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Tower Doctor: The Case of the Lying Gamma Scan

Henry Kister shares lessons learned from troubleshooting distillation towers This conversation started in a course I was presenting in Sydney, Australia. I was about 15 minutes into my presentation when a delegate from a major petroleum refinery stopped me. “How…

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Electrochemical Processes for the Chemical Industry

The push toward decarbonization is driving an increased interest in electrochemical processes. Here, the authors share their experience in industrializing these processes The field of electrochemistry offers a disruptive methodology to revolutionize the chemical process industries (CPI) by electrifying processes.…

Facts At Your Fingertips: Milling for Particle Size Control

Milling is commonly used for particle-size reduction and control of particle-size distribution (PSD) for crystalline solids. Mills are effective for generating consistent solids properties, through size reduction and surface-modification mechanisms [1]. This one-page reference outlines the mechanical forces involved in…

Investigating Decarbonization Strategies for Steam-Cracker Furnaces

Significant sustainability benefits can be gained through optimization in steam-cracking furnaces. The study detailed here shows the specific decarbonization strategies that can help improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions The chemical process industries (CPI) rely heavily on steam cracking to…

Coriolis Flowmeters: Insights for Selection and Upgrade

Coriolis mass flowmeters are available with a range of body styles and transmitters, enabling significant functionality improvements without sensor replacement Coriolis meters have long been a mainstay in the chemical process industries (CPI), providing highly accurate mass-flow measurements for raw-material…

Selecting Valves for Hydrogen Service

With hydrogen’s evolution into an alternative fuel requiring precise production and storage, selecting the right valves has never been more important Hydrogen shows great promise in the search for alternative fuels. Handling hydrogen safely and reliably, from generation to end…

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Rotary Valves Can Prevent Stem Seal Woes

Consider the potential for stem seal leakage when selecting a valve Experienced process control engineers follow familiar, time-tested steps when presented with a new system to design and specify. Selecting a control valve for a process always requires the same…

Controlling Process Variables for Solid-State Battery Performance

Optimizing electrical conductivity in next-generation batteries depends on carefully controlling process variables, such as mixing, particle-size distribution and temperature. Presented here is a discussion of how these process variables affect battery performance In the evolving landscape of energy storage technologies,…

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Pad-Reinforced Nozzles in Pressure Vessels

This article examines the application of reinforcing pads for strengthening nozzles in pressure vessels and the impact of the geometric gap that exists between the pad and the vessel shell Many common forms of nozzle connections in technological applications are…

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Separating Hazardous Materials with Decanter-Centrifuge Systems

Sealed and gas-purged decanter-centrifuge systems can be effective for separating Class I, Div. 1-, or Class I, Div. 2-rated solvents and hazardous materials Traditionally, solids and liquids have been separated by filtration or with press equipment. While these methods are…