Plant Watch Covestro breaks ground in Antwerp for new aniline plant October 12, 2022 — Covestro AG (Leverkusen, Germany; www.covestro.com) broke ground in Antwerp, Belgium for a new world-scale production facility for the manufacture of aniline. Covestro is investing more…
The GS variable-speed drive (VSD) compressor (photo) can adapt and optimize its operations, thanks to “smart” features. The GA VSDS (photo) is the third generation of VSD compressors. VSD compressors significantly reduce energy consumption by adjusting their motor speed to…
Concise tips on selecting the right valve A typical chemical plant contains miles of piping and hundreds, if not thousands, of industrial valves (Figure 1) that are essential for the plant to operate efficiently and safely. Unlike the simple consumer…
In crossflow membrane filtration (CMF), feed flow is parallel to the filtration surface (rather than perpendicular to it, as in conventional filtration). During a given pass, a portion of the feed permeates the membrane, while a larger portion is retained…
Fouling of heat exchanger surfaces reduces thermal efficiency. An improved understanding of fouling and the design factors that affect it can help ensure that heat exchange occurs during normal operating conditions Using tubular heat exchangers is an efficient and reliable…
The new FLEX isobaric energy recovery device (photo) is this company’s next-generation compact pressure exchanger for reverse osmosis (RO) plants. The FLEX pressure exchanger is designed to be one of the most efficient and compact energy-recovery devices on the market.…
This C Series heat exchanger (photo) replaced an older shell-and-tube design that had high operating costs, due to a 2.4 psi pressure drop. While both old and new units have the same capabilities, the new C Series pressure drop is…
New materials, digitalization and simplified user interfaces reduce downtime and ensure safety in pressure-measurement applications Optimizing uptime and safety are among the two highest priorities for chemical processors, making reliability in pressure-measurement devices essential to ensuring that key processes are…
Scientists at the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL; Upton, N.Y.; www.bnl.gov) and collaborators at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL; Laurel Hollow, N.Y.; www.cshl.edu) have genetically engineered a strain of duckweed (Lemna japonica) to produce high yields of…
Compliant with MIL-STD-961E: Defense and Program-Unique Specifications Format and Content, the Spiralfeeder conveying system (photo) meets the U.S. Dept. of Defense requirements for quality in design, fabrication and materials, as well as in availability, interchangeability and low-cost considerations. The Milspec…