Technical & Practical
Facts At Your Fingertips: Predictive Maintenance Methods
Predictive maintenance (PdM) programs can provide advanced warning of equipment problems and potential failures. This one-page reference provides brief descriptions of six common predictive maintenance methods. Infrared thermography Continuous monitoring of equipment temperature over time has the potential to identify…
An Overview of Synthetic Filter Media
Many factors impact the performance of synthetic filtration media, from thread and weave styles to drainage and coverage considerations Under the broad umbrella of filter media, there are many synthetic media materials, including woven filter cloths, woven and non-woven fabric…
Technology Profile: Production of L-Lysine
Lysine (Figure 1) is an α-amino acid used in the biosynthesis of proteins. The compound contains an amino group and a carboxylic acid group. Under biological conditions, the amino group is protonated (–NH3+) and the carboxylic acid group is deprotonated…
Centrifugal Pumps:When to Repair, Replace or Modify?
When a pump operates inefficiently, or fails all together, the challenge is to make the most economical decision on how to remedy the situation. Some guidance is provided here Centrifugal pumps are widely used throughout the chemical process industries (CPI).…
Facts At Your Fingertips: Respiratory Protection Equipment Types
Chemical process industries (CPI) facilities often present a number of potential respiratory hazards, including airborne particles, toxic chemicals and low-oxygen environments, that may require the use of respiratory personal-protective equipment (PPE). This reference outlines the major categories for respiratory protection…
Optimizing Vapor Recovery from Storage Tanks
Light hydrocarbons in storage tanks can vaporize and vent to the atmosphere, creating harmful emissions. An optimized vapor-recovery unit can effectively and economically reduce such emissions In the chemicals, petroleum refining and natural gas industries, storage vessels are used to…
Technology Profile: Allyl chloride production
Allyl chloride (3-chloropropene; Figure 1) is primarily used almost exclusively as a chemical intermediate in the production of epichlorohydrin. A three-carbon epoxide, epichlorohydrin is used in the manufacture of epoxy resins prevalent in coatings, adhesives, and plastics. Epichlorohydrin is also…
Heat Exchangers: Specification Tips to Maximize Heat Transfer
Presented here are some practical points to help in the selection of a shell-and-tube heat-exchanger design for various applications Heat exchangers are widely used in various sectors of the chemical process industries (CPI), including: chemical; oil and gas; power generation;…
Facts At Your Fingertips: Process Hazard Identification Methods
Process hazards analyses (PHAs) are structured reviews during the engineering design process intended to detect potential hazards that were not addressed by the design team. This one-page reference describes commonly employed PHA methods. PHA methods PHAs are often conducted or…
The Importance of Steam Quality for Steam-System Process Operation
Often, operational problems in steam systems are misattributed because the system’s steam quality is not closely monitored. A clear understanding of steam quality can help to better address these issues Steam quality describes the proportion of saturated steam (vapor) in…