In traditional beer brewing, the progress of the fermentation process is typically checked manually, by inserting a hydrometer (beer spindle) that measures the density, from which the extract content of the wort can be derived — a procedure that not…
A practical overview on how to use location factors, and some tips on when to use — or not use — them Often in the early stages of project development in the chemical process industries (CPI), the development team is…
The new VJ-4 dual-camera video borescope (photo) is available in four sizes: 2.5, 3.9, 6.0 and 8.0 mm. All VJ-4 models are equipped with a 5.5-in. QLED screen with 2.5x digital zoom, a touchscreen or stylus interface with on-screen annotation…
Plant Watch Petrobras announces biorefining breakthrough at Riograndense refinery November 9, 2023 — Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; www.petrobras.com.br) has successfully processed 100% soybean oil in a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit at its Riograndense petroleum refinery…
Researchers at Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH Zurich; Switzerland; www.ethz.ch) and Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU; www.ntu.edu.sg) developed a process to utilize industrial chicken feathers for making proton-conductive membranes that can be used in fuel cells, protonic transistors and water-splitting…
NC-520XP hearing-protection headsets (photo) are designed for use in demanding environments. They incorporate Dual Bluetooth, which enables the connection of two Bluetooth devices simultaneously (such as a smartphone or radio), enabling hands-free communication. This also allows users to listen to…
Metal components made with laser powder-bed fusion — an important additive manufacturing process — must be qualified for use in critical applications, but the qualification relies on expensive non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques. In-process monitoring offers a less expensive alternative, but…
The new SpeedAir 3050 leak tester (photo) is an all-in-one system for nonporous pharmaceutical containers. SpeedAir offers container-closure integrity testing (CCIT) for a wide range of products, including flexible or rigid, liquid or solid packaging. Typically requiring only 30–45 s,…
In recent years, engineers at ETH Zurich have developed technology to produce liquid fuels from sunlight and air. At the heart of the production process is a solar reactor that is exposed to concentrated sunlight delivered by a parabolic mirror…
Editor's note: The content in the following column is adapted from the following article: Palluzi, R., Leak Prevention in Small-bore Piping and Tubing, Chem. Eng., October 2020, pp. 22–25. The original article can be found here. Leakage can negatively affect…