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Technical & Practical

Understanding New PPE Regulations

The new European Union Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation explained, and what it means for the chemical process industries The European Commission’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Directive 89/686/EEC is over 20 years old and is now being superseded by the…

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Technology Profile: Isopropanol Production from Propylene

This column is based on “Isopropyl Alcohol Production from RG Propylene – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/isopropyl-alcohol-production-cost. Isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) is among the most commonly produced lower alcohols — ranked third in…

Pressure-Relief System Design: Developments and Deficiencies

Areas of recent activity for pressure-relief systems include new calculation methods and updates to existing codes and standards. Included here is an overview of recent developments and a look at the results from a recent study of pressure-relief system deficiencies…

Sizing Pressure-Relief Valves for Two-Phase Flow

Several methods are available for sizing two-phase pressure-relief valves (PRVs). Here, the API 520 homogeneous direct integration method is compared to a potentially simpler alternative that does not require integration Two-phase pressure-relief valves (PRVs) have been studied by many researchers.…

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Improvements in DP Level Measurement

Differential-pressure (DP) level measurements are widely used in chemical and petrochemical facilities, thanks to their reliability and ease of use. Recent advances are making them even more reliable and easy to use Differential pressure (DP) level-measurement technology (Figure 1) is…

Technology Profile: Cyclohexane Production from Benzene and Hydrogen

This column is based on “Cyclohexane from Benzene and Hydrogen – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/cyclohexane-production-cost. Cyclohexane is a relatively stable cycloalkane, present in crude oils in concentrations of 0.1–1.0%. This cycloparaffin…

Single-Use Gloves: Problems and Solutions

When wearing single-use protective gloves, sweat can create health and safety issues. Presented here is a look at the causes of the problems and possible solutions A great many situations across the chemical process industries (CPI) require quality hand protection,…

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Bubble-Cap Tray Vapor Turndown

The concept of tray stability can apply to bubble caps and be used as an alternative method to determine the minimum efficient capacity of these devices. A new stability correlation for bubble-cap trays is proposed and checked against FRI data…

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Experimental Validation of Distillation Column Simulations

A practical look at the need for validation, as well as conceptual considerations and a case study This article addresses the need for experimental validation of computer-generated distillation column simulations , and discusses the main concepts involved with experimental validation.…

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Facts at your Fingertips: Flow Measurement in Large Lines, Ducts and Stacks

Process industry plants install sophisticated air-pollution control systems, but they can be ineffective if the flowmeters on which they rely deliver inaccurate or unreliable data. This one-page reference provides information on measuring the flow of gaseous combustion products in large…