When it comes to protecting the performance of your applications—from the extremes of solar energy production to pharmaceuticals and throughout the multitude of processes in between—choosing the right heat transfer fluid is crucial, but it’s not the only step. Ensuring…
Gas turbines are widely used throughout the chemical process industries (CPI) because they allow for high power output and high overall efficiency at relatively reasonable costs. In recent years, a variety of factors and ongoing technology advances have contributed to…
An overview of the many factors to be considered when selecting materials of construction Selecting a material of construction for process equipment in the chemical process industries (CPI) is normally not difficult. The material selection is often based on past…
Seven methodologies are described to help operations staff take greater ownership of asset performance The definition of ownership — to act as an owner — implies certain responsibilities. Consider the range of behaviors demonstrated by individuals when it comes to…
Prudent planning and scheduling during a project’s front end can lead to more expedient commissioning and startup activities The cost of starting up large new facilities in the chemical process industries (CPI; Figure 1) is a significant element in a…
Some of the many things to consider for the complex task of performing a column revamp are presented in this cover story Petroleum refineries, chemical-processing plants, natural-gas purification plants and other facilities in the chemical process industries (CPI) all contain…
Corrosion of steel is a key concern in many industrial settings, both from an asset-management perspective and from a safety perspective. The following briefly describes corrosion mechanisms for various classes of steel, and provides information on the corrosion resistance of…
It is important to conceptualize plant layout in terms of both ideal location and optimal geographical positioning of equipment components For any chemical process facility, the cost of improper or sub-obtimal plant layout can be enormous. Designers are generally well…
Best-efficiency point (BEP), the flowrate at which a pump operates at its highest or optimum efficiency for a specific impeller diameter, is a key consideration when assessing pump performance. While most pumps do not consistently operate at their exact BEP,…
Figure 1. During tightening, hydraulic pressure load within a bolt should be uniformly and accurately applied to avoid gasket damage and other issues that can create leakage Common knowledge dictates that planning ahead ensures effective results, regardless of the task…