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Technical & Practical

Facts At Your Fingertips: Hopper Outlet Geometry and Arching

When transferring stored bulk-solids materials from hoppers, bins and silos, flow stoppage can occur because of bridging or arching at the vessel outlet. Hopper outlets must be large enough to prevent cohesive arches or stable ratholes from developing. Determining the…

Methods For Testing Steam-Trap Stations

Testing steam-trap stations can be very easy if the plant provides the correct equipment, training and commitment to the steam-system management program When it comes to testing steam traps, a frequently asked question is, “what is the best method?” The…

Rapid Maintenance Response: When Plants Can’t Wait

Even with advanced predictive technologies, unplanned equipment failures can still occur. In these instances, as shown in this boiler example, rapid maintenance action is crucial to minimize downtime Maintenance activities generally fall into two categories — reactive and preventative. The…

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Evaporators: Energy Conservation Strategies and Process Control

Several strategies for improving energy consumption and process control in evaporation processes are presented here In industrial evaporation, a heat source (usually condensed steam) is used to concentrate a material through the removal of a liquid solvent. There are several…

Technology Profile: Sodium Chlorate Production

This column is based on “Sodium Chlorate Production – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/sodium-chlorate-production-cost. Sodium chlorate (NaClO3; also known as chlorate of soda) is an odorless inorganic salt with colorless crystals and…

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A Holistic Approach for Pump-System Analytics

A step-by-step approach is presented to address the modern requirements of a pump-system digital solution In recent years, significant developments have been achieved in the fields of cloud computing and machine learning techniques. In conjunction with increased awareness regarding the…

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Designing an Integrated Wastewater-Treatment System

Meeting the wastewater-treatment demands of an integrated manufacturing complex demands a design that can address a diverse array of contaminants and discharge requirements Any large, integrated chemical-manufacturing complex will require the implementation of a comprehensive wastewater-treatment solution to address unique…

Liquid Layers: Measuring Overall Level and Interface Points

Accurate interface level measurement is crucial to optimizing separation processes. Today’s guided wave radar technologies make it possible to measure thin liquid layers with greater accuracy than ever A bottle of salad dressing can illustrate a challenging level measurement application.…

Process Changes: Understanding and Mitigating Fire-and Life-Safety Risk Factors

When making a change in your process, do not overlook new potential hazards that may arise, as discussed here Large-scale chemical processing can be inherently risky. This is especially important to keep in mind when making changes to a process.…

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Reliable and Cost-Effective Solids Feeding

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.…