Technical & Practical
Energy Management: Consider Supply And Demand
It's no secret that the chemical process industries (CPI) are being significantly impacted by the recent increases in energy costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the CPI's percentage of total operating costs that are attributable to…
Energy Efficiency: Optimizing the Air-Power Equation
In your energy efficiency programs, don't overlook air-pollution control and ventilation systems, which account for more than 25% of CPI energy consumption on average The cost to power fans and ventilators in the chemical process industries (CPI) is a significant…
Small but mighty
Although sealing technologies rarely make the headline, when they do, its usually for a tragic reason, which demonstrates how important this small component really is. For example, on January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated 73 seconds…
Realtime Metrics for Process Performance
Process performance, quality and reliability depend directly on how a plant performs in real time. Yet many plants track and respond only to longterm averages. By measuring and responding to realtime measures, you can ensure: Quick…
Industrial Electrochemistry – Safe, Clean, Green
The highly diversified field of industrial electrochemistry includes processes to synthesize organic and inorganic compounds, the conversion and storage of energy, galvanic deposition of metals and alloys. Electrochemistry also plays a lead role in corrosion protection, sensor devices,…
Monitor Cations in CPI Wastewater for Better Performance
A detailed follow up of the cations present in the wastewater of the Monsanto Europe site in Antwerp, Belgium, has led to an increased understanding of changing wastewater treatment plant performance. The chemical process industries' (CPI) other wastewater…
Microfiltration For CPI Wastewater
Pure water is an essential ingredient in the manufacture of a vast amount of products in the U.S. and, of course, throughout the world. In the industry for which I work, electricity generation, high-purity water is an absolute…
Using Spreadsheets As Curve Fitting Tools
Spreadsheets have been around almost as long as personal computers. While early versions were clumsy and limited in scope, today’s spreadsheet programs can do almost anything the user wants them to do. These broadened capabilities are made easier…
Minimizing Flame Impingements In Fired Heaters
Fired heaters are used considerably in the chemical process industries (CPI), for heating crude oil in the petroleum refining and petrochemical sectors. Unfortunately, fired heaters are often taken for granted and neglected more than other equipment in terms…
Sanctioned ‘cheating’
Business software applications, such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) — the broad set of activities that are supported by application software to help companies manage business activities, including product planning, parts purchasing, maintaining inventories, interacting with suppliers, providing customer service…