Under the right conditions, the smallest atom can attack and disable sophisticated instrumentation. Understanding how this happens can help users avoid problems Engineers of a certain age may remember the childhood disappointment of a helium-filled balloon going flat overnight. This…
In today’s digital age, there is still a need for mechanical pressure measuring instruments for safety, efficiency and economical advantages. Selecting the right type is described here Whether at work or at home, more and more areas of life are,…
Methods for controlling reboilers in distillation towers are central to good reboiler operation and tower stability. Control valves can be located in the steam-inlet line or in the condensate-outlet line. This article updates guidance for key considerations and practices using…
The following recently published books may be of interest to chemical process industries (CPI) professionals: Smart Manufacturing: Applications and Case Studies. Edited by Masoud Soroush, Michael Baldea and Thomas Edgar, Elsevier Press, 2020, 525 pages, $200.00. Analytical Design of PID…
A common adage says “if you can’t measure it, you can’t control it.” Now, advances in flow-measurement technologies are increasing the breadth of what it is possible to measure As process demands evolve and organizations increasingly focus on sustainability in…
Wearable technologies help chemical processors improve productivity and safety of workers Wearable technologies — cameras, tablets and other devices loaded with applications (apps) and software that can be attached to the body or personal protective equipment (PPE) — are catching…
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is an analytical chemistry technique used to elucidate molecular structure and help identity unknown compounds. It is a powerful research tool used for quality control, reaction monitoring, purity analysis and other functions. Nuclear spin The…
The following is a list of recently published books selected because of their relevance to the chemical process industries (CPI) Simultaneous Mass Transfer and Chemical Reactions in Engineering Science: Solution Methods and Chemical Engineering Applications. By Bertram Chan, Elsevier Press,…
In today’s accelerating adoption of new digital technologies, one of the areas that is rapidly gaining momentum, and the interest of the chemical process industries (CPI), is additive manufacturing (AM) — more commonly referred to as 3D printing. According to…
Engineers must refine their foundational understanding of process safety in order to avoid common misconceptions about safety instrumented systems, including safety integrity level (SIL) definitions Learnings from major industrial process accidents occurring over the past half century have driven awareness…