Petroleum refiners throughout the world are faced with increasing uncertainty regarding future refining margins, crude prices and project costs. These factors, along with falling demand for refined products, a global recession, and tighter credit markets, are forcing global refiners to…
New line of blown film coolers are designed for warm climates The BFC Series of Blown Film Air Coolers offer an increase in blown film productivity, especially in warmer climates or other environments where ambient air temperature rises during the…
Because temperature control is important in any process, a water-cooling system is a common component in chemical processing plants. For facilities located near coastal areas, the tendency is toward the use of seawater instead of river water for cooling purposes.…
Researchers at United Environment & Energy (UE&E; Horseheads, N.Y.) have developed a catalyst for the efficient conversion of algae to biodiesel. The mixed-metal oxide catalyst (comprised of metals that are resistant to corrosion yet reactive) facilitates the transesterification of algae…
Nearly 30 years ago (May 6, 1979), U.S. President Jimmy Carter made the following prophetic statement at the inauguration of a solar-thermal water heater installed on the White House roof: "In the year 2000, the solar heater behind me will…
A process that produces hydrogen from coal with close to 80% energy conversion efficiency, plus coproduction of a carbon-dioxide-rich stream for sequestration, is being developed at Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio; www.osu.edu). This compares with around 60% conversion efficiency for…
CSIRO Energy Technology (Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia; www.csiro.au) is developing a solar-powered air conditioning unit for residential use, using a desiccant-evaporative process to provide cool and dehumidified air. Thermally driven ab- or adsorption chillers are commonly used to provide…
Last month, GE Oil & Gas (Florence, Italy; www.ge.com/oilandgas) received a contract to supply Eni S.p.A. (Rome; www.eni.it) with the largest refinery reactors of their type ever to be manufactured. GE Oil & Gas’ components-production facility in Massa, Italy, will…
The new NT 500 plate heat exchanger sets new performance standards with a volume flow of up to 4,500 m3/h. The steel frame can hold up to a thousand plates, and the largest version is 4.7-m high and 1.6-m wide.…
The Megawatter platform is a commercial implementation of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) technology for direct electricity or hydrogen generation on a large scale, while using wastewater as fuel by treating the organic materials dissolved in water as a source of…