Because temperature control is important in any process, a water-cooling system is a common component in chemical processing plants. For facilities located near coastal areas, the tendency is toward the use of seawater instead of river water for cooling purposes.…
In recent years, a growing number of projects throughout the chemical process industries (CPI) have been carried out using Engineer-Procure-Construct (EPC) contracts. Because such contracts typically involve the work of numerous subcontractor parties, they tend to be complex. As such,…
Technology Requirements [ 1] Control architecture Does the solution provide an integrated automation platform? New systems should manage process knowledge through a combination of advanced technologies, industrial domain expertise, and Six Sigma methodologies. Choose an open, scalable control system that…
I recently read Hydrogen-Pinch Analysis Made Easy Chem. Eng., June 2008, pp. 56–61. The paper presents an automated spreadsheet program to target the minimum fresh hydrogen resource for a hydrogen network. While the effort of the authors is appreciated, I…
In today’s typical process plants, preventing steam loss and improving condensate return are key opportunities to make a process more energy efficient. To be the most effective, steam generally needs to be dry (such as for process usage), or superheated…
Interest in energy efficiency is not a fad. The economics of industrial production, the limitations of global energy supply and the realities of environmental conservation will be enduring themes for decades, if not the millennia. As energy costs increase, pump…
A chemical executive once noted that his firm derives one-third of its income from products that are less than ten years old. Indeed, existing companies thrive and new ones proliferate through innovation and product improvement. They depend on scientists and…
Despite their apparent simplicity, bends are often poorly understood, and unless properly designed, they are potentially problematic Pneumatic conveying of bulk solids has been successfully practiced — in industries as diverse as chemical, agricultural, pharmaceutical, plastics, food, mineral processing, cement…
Membrane polymers are packaged into a configuration, commonly called a device or an element. The most-common element configurations (figure) are tubular, capillary fiber, spiral wound, and plate and frame. Tubular Made from ceramic, carbon, stainless steel or a number…
Protecting process systems from overpressurization is vital throughout the chemical process industries (CPI). Both safety relief valves and rupture disks are commonly used for this purpose. Sometimes the combination of a relief valve with a rupture disk can add service…