Furnace Improvements Services Inc.

Furnace Improvements Services Inc. Furnace Improvements Services (FIS) has been helping refineries improve the efficiency, reliability, and performance of fired heaters for over 30 years.

FIS can design and revamp all refinery fired heaters including Crude, Vacuum, Catalytic Reformer, Hot Oil, Coker Heater and CO Boilers. Our skilled group of engineers has a combined experience of over 300 years. FIS also provides design of new fired heaters to end users. Our designs are the most economical, efficient, and reliable. We ensure that key design parameters are not compromised and heate

rs perform to their full capacity from day one. We are the only heater company that has developed expertise in rating of industrial boilers and CO boilers. FIS has rated boilers for:


• Exxon Beaumont (TX) – CO Boiler
• Citgo Corpus Christi (TX) – CO Boiler
• Valero Port Arthur (TX) – Boiler NOx Reduction
• ConocoPhillips Borger (TX) – Boiler NOx Reduction
• ConocoPhillips Wood River (IL) - Boiler NOx Reduction
• Targa HRSG Boiler (TX) – Performance Improvement
• ConocoPhillips Bayway (TX) – Performance Improvement of Economizer
Revamping Services

Revamping fired heaters is a practical and effective way to improve heater performance. This focuses on working with existing components and as a result, investment and downtime is minimized. FIS projects are accessed in the following areas:

• Capacity Increase
• Efficiency Improvement
• NOx Reduction

A fired heater revamping project typically has the following phases:

Phase I → Engineering Study +/- 30% Cost Estimates. Phase II → Project Design Basis Report with +/- 10% Cost Estimates. Phase III → Detailed Engineering, Project Services, Execution

Furnace Improvements’ scope of services includes but is not limited to:

• Design
• Engineering
• Project Management
• Procurement
• Fabrication
• Site Services

Here are some revamp projects FIS has carried out:

• Valero, Wilmington Refinery - Platformer Heater, Capacity Improvement
• Citgo, Corpus Christi, TX - Platformer Heater, Efficiency Improvement and NOx Reduction
• ConocoPhillips, Borger, TX - U40 Boiler NOx Reduction

A few weeks ago, we shared that we had built an interactive Fired Heater Simulator.The response was encouraging, so we w...
06/03/2026

A few weeks ago, we shared that we had built an interactive Fired Heater Simulator.

The response was encouraging, so we wanted to give a quick look at what it does and why we built it.

Most fired heater training explains the theory well.

But there's a difference between knowing that low O₂ increases CO and actually seeing the flame change, tube metal temperatures rise, and efficiency drop in real time.

That's the gap we wanted to close.

The simulator allows users to adjust:
• Stack Damper
• Burner Air Register
• Fuel Gas Rate

And instantly see the impact on:
• Excess O₂
• Draft
• CO
• Firebox Temperature
• Stack Temperature
• Tube Metal Temperature
• Flame Stability

Users can also work through realistic operating scenarios such as low O₂, excess air, unstable flames, draft issues, and furnace bogging.

Built from more than 30 years of fired heater operating and training experience, the simulator is designed to help operators and engineers build intuition in a safe, interactive environment.

If you'd like early access when it launches, comment DEMO below and we'll send you the details.

A Fired Heater is Only as Good as the Operator Running It.In refineries and process plants, a single mistake in heater o...
05/14/2026

A Fired Heater is Only as Good as the Operator Running It.

In refineries and process plants, a single mistake in heater operation can mean:
- Safety risks
- Energy loss
- Expensive downtime

But here’s the truth most plants ignore 👇

Many operators never receive structured fired heater training.

That’s exactly why the Fired Heater Operator Training from Furnace Improvements Services Inc. was created.

In just 3 hours, operators learn the practical fundamentals that directly impact plant performance:
- Heat transfer basics
- Combustion and fuel behavior
- Burner operation
- Draft control
- Safe heater start-up procedures
- Troubleshooting real operational issues

The course is fully online and self-paced, so your team can learn from the control room, office, or home, and immediately apply what they learn on the job.

💡 The best part?
This isn’t theory-heavy training. It’s practical knowledge built by engineers who have spent decades optimizing fired heaters across refineries worldwide.

Because when operators truly understand their heaters, plants see:
✔ Safer start-ups
✔ Higher efficiency
✔ Fewer shutdowns
✔ Better troubleshooting

Stronger operators = stronger plants.

If you operate, maintain, or supervise fired heaters, this training is worth your time.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.heatflux.com/operator-training

05/11/2026

When operators understand the drivers behind emissions, they’re better equipped to operate heaters more efficiently, safely, and with lower environmental impact.

This is exactly why operator-level understanding of combustion fundamentals matters in day-to-day plant operations.

If you’re interested in deepening your knowledge of furnace and reformer operation, our FIS Steam Methane Reformer (SMR) Training covers the fundamentals of firing, heat transfer, tube limits, and combustion in reformer furnaces.

