Technical & Practical
The Importance of Steam Quality for Steam-System Process Operation
Often, operational problems in steam systems are misattributed because the system’s steam quality is not closely monitored. A clear understanding of steam quality can help to better address these issues Steam quality describes the proportion of saturated steam (vapor) in…
Gear Pump Basics
The versatile nature of gear-pump technology allows operators to handle multiple fluids in multiple applications Pump technology can be traced as far back as the B.C. era, when ancient Egyptians used a shadoof to move water from one source (in…
Pump Seals to Manage Water
Paying attention to the seal design used in centrifugal pumps can help in water management. This article uses the beverage industry to illustrate this point Economic survival in a climate where industry competition and environmental concerns converge is not easy.…
Critical Components in Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers: High-Cycle Valves
When designing a regenerative thermal oxidizer, engineers should not overlook the high-cycle valves that control process air and help maintain efficiency Regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) are regularly utilized in the chemical process industries (CPI) to collect and control air-pollution emissions…
Facts At Your Fingertips: Cake Filtration Basics
Filtration is arguably the most common unit operation in the chemical process industries (CPI). Filtration processes can be divided into three broad categories: cake filtration, where the incoming slurry contains enough solid material to form a cake on the filter…
Technology Profile: Production of Citric Acid
Citric acid is a naturally occurring tricarboxylic acid commonly found in plants and animals (Figure 1). In its pure form, it is a colorless compound readily soluble in water. Citric acid is mainly used to add taste to food and…
Improving a Thermal Loop: The Power Controller
Controlling the temperature of a process using a thermal loop is important in many applications. The importance of a power controller is discussed here For any process where temperature needs to be monitored or controlled, a thermal loop is required.…
Technology Profile: Production of Vinyl Acetate
Vinyl acetate (also known as vinyl acetate monomer; VAM) is important in the manufacture of many polymers and resins. The greatest demand for vinyl acetate is associated with the production of polymers and copolymers, mainly poly(vinyl acetates) used in papermaking,…
Facts At Your Fingertips: Considerations for Selecting Protective Eyewear
Selecting personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety eyewear, for the chemical process industries (CPI) depends on the hazards present in the facility where it is used. The following describes considerations for selecting eye and face protection based on the potential…
Perfluorinated Ion-Exchange Membranes: Development and Application
Perfluorinated ion-exchange membranes are developing beyond legacy applications to find use in a wide variety of emerging markets, including renewable energy Ion-exchange membranes are used in numerous industrial processes, including seawater desalination, electrodialysis and the production of commodity chemicals via…