Plant layout is as important a part of process plant design as it ever was, but it is rarely taught as part of chemical engineering courses While process plant layout is a critical aspect of chemical process industries (CPI) operations,…
Be vigilant about parallel pumping conditions that can lead to catastrophic failures During my career, I have seen several massive centrifugal pump failures caused by pump users attempting to operate pumps in parallel without the proper equipment review, procedural review…
The ability to reduce fugitive emissions through the use of strategic design modifications not only protects workers and the environment, but reduces losses of valuable process materials The industrialized nations of the world have all placed increased emphasis on the…
Follow this guidance to understand today’s cybersecurity risk landscape and take the necessary steps to create a sound industrial control system cybersecurity program, including the development of a comprehensive, in-depth cyber-asset inventory In industrial facilities, cyber incidents typically result from…
Engineers can make better use of the results of process simulations by automatically exporting data into heat and material balance tables in Microsoft Excel Chemical engineering projects require process simulation to validate the chemical reactions and mechanical operations of the…
This methodology facilitates multifactor testing. However, it comes at a price: a loss in power for detecting effects The traditional approach to experimentation — often referred to as the “scientific method” — requires changing only one factor at a time…
Circular fluidized-bed dryers can boost the capacity, energy efficiency and product quality when used in conjunction with other primary dryers Two-stage drying provides benefits from the standpoints of cost, energy savings, efficiency and product quality. This is especially the case…
Follow these recommendations to select the right centrifuge for your application Many chemical process operations require the separation of multiple phases. This can be done in a number of ways, including simple gravity separation, traditional or crossflow membrane filtration and…
Ongoing advances in both adsorbent materials and system engineering allow today’s pressure swing adsorption (PSA) systems to produce nitrogen of varying purities and volumes at relatively low cost compared to cryogenic air separation Nitrogen production that is carried out using…
A major part of field work lies in troubleshooting problems: finding out why a system is not operating the way it is intended. This article provides guidelines for effective troubleshooting and contains many practical examples of their successful use Effective…