Composites of copper and graphene have been explored as a way to improve electrical conductivity, but researchers have not been successful at enhancing conductivity with a corresponding reduction in the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), and have not been able…
CO2 TO METHANOL Last December, Sumitomo Chemical Co, Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan; www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp) started operating a pilot facility for producing methanol from CO2 at its Ehime Works, located in Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. The company aims to complete the demonstration…
Understanding the water chemistry is a first step in preventing heat-exchanger fouling At the two power plants and chemical plant in which this author formerly worked, the fresh-water-makeup supplies (two lakes and an underground aquifer adjacent to a river) all…
The Fisher Fieldvue L2t liquid-level controller pairs with an electrically-actuated control valve to reliably maintain ideal separator levels. Compared to alternatives using electric on-off valves, the new Fisher controller makes it possible to save significant energy and maintenance costs by…
As the chemical process industries push to decarbonize their businesses, heat pumps are emerging as a go-to alternative to fossil fuels. Efficient and cost-effective, heat pumps are a rapidly expanding solution for industrial heat demand In the drive to meet…
Small-scale distillation processes have specific concerns that are different than commercial-scale distillation. Presented here are several topics, including column internals and column-sizing software, considered from the perspective of pilot-scale distillation The design and operation of laboratory- and pilot-scale columns are…
Reactors are at the core of most processes in the chemical process industries (CPI) and are broken down most broadly by whether their operating mode is non-flow (batch) or continuous. Each reactor type has advantages and disadvantages depending on the…
Sort plastic flakes with this machine The new Innosort Flake (photo) is a high-throughput system for sorting plastic flakes. Enhanced features enable simultaneous flake sorting by polymer type, color and transparency, achieving unmatched quality, even from highly contaminated inputs, the…
The Vader Goggle BKGOG-2010N (photo) is made to keep out splash and maintain vision in the toughest work environments. It is made with BK-Anti-FOG coating, a durable anti-scratch treatment, and D3-rated for droplet and splash protection. Washable and durable, BK-Anti-FOG…
The purpose-built FDA-1500 mixer (photo) has a maximum working capacity of 1,500 gal and features a dish-bottom, stainless-steel mix vessel with a 50-psig heating/cooling jacket. The dome-style cover includes multiple charging ports, as well as a hinged manway for major…