Hydrogen is transported in steel tanks and pipelines. However, H2 causes embrittlement of steels by accumulating at microstructures called dislocations and at the boundaries between the individual crystals of which the steel is composed. The accumulation of hydrogen weakens the…
The Siwarex WP351 (photo) is one of the smallest electronic weighing units available, measuring just 20 mm (width) by 65 mm (height). The device’s 1,000-Hz sampling rate and processing time, combined with a digital output response time of less than…
While new and exciting technologies become available to us at a rapid pace, realizing their benefits takes people with the willingness to try new approaches, and the insight to put them into practice. Last month, at the Connected Plant Conference…
A brief look at the benefits of installing modern materials and design upgrades through retrofit projects in chemical plants Modern chemical manufacturing plants depend on the reliable operation of numerous important assets to maintain productivity. Retaining legacy equipment is a…
Beyond the purchase price, there are other optimizable costs that will help moderate pump-related expenses, when estimating pump lifecycle costs Facility managers who rely on industrial pumps for the various liquid-transfer duties in their manufacturing processes may occasionally think that…
This column is based on “Polyoxymethylene from Methanol and Acetic Anhydride – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/polyoxymethylene-production-cost. Polyoxymethylene (also known as POM and polyacetal resin) is a thermoplastic polymer fiber. Owing to…
In their own words, sustainability leaders from the chemical process industries provide insight about their practical success and ongoing goals in improving environmental performance Considerations about environmental sustainability are permeating all levels of the global economy, as companies realize that…
This company’s Break-Away adapter (photo) is a break-away coupler designed with an engineered break-point to protect plants, tanks, trucks, rail-cars and loading arms from the hazardous consequences of pull-away incidents. The patented design does not restrict flow of product and…
Use the strategies discussed here to maximize the yields of solid products from batch drying vessels Successfully drying a wet solid in a drying vessel does not complete the operation — the dry solids must be removed from the vessel.…
Caprolactam Genomatica (San Diego, Calif.; www.genomatica.com) recently announced the production of the world’s first renewably sourced ton of caprolactam, the key ingredient for nylon-6. The company made the caprolactam by fermenting plant sugars with engineered microbes, departing from the conventional…