Excessive growth of filaments and biopolymers in activated sludge should be controlled in CPI wastewater-treatment plants, as both lead to sludge that is hard to handle. The sticky behavior of such sludge can be minimized by the addition of polyaluminum…
FLASH AND FIRE POINTS IN HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS Download as a PDF file FLASH POINT DEFINED A “flashpoint” is the temperature at which a fluid generates enough vapor to be ignited (“flash”). There are two common test methods: Open Cup (ASTM D92) and Closed…
PREVENTING FIRES IN THERMAL OIL HEAT TRANSFER SYSTEMS PDF DOWNLOAD AT BOTTOM OF PAGE Thermal fluids have proven exceptionally safe in a wide range of industries. However, it is difficult to completely prevent fires in these systems because the necessary…
Vacuum is a very widely used utility in the process industries – from pharmaceutical and chemical to food and biotechnology. While some applications require fairly deep vacuum – so-called “fine” vacuum – many other operations rely on vacuum in the…
For many people, one of the most important features to consider when sourcing a vacuum pump is the ability of that pump to hold up over the long term. Pumps are exposed to a wide range of operating conditions that…
In light of the operational concerns reviewed in Part 1, this chemical recycling firm decided to evaluate different pump technologies. Fortunately, recent advances in vacuum pump technology make dry-running pumps a viable option for many of those currently using liquid…
A major part of field work lies in troubleshooting problems: finding out why a system is not operating the way it is intended. This article provides guidelines for effective troubleshooting and contains many practical examples of their successful use Effective…
When vortex formation limits outflow from a tank, consider a disc-type vortex breaker Chemical engineers have long said that, while it is easy to get liquid into a tank, it can be difficult to get liquid out. Large line sizes…
The use of today’s high-performance rupture disc designs can help to reduce many common operating problems and support increased throughput requirements Chemical process industries (CPI) plants are typically designed to achieve specific production volumes, but as anyone who has worked…
This column is based on “Calcium Carbonate Production from Limestone: Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/calcium-carbonate-production-cost. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is a mineral that occurs naturally in chalks, limestones and marbles. Its largest use…