Polylactic acid (PLA) is the biodegradable polymer of lactic acid, which is produced via fermentation processes. For the last five decades, PLA has been mainly used in biomedical applications. The development of economical production routes and a rising environmental awareness…
Organized by The Water Environment Federation (Alexandria, Va.; www.wef.org), this year’s Weftec conference and exhibition is taking place Sept. 26–30 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. Focusing on the water and wastewater industries, the event will feature a large exhibit…
Determining net positive suction head (NPSH) can be confusing, but with these guidelines, engineers can avoid the pitfalls of incorrect calculations Most engineers have likely heard the term NPSH (net positive suction head) at some point in their careers. Put…
The pipe-flow equation presented here can be used to properly and easily size pipelines for liquid, vapor and two-phase flow. Example calculations are also shown Sizing pipelines is a fundamental task for design engineers, who typically use several equations to…
How shear-cell testing provides a basis for predicting flow behavior Powder jams are the once-in-a-month catastrophe that can bring processing operations to a standstill. Whether it’s erratic flow behavior or complete stoppage of solids discharge, the consequence is the same.…
In cases where full containment of dangerous and hazardous chemicals is necessary, seal-less pumps can provide many safety and operational benefits To the average person, many of the raw materials that are commonly used in the chemical process industries (CPI)…
Mobile app and vibration sensors monitor machinery The SKF Enlight platform combines a new mobile app with a Bluetooth-enabled vibration sensor to enable staff to collect machinery data with no special training (photo). This allows standard mobile devices, such as…
Turndown and rangeability have a big impact on the flexibility and efficiency of chemical process operations During the design of a chemical process plant, the main focus is on which process units or unit operations must be integrated to convert…
Secondary treated wastewater from municipal plants can be a water resource for industry. Important water characteristics and treatment options are discussed Water is a precious resource, and water quality and water pollution are important issues. Many companies and industries are…
Electric alternating current (a.c.) motors power all types of equipment in the chemical process industries (CPI), including pumps, fans, blowers, compressors and other types of process equipment. Electric motor systems offer opportunities for reductions in power consumption because while some…