Meet Alina Green, WIKA USA’s Chemical and Petrochemical Industry Expert

Alina has long been passionate about STEM, particularly the application of innovative technologies, so attending Polytechnic University of Bucharest was an obvious choice. She earned her degree in Chemical Process Engineering, using HYSYS process simulation to model the chemical process of obtaining cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone – commonly used as chemical intermediantes for resins, paints, and dyes – from cyclohexane.

She has years of practical experience in the oil & gas and fuel & petrochemicals industries. Field assignments ranged from inland Poland to offshore work in Ghana and Israel. In her role as a field engineering specializing in pressurized sample capture for lab analysis, she provided her services across locations in Europe and Africa. These experiences, which she describes as highly demanding, gave her a healthy respect not only for the role that pressure plays in oil and gas exploration and chemical processes , but for the industry as a whole.

Her practical expertise in reservoir oil and gas fluid characterization, followed by years of project management leadership, have placed Alina at the forefront of industrial applications and given her a deep understanding of the critical role of pressure, temperature, and flow in achieving higher yields while maximizing safety.

Relationships built on trust and solutions

Alina, now based in Houston, brings more than just technical expertise to every business relationship. She is a trusted collaborator and problem solver, having worked closely with some of the industry’s top specialists and subject matter experts. A project Alina is especially proud of is a miniature multipoint thermocouple array for Chevron. The custom-designed temperature monitoring system, with 16 highly accurate ungrounded sensors, was retrofitted into one of the refinery’s amine contactor columns. This measurement solution gave the customer a clearer picture of the amine absorber’s performance, and allowed operators to make the necessary adjustments to optimize the unit’s energy efficiency. Chevron was so pleased with this engineered temperature solution that Alina and the team at WIKA’s Houston location were asked to design, manufacture, and install a second array.

Another excellent example of a successful collaboration in implementing measurement solutions occured at a Texas plant within a partial oxidation (POX) unit. Here, a specialized WIKA temperature sensor enabled the plant operator to reduce maintenance costs by increasing the lifespan of the temperature measurement device from three months to well over a year. WIKA’s thermocouples with a sapphire design have a gas-tight protection tube with a monocrystalline structure that shields the sensor’s sensitive wires from hydrogen permeation and temperatures as high as 1,700°C (3,092°F).

Alina’s expertise goes beyond high-temperature measurement solutions. She has also advised customers on using Venturi nozzles to regulate feedstock flow rates in ethylene cracking furnaces and ways to protect mechanical and electronic pressure instruments in fertilizer plants. More recently, she worked with an EPC contractor to provide orifice meter runs to be installed in a major U.S. facility that captures carbon dioxide.

A focus on sustainability, both environmentally and economically

Industries around the world are making the shift to cleaner technologies and greener practices. As the chemical industry considers alternative fuels and feedstocks, Alina provides expert advice with a sensible and balanced approach in areas such as a company’s hydrogen readiness.

“Decarbonization has to align with profitability and economical goals. Innovation will come where there’s investment,” Alina says. “Measurements and data are becoming increasingly important as processes have to become more efficient and reliable. In my role, I get to help operators meet those goals through innovative measurement solutions.”

She also looks forward to emerging technologies for chemical recycling, bioplastics manufacturing, energy storage, and battery materials. “There are a lot of ESG (environment, social, and governance) incentives for innovations in chemical and petrochemical,” she adds.

And when companies are ready to explore and adopt such practices, Alina and WIKA USA will be there to offer expert advisory and robust instrumentation.

Helping customers optimize their chemical and petrochemical processes

Modern life relies on the success of chemical and petrochemical companies. The production of chemical fertilizers makes it possible to feed the world’s growing population. Telecoms and data centers run on fiber optic cables, which are manufactured using chlorinated gas and other chemical vapors. Meanwhile, the petrochemical industry supplies not only transportation fuels, but also the raw materials for making plastics, medicines, lubricants, fibers, synthetic rubbers, and a myriad of other essential products. Alina Green has one overarching professional goal: to help chemical and petrochemical companies optimize their processes and increase safety through accurate, robust, and reliable instrumentation.

Start a conversation with Alina about questions or challenges in your chemical/petrochemical applications: