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Engineering Practice

Experimental Methodologies to Verify Distillation Simulations

Presented here are practical considerations concerning the equipment and methods used for experimental verifications of simulations The use of process simulation tools for modeling distillation columns is invaluable for designing plant-scale columns. However, it can be difficult to know if…

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Calculate the Wetted Surface Area of Pressure Vessels

This article provides a comparative study of two approaches to protect ASME semi-elliptical pressure tanks from overpressure in the event of a fire Calculating the wetted surface area is a crucial step to protect American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ (ASME)…

Protecting Sensor Data Transmitted Wirelessly: A Grounds-Up Approach

Do not assume security is extensive enough to protect your critical data and processes. Take a layered security approach using different tactics to establish best practices for protecting network data Almost daily, the headlines tout the latest data breach that…

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Get the Most Out of an Owner-Contractor Alliance

This article provides guidance for setting up a robust alliance between plant owners and EPC contractors to minimize risk and maximize synergies during complex, capital-intensive projects The most meaningful collaboration pathway among plant owners and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC)…

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Avoid Safety Pitfalls During Plant Expansion and Modification

Follow this guidance to minimize risk when adding or modifying plant equipment In 2015, construction in the chemical process industries (CPI) soared. Capital spending surged 18.4% and 255 new chemical production projects were announced, according to the American Chemistry Council…

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Liquid-Gas Coalescers: The Effects of Retrograde Condensation

Modeling and pilot testing can minimize its impact during natural-gas processing Retrograde condensation (RC) occurs in multi-component natural-gas streams at relatively high pressures (for instance, pressures above 40 barg/580 psig). The presence of condensed liquids in such systems can have…

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The Unrecognized Problems of Relocating Laboratories

Follow the guidance provided here to avoid many of the problems that can arise during the relocation of laboratory facilities The decision to move a laboratory from an existing space to a new research facility is often warranted. A merger…

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The CE Plant Cost Index: An Update

Changes in the availability of source data for the CE Plant Cost Index periodically necessitate updates to how the index is calculated The Chemical Engineering Plant Cost Index (CEPCI) is a widely used tool for comparing plant construction costs in…

Understanding New PPE Regulations

The new European Union Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation explained, and what it means for the chemical process industries The European Commission’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Directive 89/686/EEC is over 20 years old and is now being superseded by the…

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Chemical Supply Chains Go Digital

When it comes to managing complex global supply chains, visibility and collaboration are the name of the game. To drive it, companies are embracing digital strategies The global chemical process industries (CPI) are undergoing a major transformation brought about by…