Technical & Practical
Solids Handling: Using Flowsheet Simulation to Improve Process Design
Using flowsheet simulation to model processes involving granular solids — either those that are entirely separate from fluid processes or those that are combined with them — has many advantages for improving the process design. These include avoiding unplanned downtime,…
Achieving Excellence in Energy Efficiency
In today’s environmentally conscious world, industrial energy management is increasingly recognized as an essential business practice and economic necessity, rather than an on-again, off-again activity driven by energy prices and geopolitical crises. In this article, we examine the key elements…
Improve Your Contingency Estimates for More Realistic Project Budgets
The average large project in the chemical process industries (CPI) overruns its sanctioned budget, including contingency, by 21%. Even more alarming, 10% of large projects overrun their budget by more than 70%. These are findings based on research by the…
Distillation Column Modeling
Process simulation methods are used to evaluate the performance of proposed distillation systems and improve the performance of existing ones. The most common approaches for modeling distillation processes can be broadly divided into equilibrium and non-equilibrium methods. This article provides…
n-Butanol from Lignocellulosic Feedstock
The alcohol n-butanol is applied in the production of butyl acrylates to supply the coatings and adhesives industries. It is also used in plasticizers or directly as a solvent. It is commercially produced from propylene and synthesis gas (syngas) by…
Critical Connections Demand Certainty
Figure 1. During tightening, hydraulic pressure load within a bolt should be uniformly and accurately applied to avoid gasket damage and other issues that can create leakage Common knowledge dictates that planning ahead ensures effective results, regardless of the task…
D,L-methionine production via the carbonate process
Methionine is an essential amino acid that is not synthesized by animals, so it must be obtained from their diets. Synthetic methionine is traditionally commercially available in two varieties: D,L-methionine (DLM), a racemic mixture of the two stereoisomers, and methionine…
Burner Inspection and Maintenance
Burners are mechanical devices that are utilized for mixing proper quantities of fuel and air, and also for maintaining a stable flame inside fired equipment. Burners are critical components that must be periodically maintained to ensure the reliability of fired…
November Letters Facts at Your Fingertips: Forces Acting on a Gasket
This letter is in reference to the article, Forces Acting on a Gasket [ Chem. Eng. October, 2014, p. 32a]. I need to clear my understanding on the seating stress required for the proper sealing. As per the article, seating…
Wire Meshes in Filtration
Fabricated metal-wire mesh is one of the major categories of filter media. Woven metal cloths are often used to support a filter aid coating or a bed of granular or porous material. Proper selection of wire cloth can have a…