Feature Report
Evaporators: Design Concepts and Equipment Selection
This primer provides guidance on key aspects to consider when designing and specifying evaporators, which are used in a diverse array of industrial sectors Industrial evaporators are used to remove a solvent from a non-volatile solute to obtain a concentrated…
Storage Tanks: Snapshots of Failures, Damages and Inspections
Lessons learned from past failures provide insight and know-how needed toinspect and operate storage tanks reliably Storage tanks are a common sight at many facilities of the chemical process industries (CPI). Tanks are part of our everyday life and they…
Standard ASME B16.5 Flanges: Bolt Tightening and Target Loads
Using the approach outlined here, piping engineers can select the most appropriate bolt-tightening technique based on pressure class and flange size, and calculate the required torque or tool pressure if hydraulic tensioning tools are used In the majority of industrial…
Interpreting Normalized Profitability Metrics
Normalized profitability metrics provide a basis for comparing the efficiency of capital investments, but they are often misunderstood. New interpretations of these metrics can help engineers to make more informed decisions In a financial sense, a large capital project can…
ASTM Standards For Heat Transfer Fluids
This practical overview of ASTM standards can serve as a roadmap when selecting and evaluating heat transfer fluids Heat-transfer-fluid systems are often used for process heating to 500°F or higher. To accomplish heating above 500°F, steam pressure must be above…
Heat Exchangers: Designing for Super-critical Fluid Service
Working with supercritical fluids poses challenges when designing heat exchangers. Some practical tips and precautions are presented here Industrial applications involving fluids at high pressure — pressure above the critical pressure of a particular fluid — are increasing in number.…
Seal Selection: Ensure Regulator Performance in Low-Temperature Applications
In low-temperature conditions, the use of compatible sealing materials is essential for leak-tight operation and proper functionality of pressure-regulating devices Harsh, frigid conditions are among the most challenging industrial environments (Figure 1) for fluid-handling applications. At these temperatures, it is…
Pump Sealing for Hazardous Chemicals
Pumping hazardous chemicals requires specific shaft-sealing technologies to ensure containment and reliability Hazardous chemicals are defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA; Washington, D.C.; www.epa.gov) as those that are potentially harmful to human health and the environment. Existing as gases…
A Primer on Reciprocating Metering Pump Technologies
Understanding what technology is available is a first step towards selecting the right pump for metering applications Reciprocating metering pumps are problem solvers for difficult fluid-handling tasks and applications. Their main function is the metering of a precise fluid volume…
Tailgas Considerations for Biogas Upgrading
Thermal oxidation is used to destroy tailgas from biogas-upgrading facilities. Presented here are guidelines for selecting the proper method With the evolving economics of renewable energy credits comes increased interest in biogas-upgrading facilities. Renewable natural gas (RNG) plants are being…