Environment, Health, Safety & Security
Chementator: Two solid ways to remove CO2 from fluegas, one based on Na2CO3 . . .
While monoethanolamine (MEA) is the traditional solvent for scrubbing CO2 from fluegas, more effective methods, including solid absorbents, are being developed (see CE, December 2008, pp. 16–20). Sodium carbonate, for example, is the sorbent in a process being developed, with…
Chementator: Using membranes to lower the cost of CO2 capture
A new membrane is combined with a novel process design to reduce energy costs in a CO2 recovery system developed by Membrane Technology and Research Inc. (MTR, Menlo Park, Calif.; www.mtrinc.com). The two-step system uses a membrane made of a…
Pressure-Relief System Design
Pressure relief systems are vital in the chemical process industries (CPI) for handling a wide variety of situations. They are used to prevent pressurization above a system’s design pressure; for venting during an unusual or emergency situation; and for…
Chementator: Oxy-combustion
Last month, what is claimed as the first pilot plant in the world to demonstrate carbon-dioxide capture and storage (CCS) based on oxy-combustion came onstream next to Vattenfall´s 1,600-MW, lignite-fired Schwarze Pumpe power plant in Germany. The 30-MW pulverized-coal demonstration…
Chementator: Bio-based isoprene
Genencor, a div. of Danisco A/S (Copenhagen, Denmark; www.danisco.com) and The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. (Akron, Ohio; www.goodyear.com) have started a research collaboration to develop a bio-based process for producing isoprene using renewable raw materials. Tradenamed BioIsoprene, the alternative…
Chementator: Smaller baghouses
Last month, Donaldson Torit (Minneapolis, Minn.; www.donaldson.com) launched the Torit PowerCore dust collectors, which are up to 50% smaller than traditional baghouses. An extension of the firm’s patented PowerCore technology that has been proven in engine filtration, the new dust…
Chementator: Biomass-to-DME
As part of the European BioDME project, Haldor Topsøe A/S (Lyngby, Denmark; www.topsoe.com) and Chemrec will design and build a new plant for producing dimethyl ether (DME). Located at the Smurfit Kappa paper mill in Piteå, Sweden, the facility will…
Newsfront: Combustion Equipment, Burning for You
As environmental regulations continue to get tighter regarding oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and other emissions, makers of burners and incinerators are working to develop equipment that not only meets or exceeds permissible emission levels, but also surpasses traditional operational capabilities.…
Engineering Practice: Discharge Coefficients and Flow Resistance Factors
This article presents the fundamental concepts of the discharge coefficient, KD, of a relief valve or a safety relief valve, and flow resistance factor, KR, of a rupture disk, and their proper use in sizing an emergency relief system. When…
Chementator: A process that requires less energy to treat sludge efficiently
A new activated-sludge-treatment process that promises to slash energy consumption is being developed by Sanki Engineering Co., Ltd., (Tokyo, www.sanki.co.jp), in cooperation with Ebara Corp., (Tokyo) and Touhoku University (Sendai, all Japan), and the support of NEDO (New Energy &…