This system, which has multiple reactors and uses microwaves for heating, has been developed by professor Yuji Wada at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology (edlinks.chemengonline.com/6898-543), in cooperation with Shikoku Instrument Co. (Takamatsu; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6898-544) and…
Vessels for handling bulk solids, such as silos and bins, are frequently used to heat or cool bulk materials in cases where a slow rate of change or long residence time is required. Often, the temperature of a…
Although brown coal accounts for about 25% of Australia’s energy supply, it has a high moisture content and, when burned, is a high emitter of carbon dioxide (above 1,200kg/MWh). To address this challenge HRL Ltd. (Melbourne, Australia; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6897-531) has developed…
A dehydration process — which uses about half the energy required by thermal methods for drying brown coal or sludge — is being developed by the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (Tokyo, Japan; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6897-532). The process uses liquefied…
Techno Bank Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6897-537) has developed a new supply, storage, and transport system for safely handling a high capacity of hydrogen in fuel-cell applications. The system — a cassette containing nano-sized powder of magnesium hydride (MgHâ‚‚) —…
A high-shear reactor that is said to accelerate chemical reaction rates by up to three orders of magnitude will get its first commercial tryout in the production of biodiesel fuel. Kreido Biofuels, Inc. (Camarillo, Calif.; kreido.com), the reactor's developer,…
Kobe Steel Ltd. (Kobelco; Tokyo; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6896-532) has developed a process to recover hydrogen from methane steam reformers with purity that is sufficiently high for use in fuel cells. The key to the process is a proprietary carbon-monoxide adsorbent for Hâ‚‚…
It's no secret that the chemical process industries (CPI) are being significantly impacted by the recent increases in energy costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the CPI's percentage of total operating costs that are attributable to…
ConocoPhillips LP (CP; Houston, Tex.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6896-539) and Tyson Foods, Inc. (Springdale, Ark.) have formed an alliance to use beef, pork and poultry by-product fat to create renewable-diesel (RD) fuel that burns cleaner than conventional diesel. The production technology uses a…
Fired heaters are used considerably in the chemical process industries (CPI), for heating crude oil in the petroleum refining and petrochemical sectors. Unfortunately, fired heaters are often taken for granted and neglected more than other equipment in terms…