Learn more about the training here:
https://www.heatflux.com/steam-methane-reformer-smr-training

Most fired heaters don’t lose efficiency overnight. They lose it slowly… and almost invisibly.At FIS, we often see heate...
04/27/2026

Most fired heaters don’t lose efficiency overnight. They lose it slowly… and almost invisibly.

At FIS, we often see heaters that are “running fine”, meeting throughput, stable operation, but quietly consuming more fuel than they should.

👉 The gap? Heat recovery that isn’t fully utilized.

1. Stack temperature tells a bigger story than you think

A high stack temperature is not just a number; it’s a direct indicator of unrecovered energy.

2. Air preheating is one of the simplest ways to recover losses

Using flue gas to preheat combustion air can:
• Improve thermal efficiency
• Reduce fuel consumption
• Stabilize combustion

Yet, it’s often under-optimized.

3. Performance drops gradually—not suddenly

What we typically observe in operating units:
• Fouling reduces heat transfer
• Leakage across air/flue gas paths
• Deviation from design temperature profiles

The result is a steady efficiency decline that goes unnoticed.

4. The real challenge is not adding equipment—it’s making it work

Effective performance depends on:
• Proper integration with the heater system
• Correct material and thermal design
• Balanced draft and combustion control

💡 What this means in practice
If your stack temperature is creeping up over time, your fuel consumption is doing the same.

What we focus on at FIS
Not just identifying losses, but converting them into measurable efficiency gains.

If your heater is showing:
• Higher-than-expected stack temperatures
• Increasing fuel usage
• Unexplained efficiency gaps

Comment “AIR,” and we’ll share a practical checklist to evaluate your system.

Or reach out if you’d like to discuss your case.
If this was useful, consider reposting. Many heaters are losing energy in the same way.

Turnarounds don’t fail in ex*****on; they fail in planning. Avoid the 4 mistakes that quietly drain efficiency, increase...
04/24/2026

Turnarounds don’t fail in ex*****on; they fail in planning.

Avoid the 4 mistakes that quietly drain efficiency, increase fuel costs, and create repeat shutdowns. The difference? Fixing root causes, not symptoms.

Smart TAR planning = safer operations, lower emissions, and long-term reliability.

04/23/2026

Our journey in steam methane reforming has been built on deep, hands-on experience.

Founded in 1996, Furnace Improvements Services has worked with refineries and gas plants to solve complex fired heater and reformer challenges.

In 1999, we were selected to develop a comprehensive steam reforming handbook for hydrogen plants, a recognition of our technical expertise and industry contributions, including publications in Hydrocarbon Processing.

From designing ammonia cracking furnaces in Goa to troubleshooting some of the world’s largest reformers, we’ve consistently delivered practical, performance-driven solutions.

Today, we continue to push boundaries by improving the efficiency of a large SMR unit through upgrades to the convection section and stack, targeting ~8% gains in thermal efficiency.

Decades of experience. Proven results. Continuous improvement.

Need more info? DM us or visit www.heatflux.com

Save this!! It's the 5-point fired heater audit checklist every process engineer should run quarterly.If you’re not trac...
04/21/2026

Save this!! It's the 5-point fired heater audit checklist every process engineer should run quarterly.

If you’re not tracking these, you’re probably burning fuel (and money) without realizing it.

Many SMRs are operating below their true production and efficiency potential, not due to lack of demand, but because of ...
04/20/2026

Many SMRs are operating below their true production and efficiency potential, not due to lack of demand, but because of furnace limitations.

These constraints don’t just impact efficiency; they directly limit throughput and reduce margins.

The upside?

Most of these challenges can be addressed with the right combination of furnace expertise, optimization, and operating strategy.

At Furnace Improvements Services, we work with hydrogen plants and refineries to improve safety, reduce fuel consumption, and increase SMR throughput.

💡 If these issues sound familiar, it’s worth a closer look.

📩 Send us a message to connect with our SMR specialists, or email [email protected]

Let’s explore how to convert furnace constraints into measurable performance gains.

04/18/2026

Our second project marked our entry into refineries at a plant in Corpus Christi.

We conducted an engineering study on their crude and vacuum heaters and delivered clear recommendations.

Twenty years later, they called us again, this time for tube rupture issues.

We resolved the issue, and their heater has been running successfully for nearly eight years.

From a first meeting to decades of trust, that’s the impact we strive to deliver.

When great engineering meets daily reliability, you notice it every single day. ✅
04/17/2026

When great engineering meets daily reliability, you notice it every single day.

✅

Address

1650 Highway 6, Ste 440
Sugar Land, TX
77478

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 2pm
Sunday 8am - 9pm

Telephone

+12819800325

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Furnace Improvements Services Inc. posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Furnace Improvements Services Inc.:

Shortcuts

Share

Category