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Advanced Analytics for Process Safety

A look at how advanced analytics facilitates and improves process safety efforts within the chemical process industries (CPI) Simply by the nature of some of the chemicals used and the associated complex processes involved, chemical plants can be hazardous. With…

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Keeping Valves Corrosion-Free

In all phases of a valve’s lifecycle — from fabrication to decommissioning and storage — corrosion protection is essential Corrosion can be a serious source of valve damage, and it can often result in costly leakage, failures and repairs or…

Specifying Severe-Service Valves for Urea Applications

To withstand the harsh conditions and potential safety risks encountered in urea agricultural applications and other severe-service processes, special consideration must be given to valve construction, performance and installation Severe-service valves (SSVs) are specially designed and manufactured for critical applications…

Technology Profile: Suspension Polymerization of Polyvinyl Chloride

This column is based on “Polyvinyl Chloride Production from VCM (Suspension Polymerization) – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/polyvinyl-chloride-production-cost. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the third most commonly produced synthetic polymer, after polyethylene and…

Facts At Your Fingertips: Microbial-Influenced Corrosion

Any corrosion process in which microorganisms initiate, facilitate or accelerate corrosive chemical reactions is termed microbially influenced corrosion (MIC). MIC occurs when the chemical, microbiological and physical conditions allow the active growth of biofilms containing specific types of microbes on…

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Controlling Air Pollution with Ceramic Catalytic Filters

Catalyst-impregnated ceramic filter elements can achieve simultaneous removal of multiple air-pollutant species in a modular, space-saving layout The three most common pollutants found in the air we breathe are particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx). These…

Addressing Problems in Filtration Processes

Careful attention to even the smallest details will help to prevent operational problems in filtration processes Filtration operations are widely used to achieve effective solid-liquid separations in the chemical process industries (CPI). Industrial filtration installations can involve a variety of…

Operational Best Practices for Rotary Dryers

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…

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Facts at your Fingertips: Thermal Oxidizer Selection

Thermal oxidizers are pollution-control units designed to prevent process-generated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from entering the environment. Different technologies offer tradeoffs among initial cost, operating expense, complexity, emissions, fuel efficiency and destruction efficiency. This one-page reference provides information on selecting…

Like Metals, Polymers Fail — but Differently

This pictorial guide illustrates some of the common problems that can occur with polymeric and elastomeric materials that differ from those that occur with metallic seals and components Failures of polymer (plastic and elastomeric) parts and their consequences can be…