, not significant). The prevalence of hypothyroidism was 4.9% in the Polo Area and 8.3% in the São Bernardo Campo Area (P = 0.0461 significant). Taking the 2 populations together, 6.6% had hypothyroidism (about one third of these patients were on L-T4 treatment). The mean thyroid volume was 11.2 mL. Domestic salt had a normal concentration of iodine (35.5 + 6.61 mg/kg). Urinary excretion of iodine was above 300 microg Iodine/L in 58.5% of the total population. The high iodine intake (above 300 microg Iodine/L of urine) that was present from 1998 through 2005 may be related to a higher prevalence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis in both areas that were studied. There was no apparent or documented relationship of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis prevalence to the proximity to the petrochemical complex.

Measurement of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Urban Atmosphere of Harris County, Texas

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a major component of urban air pollution. It is well documented that exposure to certain types of VOCs can cause adverse health effects such as cancer, immune and neurological damage, and reproductive and endocrine disorders. Urban air samples were collected at five locations in Harris County, Texas to determine the measurement of VOCs in the ambient air of residential areas in close proximity to industrial facilities that emit toxic air pollutants into the air. Three locations used in this study were located along the Houston Ship Channel (HSC), in the heart of one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the nation. Two other sampling locations were located many miles away from the ship channel and any industrial facilities that are required to report toxic air emissions. Air samples were collected daily over an 8-h period from December 2002 to March 2003. The samples were collected in 6-L stainless steel Silonite-coated canisters and analyzed using a modified version of EPA Method TO-15. A total of 53 compounds was quantitated using a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer system coupled to a cryogenic preconcentrator. Eighteen alkanes and oxygenated compounds were identified, along with 7 alkenes and 5 aromatic compounds. Several alkanes such as butane, isobutane, 2-methyl butane, and pentane were detected at all five sites. The total VOC concentrations determined were highest at two of the industrial sites and lowest at the site farthest away from the ship channel and any industrial facilities. This study concluded that the atmosphere near Harris County's industrial complex had higher concentrations of VOCs than the atmosphere in areas farther away from the HSC. The atmosphere of areas downwind from emission sources were found to be directly affected by toxic air emissions from industrial process but not at the levels seen in areas closer to the HSC.

Numerical study of atmospheric dispersion of a substance released from an industrial complex in the southern coast of Korea

Diurnal variations of wind field and pollutant dispersion in a complex terrain with a shoreline were investigated under the insolation conditions of summer and winter. The area is located in the south of the Korean Peninsula and includes a large petrochemical industrial complex. The Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) was used in the simulation study. Initially, horizontally homogeneous wind fields were assumed on the basis of sounding data at the nearby upper-air station for days with morning wind speeds below 2 m s −1. On these days, the sea breeze prevailed in summer while the land breeze lasted for a few hours in the morning; the effect of synoptic winds was strong in winter with some inclusion of wind variations owing to the interaction between sea and land. The predicted wind direction at the location of the weather station captured an important change of the sea/land breeze of the observed one. In the morning, both in summer and winter, complicated wind fields with low wind speeds resulted in high pollutant concentrations almost all over the area. On the other hand, in the afternoon, the wind field was rather uniform and the terrain effects were not significant even in the mountainous area with the development of a mixing layer.

OXITENO TAKES ON CONSLIDATOR ROLE

Oxiteno is a midsized company with a king-sized plan: It wants to be the catalyst for a major restructuring of the Brazilian chemical industry. Sao Paulo-based Oxiteno, with 1998 sales of $237 million, is Brazil's only manufacturer of ethylene oxide and derivatives, and the largest in Latin America. It's a significant local specialty chemicals producer and has been consistently profitable. With this good a track record in the volatile Brazilian economy, Oxiteno might be content to leave well enough alone. But Pedro Wongtschowski, the company's managing director, has a bigger, riskier vision for Oxiteno. He thinks it can play a leading—if not the leading—role in a radical restructuring of Brazil's largest petrochemical complex. Wongtschowski, who has been with Oxiteno for more than 20 years, has thought a lot about risk taking. In 1998, he was awarded a doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Sao Paulo, a full 20 ...

Association of petrochemical exposure with spontaneous abortion.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between petrochemical exposure and spontaneous abortion, a retrospective epidemiological study in a large petrochemical complex in Beijing, China was conducted. METHODS: Plant employment records identified...

Sources and distribution of chlorobenzenes and hexachlorobutadiene in surficial sediments along the coast of Southwestern Taiwan

The spatial distribution of chlorobenzenes in surficial sediments of the estuaries of major rivers along the coast of southwestern Taiwan was determined. Analytical results from sediment sampling stations indicate that the three outfall fields near Taiwan's largest industrial city, Kaohsiung, exhibit the highest concentrations of chlorobenzenes. More specifically, sediments from Tso-yin outfall field, which receives the wastewater from a very large petrochemical complex, had concentrations of 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene, pentachlorobenzene, hexachlorobenzene and hexachlorobutadiene 2–3 times higher than those from Chon-chou and Da-lin-pu outfall fields. Chlorobenzene congeners in sediments from the three outfall fields correlate closely and most of their correlation coefficients are even higher than those reported for Ise Bay, Japan. Results from undeveloped areas, estuaries of the Da-du, Tso-shui, and Chi-shui Chi, will be of value after the impact of planned industrial expansion development begins.

Expansion set at Saudi petrochemicals complex

Saudi Yanbu Petrochemical (Yanpet)—a 50-50 joint venture of Fairfax, Va.-based Mobil Corp. and Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC)—plans a $2 billion expansion of its Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, petrochemicals complex, located on the Red Sea north of Mecca. When construction is complete, the facility be one of the world's largest petrochemical complexes. Yanpet was formed by Mobil and SABIC in 1980 and began producing ethylene, polyethylene, and ethylene glycol in 1984-85. Mobil Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Lucio A. Noto says the expansion will make this facility the world's lowest cost ethylene producer. Yanpet realize significant capital and operating savings by integrating the new cracker into the existing complex. And the facility is ideally located to serve high-growth markets in the Middle East, Africa, and the Pacific Rim. Mobil pay half the project's costs and SABIC, the other half. Construction is slated to begin in 1997. The 800,000-metric-ton-per-year ethylene unit bring...

Disjunctive Programming Techniques for the Optimization of Process Systems with Discontinuous Investment Costs−Multiple Size Regions

This paper addresses the optimization of process models that involve discontinuous investment cost functions with fixed charges and are defined over several regions for the sizes. These discontinuous cost functions are naturally expressed by disjunctions. Conventional modeling and solution techniques for the optimization and synthesis of process systems with these cost models include a direct NLP approach, the use of smoothing functions and MINLP models with big-M constraints. In this paper we propose the application of disjunctive programming approaches based on the convex hull formulation of disjunctions, and disjunctive branch and bound with surrogates or linear underestimators. Theoretical comparison between the convex hull formulation, the big-M model, and the model with linear underestimators is presented. It is proved that the convex hull formulation of disjunctions gives the tightest relaxation among the alternative modeling techniques. The proposed solution techniques are tested on heat exchanger networks, process flowsheet design, and the synthesis of a large petrochemical complex. It is shown that the convex hull formulation of disjunctions gives the overall best performance among the proposed techniques.