Consumer Choice: Future of the Automotive Industry
Sustainability
The initial surge in electric vehicle (EV) adoption has plateaued due to pricing, tax incentive uncertainty, challenges with charging infrastructure, repair costs, and range limitations. Sales of hybrid vehicles (HVs) have recently increased. HVs provide consumers with a choice that balances the efficiency of EVs with the performance of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Consumers will inevitably compare all powertrain technologies to ICE vehicles regarding affordability, reliability, and performance. Recent policy changes have shifted the market toward cautious mainstream consumers. As technology and regulations evolve, consumer decisions will continue to be influenced by cost, reliability, performance, and environmental impact. In this session, an industry expert will present data and insights on current and future decisions.
Moderator:
Matt Goodman, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Speaker:
John Howard, Experian Automotive
Speakers
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Hitting for the Cycle: Covering All the Bases in NHT Fouling Mitigation
Gasoline Processes
Fouling of Naphtha Hydrotreating Reactors can cause limitations to operation and planned cycle length. This session will present three technologies to effectively mitigate this fouling to hit the cycle:
- Catching Scale: Haldor Topsoe and Marathon Petroleum step up to the plate
- HeavyTrap: A Top Bed Double Play
- Axens' HyRing: A Grand Slam in Pressure Drop Mitigation
Moderator:
Rhett Finch, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Speakers:
Nandita Akunuri, Axens North America
Amanda Cavazos, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Rhett Finch, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Leslie Johnson, Crystaphase
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Emerging Technologies for Alkylation
Alkylation
Today’s refiners are looking for newer technologies to product better quality alkylate. This session will review innovative processes, including:
- The K-SAAT® process, which produces higher quality alkylate using an engineered non-corrosive solid-acid catalyst. The K-SAAT® process eliminates the need for liquid acid catalyst, and is an ideal low cost solution for refiners looking to upgrade their existing Alkylation process. Participants will gain an understanding of how refiners can revamp an existing Alkylation unit to produce better quality alkylate through case studies that illustrate examples of such a conversion and the benefits achieved.
- The ISOALKY™ Technology, commercialized by Chevron and UOP, which offers benefits (product quality and yields) and economics compared to traditional alkylation technologies. The ISOALKY™ Catalyst is a non-volatile ionic liquid that does not require offsite regeneration. ISOALKY™ Technology can be used for green field plants or retrofit/expansion of existing alkylation units. The first commercial ISOALKY™ Unit has been successfully operating at the Chevron Salt Lake Refinery since January 2021, and the first unit turnaround was completed in October 2024. Participants will gain information on the ISOALKY™ Technology as well as the commercial operation, including turnaround learnings.
Moderator:
Liana Siegel, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Speakers:
Bhavdip Kalaria, KBR
Jon Keuler, Honeywell UOP
Mark Rasmussen, Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
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Process Controls 101: Back to the Basics
Optimization
What is basic process control?
How is it done? Why is it important for the refinery engineer to be familiar with the basics?
In this foundational session, the discussion will focus on the workings of everyday loops and instrumentation that a refinery engineer is likely to encounter.
Moderator:
Sriram Ramaganesan, Phillips 66
Speakers:
Joe Boyce, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Scott Flanagan, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Tim Olsen, Emerson Automation Solutions
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Capital Projects: Project Life Cycle Costs
Reliability and Maintenance Bootcamp
This session will introduce an integral part of maintenance and reliability engineers’ responsibilities to capital projects. How this relationship and communication is important to get safe, reliable, and maintainable equipment installed when working with a capital project team.
Participants will learn:
- What a project life cycle is
- What influences cost the most, and
- Industry standards for analysis
Moderator:
Bill Clark, Phillips 66
Speaker:
Dean Roberts, Ergon Refining, Inc.
Speakers
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