Calculate NPSH with Confidence
Determining net positive suction head (NPSH) can be confusing, but with these guidelines, engineers can…
Cover Story
The Benefits of Seal-less Pumps for Full Product Containment
In cases where full containment of dangerous and hazardous chemicals is necessary, seal-less pumps can…
Commentary
Honoring 'green chemistry' achievements
Honoring ‘green chemistry’ achievements The 2015 winners of the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards have…
In The News
Newsfronts
Concrete: Modern Engineering for an Ancient Material
Novel additives, improved understanding of cement chemistry and thoughtful mix design are making modern concrete…
Improve Efficiency with Better Evaporation and Drying Equipment
For every application, there’s an evaporator or dryer that can boost performance In today’s economy,…
Chementator
Chementator Briefs
Li-S Battery Storage Anesco Ltd. (Reading, U.K.; www.anesco.co.uk) and OXIS Energy (Abingdon, U.K.; www.oxisenergy.com) have…
A step forward for the production of bio-based glucaric and adipic acids
Last month, Johnson Matthey Process Technologies (JMPT; London, U.K.; www.matthey.com) and Rennovia Inc. (Santa Clara,…
An attractive catalyst for making biodiesel fuels
It has been known for a long time that sulfonated active-carbon acid can catalyze both…
Selective removal of micropollutants
Micropollutants, such as antibiotics and flame retardants, can pose a health threat to animals and…
This wastewater-treatment process also captures carbon dioxide
Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder (Boulder, Colo.; www.colorado.edu) have developed a technology that…
Ceramic membrane filtration to be demonstrated for removing oil from produced water
Japanese companies INPEX Corp. (Tokyo, www.inpex.co.jp), Chiyoda Corp. (Yokohama; www.chiyoda-corp.com), and Metawater Co., Ltd. (Tokyo,…
A sound way to degas aluminum melts
During casting of aluminum alloys, degassing is required to remove hydrogen from the molten metal…
Phosphorus-free cooling water treatment
A new technology for treating cooling tower water is designed to control scale formation and…
Continuous multi-step synthesis of fine chemicals
Currently, the active components of most pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals are synthesized by multiple batch…
Business News
BioAmber opens world's largest succinic acid plant; and more business news
Plant Watch Chambroad commissions China’s first C3/C4 coproduction plant August 12, 2015 — UOP LLC…
Technical & Practical
Feature Report
Treating Wastewater for Industrial Reuse
Secondary treated wastewater from municipal plants can be a water resource for industry. Important water…
Facts at Your Fingertips
Variable Frequency Drives
Electric alternating current (a.c.) motors power all types of equipment in the chemical process industries…
Technology Profile
Production of Polylactic Acid
Polylactic acid (PLA) is the biodegradable polymer of lactic acid, which is produced via fermentation…
Solids Processing
Solids Discharge: Characterizing Powder and Bulk Solids Behavior
How shear-cell testing provides a basis for predicting flow behavior Powder jams are the once-in-a-month…
Engineering Practice
A Universal Equation for Designing Pipelines
The pipe-flow equation presented here can be used to properly and easily size pipelines for…
Improving the Operability of Process Plants
Turndown and rangeability have a big impact on the flexibility and efficiency of chemical process…
Equipment & Services
Focus
Focus on Software and Mobile Apps
Mobile app and vibration sensors monitor machinery The SKF Enlight platform combines a new mobile…
New Products
Fluoropolymer sensors extend this temperature logger’s range
The TR-71nw two-channel temperature-data logger (photo) supports automated data collection, remote monitoring and alerting with…
Save energy and space with these compact refrigerant dryers
Efficient and reliable compressed air treatment, such as refrigeration drying that removes unwanted moisture, is…
This laser-distance sensor includes updated firmware
This company’s Q4X laser-distance sensor (photo) has been updated to include a new dual-teach-mode model.…
This triple diaphragm pump’s gears are arranged in 3D
The Novaplex Vector is a triple-diaphragm process pump that reduces the required footprint for installation…
Two new gas regulators to control and relieve pressure
This new series of highly durable specialized gas regulators (photo) is designed to provide accurate…
Energy-efficient induction motors for use with VFDs
The Large AC-GPM line of energy-efficient foot-mounted induction motors (photo) includes custom models ranging from…
This low-consumption steam trap can be installed in any position
The Gestra BK37-5 thermostatic bimetallic steam trap (photo) does not consume live steam during operation…
A new range of coaxial-valve gearboxes
The new GP range of coaxial gearboxes allows manual valve operation or automation via an…
A TDL gas analyzer designed specifically for ammonia
The Servotough MiniLaser Ammonia (photo) is said to be the world’s smallest cross-stack tunable-diode laser…
Locally or remotely monitor the water content of recycled metals
This company’s Smart Moisture Monitor (photo) is a non-contact electronic-scanning device that helps to prevent…
Ironless motors provide smooth motion and a high velocity range
The compact V-551 motorized linear-translation stage comes equipped with an integrated absolute-measuring encoder with a…
Expanded compatibility for this boiler-control system
This company has expanded its patented Temp-a-Trim control system (photo) so that it is compatible…
A control system with a pin-less electromagnetic backplane
This company has released a new industrial control system (photo) that features a patented architecture…
PFA-lined gear pump for aggressive or high-purity liquids
Liquiflo Polygard Series pumps (photo) are perfluoroalkoxy-lined (PFA) magnet-drive gear pumps for moving challenging liquids,…
Explosion-proof HVAC system for process analyzer shelters
This ATEX-compliant HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) system (photo) provides a complete all-in-one climate-control and…
A new series of screw pumps for multiphase-fluid applications
This company has introduced the new S Series of screw pumps (photo) for conveying challenging…
These wastewater pumps handle solids up to 4 in. in diameter
SL submersible wastewater pumps (photo) are designed to handle raw sewage, effluent and large volumes…
Backpressure regulators designed for CO2 extraction
The BR series of backpressure regulators (photo) features a blockage-resistant design geared toward supercritical CO2…
Variable-speed converters deliver benefits for moving natural gas
The Vorecon with Dual Torque Converter (photo) is a variable-speed planetary gear with two matched…
Show Previews
Weftec 2015 Show Preview
Organized by The Water Environment Federation (Alexandria, Va.; www.wef.org), this year’s Weftec conference and exhibition…