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…
Several methods are available for sizing two-phase pressure-relief valves (PRVs). Here, the API 520 homogeneous direct integration method is compared to a potentially simpler alternative that does not require integration Two-phase pressure-relief valves (PRVs) have been studied by many researchers.…
All chemical process industries (CPI) operations involving combustion need to be concerned with the emission of combustion products, due to their potential environmental and health impacts. This one-page reference provides information about several of the most common combustion byproducts from…
This column is based on “Isopropyl Alcohol Production from RG Propylene – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/isopropyl-alcohol-production-cost. Isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) is among the most commonly produced lower alcohols — ranked third in…
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European Commission’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Directive 89/686/EEC is over 20 years old and is now being superseded by the…
Areas of recent activity for pressure-relief systems include new calculation methods and updates to existing codes and standards. Included here is an overview of recent developments and a look at the results from a recent study of pressure-relief system deficiencies…
Process industry plants install sophisticated air-pollution control systems, but they can be ineffective if the flowmeters on which they rely deliver inaccurate or unreliable data. This one-page reference provides information on measuring the flow of gaseous combustion products in large…
The concept of tray stability can apply to bubble caps and be used as an alternative method to determine the minimum efficient capacity of these devices. A new stability correlation for bubble-cap trays is proposed and checked against FRI data…
A practical look at the need for validation, as well as conceptual considerations and a case study This article addresses the need for experimental validation of computer-generated distillation column simulations , and discusses the main concepts involved with experimental validation.…
This column is based on “Cyclohexane from Benzene and Hydrogen – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/cyclohexane-production-cost. Cyclohexane is a relatively stable cycloalkane, present in crude oils in concentrations of 0.1–1.0%. This cycloparaffin…