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Complex Chemistry Demands Precise Process Control
An advanced control system helps alleviate workflow inefficiencies and reliance on manual adjustments in a complex chemical process Synthesizing principles of engineering and biology, Solugen Inc. (Houston; www.solugen.com) has developed and commercially deployed a unique carbon-negative platform for peroxide manufacturing.…
Innovations in Pilot-Plant Distillation Process Design
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…
These disconnects have a sloped-top clean design
The new SLPX Series of sloped-top motor disconnects (photo) enable plant operators to more easily prioritize sanitation while meeting requirements for multiple disconnects. Available in three multi-gang enclosure sizes, the stainless-steel SLPX Series features a unique clean design for critical…
Goggles protect eyes from splash, without fogging
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…
PCB terminal block for single-pair Ethernet
Single-pair Ethernet (SPE) is a powerful technology for realizing Industry 4.0 and IIoT applications. The Combicon range PCB (printed circuitboard) terminal blocks (photo) provide suitable connection technology. The networking of smart devices continues to advance. This applies in particular to…
Facts At Your Fingertips: Overview of Reactor Types
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…
The Ten Most Common Laboratory Ventilation Mistakes
A laboratory ventilation system that does not work effectively may not keep personnel safe and can produce significant adverse impacts on operations Laboratory personnel treat their ventilation systems as a given. They expect them to be designed right, to always…
A Brief Review of Natural Water’s Influence on Scale Formation in Heat Exchangers
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…
New conveyor discharge adapter eases cleaning
This company has introduced a new discharge adapter (photo) as an option for its flexible screw conveyors. The adapter features a proprietary design with a tri-clover sanitary fitting that maintains the position and stability of the tube enclosing the rotating…
Heat Pumps: Decarbonizing the Process Industries
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…