Technical & Practical
Refinery Operators and Maintenance Technicians: Mapping Competencies
Use this visual mapping method to assess functional qualifications A variety of factors — including a shift in the median age of workers worldwide and the impending skills shortage due to attrition and early retirements — have created a need…
Hopper inserts for improved solids flow
Storing solid materials in hoppers, bins and silos is ubiquitous in the chemical process industries (CPI), as are challenges associated with dispensing them. In many cases, using vessels with steep cones and smooth walls is enough to provide reliable flow.…
Achieving Zero Liquid Discharge Status
Water-supply issues are emerging as a national concern with certain sectors coming under increasing scrutiny. This is certainly the case with the ethanol industry. State discharge regulations dictate that plant designs incorporate technological solutions to minimize water use. These designs…
E&C projects Clarifying the Role of the Lead Process Engineer
For any capital-intensive and labor-intensive engineering and construction (E&C) project, the lead process engineer (LPE) plays a pivotal role. To maximize the success of these complex projects, companies that hire E&C companies should be aware of the role that the…
Infrared Temperature Measurement
Contact-based temperature sensors, such as thermocouples and resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), have demonstrated accurate and cost-effective operation throughout the chemical process industries (CPI). However, there are many applications and settings where they are simply not practical. In those cases, engineers…
FRI’s parallel projects
Considering that Fractionation Research, Inc. (FRI) has been performing distillation research since 1954, don’t we have all the answers yet? Not according to the membership. The vendors of trays and packings have had very aggressive R&D programs. New and interesting…
Chemical Protective Clothing
Chemical protective garments are available in a wide variety of fabrics and designs that provide varying levels of protection for chemical process industries (CPI) workers, who may be exposed to chemicals in the form of vapors, liquids and particles. While…
Solving Common Batch Problems: Controller-Based Systems
Agility, reliability, reporting and sharing of business information are among the key ingredients that have been dictated to modern-day control systems by the competitive pressures facing today’s manufacturers. In short, production must be faster, more efficient and provide actionable data…
Control valve position sensors
The precise monitoring and control of valve position is essential for efficient automation of both discrete and continuous processes. Measurement of valve position provides the data required for the use of advanced control strategies and predictive maintenance algorithms. More effective…
Evaluating and Reducing the Risks Of Pneumatic Pressure Testing
The pressure testing of process piping and vessels is essential in the chemical process industries (CPI). In liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other cryogenic facilities, residual water left by hydraulic pressure testing could result in operational problems if not completely…