Traditional vapor-compression refrigeration relies on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as refrigerant fluids — a class of compounds with global-warming potentials (GWP) thousands of times higher than that of CO2. A new approach from scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL; Berkeley, Calif.;…
Follow these nine recommendations to establish a strong program for preventive maintenance of rotary drums in drying, cooling and other treatments of bulk solids Maximizing efficiency is increasingly a critical priority for plant managers, leading many to move away from…
Modern control technologies and industrial automation strategies can help processors use fluidized-bed dryers to drive competitiveness and profitability The ability of fluidized-bed dryers to achieve exceptional performance and deliver high-quality results in the controlled, gentle and homogeneous drying of wet…
Steam Reforming Honeywell International Inc. (Charlotte, N.C.; www.honeywell.com) and ZoneFlow Reactor Technologies, LLC (ZFRT; Windsor, Conn.; www.zoneflowtech.com) have successfully conducted pilot-plant testing of the ZoneFlow Reactor in ZFRT’s large-scale pilot plant at Université Catholique de Louvain in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. The…
Discovering new catalysts and materials for specific applications can be a tedious and time-consuming process involving labor-intensive tests and expensive samples. Technology developed by Mattiq (Skokie, Ill.; www.mattiq.com) enables the “printing” of tens of thousands of tiny material samples onto…
Most plant-based bioprocesses involve growing plants in outdoor fields or greenhouses, but this is hindered by local climates and available space, and typical product yields are very low per plant, especially for natural active molecules used in pharmaceutical and healthcare…
This company recently released new condition-monitoring software with built-in analytics. Using artificial intelligence, the new Analytics (photo) for online condition monitoring helps hygienic industries prevent unplanned downtime, extends the lifetime of valuable assets and helps reach sustainability targets. Analytics is…
This company has engineered a purpose-built VM-450-gallon VersaMix (photo) that features three independently driven agitators, including a two-wing center-mounted agitator with contoured bottom and Teflon scrapers to efficiently motivate viscous product throughout the mixing zone, a long helical flight agitator…
An overview on the importance of standard operation procedures (SOPs) and how to write them Today, it is necessary to have standard operating procedures (SOPs) for steam and condensate systems, boilers, deaerators and even steam process units (Figure 1). An…
Chemical plants should not overlook the potential problems that can arise from damaged or malfunctioning lighting fixtures It is no secret that many chemical plants and industrial sites are prone to harsh environmental conditions that can wreak havoc on equipment…