Predictive maintenance for rotating machinery is gaining prominence as plant operators embrace analytics and learn how to approach their operating benchmarks Rotating machines, such as motors, compressors, pumps and turbines, are critically important components of plant operations, and must perform…
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…
Facilities with safety instrumented systems can now take advantage of the new SIL (safety integrity level) 2/3 functional safety certification of the Rosemount 8800 Vortex flowmeters (photo), per IEC 61508, which can help mitigate risk, enhance plant safety and protect…
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…
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.…
With the proper knowledge, engineers can work alongside compressor manufacturers to ensure that an optimal air compression system is installed There are various factors to consider when designing a compressed air system that help to improve the reliability and efficiency…
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 company has developed WirelessHART instrumentation devices (photo) with batteries that are expected to last the entire life of the device. The batteries are engineered to minimize energy usage based on an in-depth microsecond-by-microsecond analysis of a unit’s power consumption.…
This company’s Process Water Recycling Plant (photo) is a fully automated standalone unit that enables recycling of process water from mining operations. The plant is specifically designed for concentrator plants, which dewater tailings and recycle the water back to the…
The CombiLyz conductivity meter (photo), with an accuracy of±1% and a measuring range of 500µS/cm to 1,000 mS/cm, together with robust temperature compensation, provides many important features for clean-in-place (CIP) systems. Where CIP systems require acids or alkalis, accurate measurement…