Buried piping — especially lines carrying hydrocarbons — shoulders many more risks in terms of plant safety and environmental protection than aboveground piping does. Leaks in buried pipes are much harder to detect and, yet, are no less catastrophic. Ironically,…
Throughout the chemical process industries (CPI), project owners often track key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure that all participants are able to attain or improve important performance objectives associated with their investments. For instance, for complex projects involving various contractors…
Chemical regulatory compliance is growing in complexity as product sourcing and formulations proliferate and organizations expand into new markets on a global scale. Staying current with the requirements of international regulatory initiatives such as the Globally Harmonized System of Classification…
Three new viscometers for a range of applications Thermo Fisher Scientific This new line of viscometers includes three models (photo): the Viscotester E, for automatic flow-curve measurements with full PC control; the Viscotester D, for routine viscosity measurements with data…
This level pressure transmitter is ideal for high-purity applications Endress+Hauser The Deltapilot FMB 70 hydrostatic, level pressure transmitter (photo) is particularly suitable for food, beverage, dairy and pharmaceutical applications. Its watertight pressure-measuring cell and 316L stainless-steel housing with polycarbonate…
Although plant safety should be a top priority every day, there are certain times when extra vigilance is needed to make sure that safety practices are being maintained. This article outlines three periods deemed to be “critical” for plant safety…
History is a constant reminder that accidents and catastrophic events can and do occur in process environments. As processes become more complex (for instance, allowing for greater operating temperatures and pressures to be used) and existing basic process control systems…
The reboiler generally supplies most of the energy required to effect component separation. If too much heat is supplied, the tower may flood; conversely, if too little heat is available, separation performance may decrease via poor reflux ratio (pinching), excessive…
Plant Watch Dow to increase ethane cracking capabilities December 3, 2010 — The Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, Mich.; www.dow.com) plans to increase ethane cracking capabilities on the U.S. Gulf Coast and improve its ethane cracking capabilities by 20–30% over the…
Agglomeration is the process of converting fine powder particles into larger particles by the introduction of external forces. Agglomeration is often desirable because the process yields a product that has a higher bulk density, contains less dust, and has improved…