Special considerations must be made for loading expensive solid catalyst materials into fixed-bed and tubular reactors Most units in the chemical process industries (CPI) use complex and expensive heterogeneous catalysts aimed at improving reaction performance. Although sometimes overlooked, the solids-handling…
To maximize the service life and reliability of rotary dryers for solid materials, adhere to this set of practices Rotary dryers have a well-deserved reputation for reliability, often providing decades of trouble-free operation in solids-handling processes. As with any type…
By carefully considering equipment and plant design in processes involving powdered materials, fugitive dust issues can be reduced significantly Powdered ingredients that unintentionally leak from equipment in a manufacturing plant are known as fugitive dust. The risks associated with fugitive…
A holistic approach to bulk-solids-feeding installations can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of operations involving solids handling Many chemical processes involve the extraction of bulk solid materials at a controlled rate from a storage vessel for delivery into the process.…
Use the strategies discussed here to maximize the yields of solid products from batch drying vessels Successfully drying a wet solid in a drying vessel does not complete the operation — the dry solids must be removed from the vessel.…
Selecting the best air mover for a bulk-solids pneumatic-conveying application is a critical design decision. Provided here is information on three classes of air movers when dilute-phase pneumatic conveying is required In a typical bulk-solids pneumatic-conveying system, an air mover…
Tumble-growth agglomeration can reduce dust in solids-handling processes. Here’s how it works Handling and processing bulk solids appears in nearly every industrial sector, from energy to agriculture. Dust is a ubiquitous and challenging issue when working with bulk solids, because…
Several methods and calculations are available for determining particle size and particle-size distribution. This article provides and overview on how to use them The behavior of particulate material is greatly dependent on its geometric properties, including particle size, shape and…
Uniflow cyclones can be effective solid-gas separation equipment when space is limited. Presented here are design and calculation methods for uniflow cyclones aimed at widening the industrial usefulness of these devices Cyclone separators are, in addition to fabric filters, electrostatic…
A review of recent data from the Combustible Dust Incident Database provides insights into dust-related process safety Fires and explosions in facilities that handle combustible dust remain an ongoing focus of process safety efforts across many areas of the chemical…