The pitfalls in cost estimating that cause project overruns have been well known for decades, yet they continue to plague the CPI When I first started writing this article, I set out to summarize the mechanics of project cost estimation.…
This methodology can be used not only for laminar flow, but also for the complete turbulent flow region In recent decades, the impact of energy costs on the transport of fluids has led to a significant reduction in fluid velocity…
This column is based on the report “Polychloroprene Production – Cost Analysis,” published by Intratec. It can be found at the following URL: www.intratec.us/analysis/polychloroprene-production-cost. The need to find a substitute for natural rubber during World War II boosted the development…
Temperature measurement is critical in many types of process equipment, including reactors, distillation columns, furnaces, heat exchangers, evaporators, boilers and more. Among the most widely used instruments for measuring temperatures in chemical process industries (CPI) operations are resistance temperature detectors…
A review of recent data from the Combustible Dust Incident Database provides insights into dust-related process safety Fires and explosions in facilities that handle combustible dust remain an ongoing focus of process safety efforts across many areas of the chemical…
New diagnostic devices can identify when pressure incidents happen, while keeping an eye on the condition of pressure-relief valves and rupture disks Any kind of pressurized system, from the hot-water heater in a residence to a massive chemical reactor, will…
Following a five-step process enables better outcomes for fluid system control Most often, operators and technicians will interact with components like ball valves or needle valves when adjusting a system’s operation. However, just as important to the effectiveness of a…
This column is based on “Bio-Butanediol Production from Glucose,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/butanediol-production-cost. Butanediol (BDO) refers to all butylene glycol isomers. The most common isomer — 1,4-butanediol — is a versatile intermediate chemical…
In pressure vessel design, use this procedure for determining the individual permissible flange loads for joints between pressure vessel nozzles and connected pipework At the initial design stage of pressure vessels with nozzles that are provided with standard flanges according…
This article describes an approach that uses data analytics for finding and addressing root causes of process deviations that reduce energy efficiency in key plant utility systems, and shares three case examples Discussion about climate change has been taking place…