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Environment, Health, Safety & Security

Control Room Design for Chemical Engineers

Chemical engineers bring many essential skills to the diverse teams required for successful control room design In any continuous manufacturing plant in the chemical process industries (CPI), engineers need to consider control room architecture and design as part of their…

Recently published books for the CPI

The following is a list of selected recently published books that may have interest to professionals in the chemical process industries (CPI). Standards and Typical Specifications for Tray-Type Dearators, 10th ed., by the Heat Exchange Institute (HEI), www.heatexchange.org, 2017, $150.…

Commercial debut for a process that captures CO2 directly from air

On May 31, Climeworks (Hinwill/Zurich, Switzerland; www.climeworks.com) inaugurated its — and the world’s — first commercial plant that captures CO2 directly from air. The Direct Air Capture (DAC) facility, located at the waste-utilization plant of KEZO in Hinwill, Switzerland, will…

Rupture Discs: Effectively Minimize Leaks and Emissions

When installing rupture discs, there are several mechanical and operational considerations for reducing the likelihood of leaks and fugitive emissions Overpressure relief systems consisting of rupture discs and relief valves are vital for preventing damage and injury within chemical processing…

Proper Sizing and Installation for Steam System Safety Valves

Successful operation of safety valves in steam systems requires careful adherence to established industry standards for installation and design One of the most critical safety devices in a steam system is the safety valve. Figure 1 is an illustration of…

Ethyl, FMC and BASF receive Responsible Care awards from ACC

The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) presented its Responsible Care Company of the Year award today to three companies: Ethyl Corporation in the small size category, FMC Corporation in the medium size category and BASF Corporation in the…

Improve Energy Efficiency using Hydraulic Power Recovery Turbines

This mature technology can be used to save energy, generate revenue and reduce emissions With the Paris Agreement entering into force last November, the Parties to the Convention established their goals to implement measures to reduce the amount of greenhouse…

Investing in safety

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB; Washington, D.C.; www.csb.gov) is a federal agency that is charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The Board was created to operate independently of other agencies and its principal role, as described on its website,…

Proper Use of Conventional PRV Discharge Coefficients

In order to correctly size pressure relief valves (PRVs), a robust understanding of discharge coefficients for vapor, liquid and two-phase flow is crucial A pressure relief valve (PRV) is used to prevent the pressure in a process vessel from exceeding…

Designating a day for water

Last month, special recognition to water-related issues was given on March 22, the date designated by the United Nations as “World Water Day.” The first World Water Day was observed in 1993, and has been celebrated every year since. The…