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Technical & Practical

Pump Safety: Flirting with Disaster

Be vigilant about parallel pumping conditions that can lead to catastrophic failures During my career, I have seen several massive centrifugal pump failures caused by pump users attempting to operate pumps in parallel without the proper equipment review, procedural review…

Pressure Measurement: Handling Difficult Process Applications

A better understanding of what pressure instruments do and how they work can help improve measurement performance, especially in troublesome applications Effective use of process instrumentation is critical in any chemical manufacturing environment. These instruments are strategically located throughout various…

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Measuring Differential Pressure: Mechanical or Electronic?

Users should consider both options when selecting a DP device. Understanding the differences can help make the decision for a given set of process conditions Differential pressure (DP) measurements are used in many branches of the chemical process industries (CPI)…

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Carbon Fiber Production from Pitch

This column is based on a report published by Intratec titled “Carbon Fiber Production from Pitch — Cost Analysis.” The report can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/carbon-fiber-production-cost. Carbon fibers (CF) are defined as fibers containing at least 90% carbon by weight,…

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Heat Transfer in Wiped Film Evaporators

Simulations demonstrate the complex, changing properties of materials within the evaporator. Such information can help in both designing and selecting the proper evaporator A wiped film or agitated thin-film evaporator is very effective with difficult-to-handle materials. The evaporator consists essentially…

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Sampling for Internal Corrosion

Properly selected and executed sampling techniques are essential for assessing, controlling and mitigating internal corrosion of pipes and other assets in the chemical process industries (CPI). Key data for evaluating an asset or piping system for internal corrosion include the…

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Re-Establishing Course

Changing employment situations can leave affected employees trying to redefine their career paths. The positive experiences shared by these authors can provide some options and strategies  The corporate world can be challenging because business fluctuates with time, and employment reductions…

Considering Fugitive Emissions During the Conceptual Design Stage

The ability to reduce fugitive emissions through the use of strategic design modifications not only protects workers and the environment, but reduces losses of valuable process materials The industrialized nations of the world have all placed increased emphasis on the…

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Dust Management in Bulk-Material-Handling Operations

Dust management can be divided into three main categories: prevention, containment and suppression. Understanding the key considerations for each can help bulk solids handlers arrive at an optimal dust control solution Dust management is an ongoing issue faced by virtually…

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Aluminum Chloride Production

This column is based on “Aluminum Chloride Production Process – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/aluminum-chloride-production-cost. Aluminum chloride (AlCl3) is among the most widely used Lewis acids in industry, and is also one…