Facts At Your Fingertips
Level-Measurement Device Selection
Effective level measurement in the chemical process industries (CPI) helps maintain material inventory at economic quantities, improves product quality and maximizes plant output by avoiding spills and process upsets. When they are incorrectly matched to their application, level-measurement devices can…
Chemical Protective Clothing
Workers in the chemical process industries (CPI) can wear chemical protective clothing to protect themselves from exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals in the form of vapor, liquid and solid particles. While chemical protective clothing has not been regulated to the…
Dust Hazards
Dust is a critical consideration in the chemical process industries (CPI) from both a process safety standpoint — as a potential fire and explosion hazard — and from an occupational safety standpoint — as a potential worker exposure hazard. Reinforcing…
Filtration Testing and Slurry Conditioning
Testing in filtration processes is critical for determining the properties of solids being filtered and the ease or difficulty of the filtration. In addition, laboratory testing is important in specifying filter media, filter aids, filter area, cake space needed and…
Calculating Volumes of Bulk Solids
Calculating volumes of solids in piles as they are poured into various shaped containers can be important information for solids-handling applications. The following set of equations represents guidance to help determine solids volume in these cases. Solids in containers Solids…
Maximizing Fan Efficiency
Optimizing fan performance can help plants reach overall process efficiency goals. The cost of powering fans and ventilators in the chemical process industries (CPI) is significant. For example, ventilation and air-pollution control systems can account for over a quarter of…
PVC and CPVC Plastics for CPI Equipment
Chemical processing equipment made from thermoplastics can have distinct advantages for equipment corrosion, fluid contamination and flame retardancy. When purchased in the form of heavy-gauge sheets, these thermoplastics can be machined, fabricated and formed into a virtually unlimited variety of…
Detection and Prevention of DP:DPO Fluid Leaks
The management of process plants requires understanding and applying the fundamental tenets of safe design, construction and operation of facilities. This overview summarizes best practices that have been developed to ensure the safest possible use of DP:DPO (diphenyl–diphenyl oxide) eutectic…
Facts at your Fingertips: Solids Conveying
Dry, granular solids can be conveyed in a number of ways. Two common devices for transporting granular solids are the angular-pitch vibrating conveyor and the horizontal differential-motion conveyor. The variability in the design and performance between the two types stems…
Control Valve Performance
Minimizing process variability is an important component of a plant’s profitability. The performance of control valves within process control loops has a significant impact on maintaining consistent processes. This refresher outlines some of the important aspects of control-valve performance, including…