Researchers from Singapore’s Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN; www.ibn.a-star.edu.sg) and Hydro-Quebec’s Research Institute (Montreal, Canada; www.hydro.qc.ca) have synthetized silicate-based “nanoboxes” that could greatly increase the energy capacity of lithium-ion batteries as compared to that of conventional phosphate-based cathodes. IBN’s…
IHI Corp. (IHI; Tokyo, www.ihi.co.jp) has commissioned its first prototype Twin IHI Gasifier (TIGAR) plant, which IHI designed and built at the Kujang Factory of PT Pupuk Indonesia Holding Co., Indonesia’s largest state-owned fertilizer company, 75 km southeast of Jakarta.…
Two families of newly developed products from specialty chemical maker Solenis (Wilmington, Del.; www.solenis.com) — a portfolio of fermentation aids and scale inhibitors — have the potential to improve the production of bioethanol and related fermentation processes. Solenis fermentation aids…
Construction has begun on a commercial prototype of a low-boiling-point solvent-extraction process for recovering used catalyst powder and slurry oil from a recalcitrant sludge produced in the fluid catalytic cracking units (FCCUs) of petroleum refineries. The process allows refiners to…
Many chemical process industries (CPI) operations generate gaseous byproducts that are impure and have low energy densities. Ener-Core Power Inc. (Irvine, Calif.; www.ener-core.com) has introduced a technology to extract valuable energy and heat from gases that would otherwise be wasted…
While the first applications of wireless technology were limited to simply monitoring processes, now WirelessHART can be integrated into the regulating process for controlling ball valves, fans and other mechanical devices. The discrete WirelessHART I/O field device (photo) can capture…
The new HiPace 30 turbopump (photo) is currently the only turbopump on the market in its size class offering pumping speeds of 32 L/s. Its small installation footprint and low level of vibration make this pump particularly suitable for integration…
The new Schütz impeller (photo) is a one-way stirring system that is integrated into the screw cap of intermediate bulk container (IBCs). The impeller system is available for all 1,000- and 1,250-L Ecobulk types and fits both the DN 150…
The JetMaster process was combined with the new JetPower system, which accelerates the cleaning of finned heat exchangers in the case of very large and heavily contaminated surfaces (photo). Finned heat exchangers can be very easily contaminated, often by sand,…
Overspeed protection is a key requirement in industries where failure of the turbine- or pump-speed governing system can lead to rotor damage, with expensive consequences. Independent speed monitoring and protection is therefore an essential requirement to minimize these risks as…