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November: New Products International

An Inline Seal with a Clamp Connection In addition to both threaded-pipe and flanged connections, sterile, standard-compliant connections for instruments are now also possible in the form of a clamp connection (DIN 11 864-3). The standard material for wetted parts…

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Cover Story: Process Modeling Moves Center-Stage

Process modeling has progressed from the "molecule accounting" of steady-state flowsheeting packages to become a central platform for capturing and deploying chemical process industries’ (CPI) intellectual property (IP). Systematic modeling has moved center stage to help companies differentiate themselves from…

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Facts at Your Fingertips: Biodiesel Production

Biodiesel can be produced from vegetable oils by three types of reactions: base catalyzed transesterification of the oil; direct acid-catalyzed transesterification of the oil; and conversion of the oil to its fatty acids, and then to biodiesel. Biodiesel is typically…

Pressure-Relief System Design

  Pressure relief systems are vital in the chemical process industries (CPI) for handling a wide variety of situations. They are used to prevent pressurization above a system’s design pressure; for venting during an unusual or emergency situation; and for…

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Condition-Based Maintenance Management Enhances Reliability

Management is a process of managing risk; maintenance management is a process of managing risk for operational reliability. Since it is hard to manage what cannot be measured, effective maintenance management demands good data on machine health — a comprehensive…

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Engineering Practice: Get More From Vertical Thermosiphon Reboilers

A very common heat exchanger in the chemical process industries (CPI) is the vertical thermosiphon reboiler (VTR; Figure 1). Due to size and fluid-flow restrictions, however, its heat transfer rate is often quite low. The subcooled region formed at the…

Focus On: Compressors, Fans & Blowers

  Training and Parts Aid in Compressed-Air System Maintenance This company is offering a free interactive Air System Maintenance CD that details common maintenance functions for rotary screw compressors, refrigerated and desiccant dryers, filters and drains. Using instructional video, voice…

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Economic Indicators: Business News

Plant Watch Oxea expands carboxylic-acids production, adds butyric acid October 14, 2008 — Oxea GmbH has decided to produce butyric acid at its North American production site in Bay City, Tex. The existing carboxylic-acids production plant will receive significant upgrading.…

Engineering Practice: Discharge Coefficients and Flow Resistance Factors

This article presents the fundamental concepts of the discharge coefficient, KD, of a relief valve or a safety relief valve, and flow resistance factor, KR, of a rupture disk, and their proper use in sizing an emergency relief system. When…

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Strategies to Minimize Wastewater Discharge

As regulatory issues, environmental sensitivity, and longterm water supply concerns increase, the chemical process industries (CPI) are considering ways to reduce their water discharges. In fact, more and more companies are evaluating the viability of zero-liquid-discharge (ZLD) processes. This usually…