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Technical & Practical

The Relationship Between Materials Selection and Machining Processes

An awareness of the impact of materials selection on the machining processes for small, complex components can affect overall end-product quality and costs The importance of material selection for small, complex components found in equipment critical to the chemical process…

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Superheater Problems in Steam Generators

Knowing the features of a good boiler will prevent problems associated with a poor design Oil- and gas-fired package steam generators (or boilers; Figure 1) are used in chemical plants, power plants, petroleum refineries and in cogeneration plants to generate…

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Technology Profile: L-lysine HCl Production from Glucose

Amino acids are the basis for all proteins and are considered building blocks of life. Among them, lysine (biologically active in its L-stereoisomer form) is one of the essential amino acids not synthesized biologically in the body. In this context,…

Hopper Design Principles

When hoppers are designed without consideration of the actual materials being handled, problems inevitably arise. Follow this guidance to avoid common solids-handling issues, such as erratic flow and no flow Pivotal work on the development of the theory of bulk…

Facts at your Fingertips: Process Hazards Analysis Methods

Different methodologies are available for conducting the structured reviews known as process hazards analyses (PHAs) for new processes. PHAs are often conducted or moderated by specialists, with participation by the design team, representatives of the facility owner, and experienced process…

PSA Technology: Beyond Hydrogen Purification

Pressure swing adsorption technology is well known for H2 purification applications, but the technique can also be used for other gas-separation processes in petroleum refining facilities Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) is a well-established process for the separation and purification of…

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Illuminating Process Vessels: Advantages of Diffused Light

Don’t panic — What appear to be scratches on a vessel may be an illusion caused by improperly applied LED lighting Imagine looking into a sight glass for a routine tank inspection, and seeing for the first time numerous scratches…

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Maleic Anhydride from n-Butane (Fixed-bed Process)

By Intratec Solutions Maleic anhydride (MAN) is a multifunctional chemical intermediate with applications in several fields of the chemical process industries (CPI). Its major end use is as feedstock in the production of unsaturated polyester resins (UPR). In addition, maleic…

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Water Treatment Technologies

Removing contaminants from water is a critical operation in the chemical process industries (CPI). The goal of treatment processes is to reduce the relevant contaminants to the extent required by the application. This column provides information on major categories of…

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Point-Level Switches for Safety Systems

Industries that manufacture or store potentially hazardous materials need to employ point-level switches to protect people and the environment from spills Safety is an important and common subject of discussion in the chemical process industries (CPI) today. Conversations on safety…