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Fast, simple and accurate on-the-go steam-trap testing

The SAGE UMT (photo) is a wireless, hand-held steam-trap-testing solution that enables accurate, on-the-go testing of steam-trap performance. SAGE UMT leverages radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to quickly locate and identify steam traps. Its piezoelectric acoustic and non-contact infrared (IR) temperature…

This AODD pump has multiple mounting orientations

This company has extended its line of specialty air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pumps with the addition of the new V150 13-mm Velocity Series pump (photo). Featuring a unique detachable mounting foot, Velocity Series pumps can easily be reoriented into a vertical…

A new generation of valve positioners

At Valve World Expo (Düsseldorf, Germany; November 27–29), this company introduced two new positioners from the Series 3730: Trovis 3730-1 and Trovis 3730-3. The new positioners (photo) for 4–20-mA applications combine the latest technological developments with the proven device base…

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Facts at your Fingertips: Pressure Measurement for Real Gases

The ideal gas law ( PV = nRT), relating molar volume of a gas to pressure and temperature, is predicated on two assumptions: 1) that the volume occupied by the gas molecules is negligible compared to the volume of the…

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Commercializing Process Technologies

New technologies can provide competitive advantages compared to established processes, but significant effort is required to transition a promising concept into a commercial reality Many students study chemical engineering with the aspiration of someday inventing an innovative process that could…

An Investigation of Premature Flooding in a Distillation Column

Surprising observations regarding flooding in the upper fractionation trays of an atmospheric crude-petroleum distillation column are investigated In industial distillation processes, flooding is an abnormal, but relatively common, process condition in which liquid accumulates in the column. The accumulation may…

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Cost Engineering: Equipment Purchase Costs

A methodology and examples for estimating equipment costs are presented Engineers have the responsibility to create projects having attractive returns on investment and to create economically sound designs — designs that produce high-quality, competitively priced products. This requires the technical…

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Accelerating Six Sigma Research with the Definitive Screening Design (DSD) Technique

DSD is a new design-of-experiments (DOE) technique that is expected to bring huge benefits when using a Six Sigma optimization strategy Statistical tools are deeply ingrained in the Six Sigma methodology to optimize processes and products during chemical process industries…

The Balanced Burner

Modern combustion technologies help processors safely meet emissions standards, while optimizing the process Combustion is integral to many chemical processes; however, it is not without challenges. Safety is, of course, always paramount when it comes to fired equipment and constantly…

Power-to-X: Batteries Not Required

As renewable energy becomes increasingly available (and less expensive), Europeans are looking to Power-to-X as a way to couple the energy, CPI and transportation sectors Germany’s energy transition (Energiewende) from fossil-based fuels to renewables, such as solar and wind, is…