Multivariable (MV) control is a powerful technology. Applied in industry for several decades now, substantial benefits from its use have been reported in many publications. Yet, this technique is still by far not utilized to the extent it…
In multicomponent systems, equation-of-state (EOS) methods generally do a good job of determining vapor-phase properties. But accurate determination of properties for the liquid phase is much more difficult, especially when the liquid contains dissimilar molecules, polar molecules such…
Computer models that simulate the operation of jet engines with alternative fuels will be developed by Reaction Design (San Diego, Calif.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6898-532) under a two-year contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA; Glenn Research Center). The objective is…
Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all engineering software packages. Today, solution providers offer versions with improved integration for advanced data sharing and simplified user interfaces with the ability to multitask between the design house and the plant floor,…
The ST 3000 Pressure Transmitter line from Honeywell International, Inc. (Phoenix, Ariz.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6897-546) is said to be the process industries’ first to support HART 6, the latest digital-communication protocol of the HART Communications Foundation (Austin, Tex.). The new interoperability gives…
Deregulation of market pricing structures, increased oil-and-gas exploration and drilling costs, fierce competition, and new regulatory requirements have all influenced today’s trend toward quality flow-measurement methodologies. Not only is volume a consideration, but so is the inherent value…
Process performance, quality and reliability depend directly on how a plant performs in real time. Yet many plants track and respond only to longterm averages. By measuring and responding to realtime measures, you can ensure: Quick…
Researchers at the University of Warwick (edlinks.chemengonline.com/6896-540) and Leicester University (both U.K.) have used artificial nasal mucus to significantly enhance the performance of odor-sensing devices (electronic noses), which are used for quality control in, for example, the food industry. By…
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, Md.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6896-541) invites companies to license a new non-destructive test (NDT) method for evaluating the degree of cure, variations in chemical composition and defect states in resin-based composites and metal oxides — data that…
Scientists at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB; Spain; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6896-542), in cooperation with the Institute of Chemical and Environmental Research (CSIC), have developed an electrochemical biosensor that can detect atrazine — a widely-used herbicide — at levels of 0.005 µg/L,…