Processing & Handling
Principles of Agglomeration: Pelletizing Processes
Pelletizing, a tumble-growth agglomeration process, offers many potential benefits to processors handling bulk solid materials. This article provides an overview of how agglomerate pelletizing works and the important elements that must be considered Pelletizing, a form of agglomeration (particle size…
Improving Bulk-Solids Conveyor Maintenance
Designing easier access to mechanical components in solids-conveying systems reduces maintenance costs and improves safety Virtually every vehicle on the road today is designed with an engine hood that can be easily opened for access to the engine, so mechanics…
U.S. chemical production edged lower in February, ACC says
According to the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), the U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index (U.S. CPRI) edged lower by 0.2 percent in February following a 0.1 percent gain in January and a 0.2 percent decline in December. During…
MOL Group shifts production at windshield washer fluid facility to hand and surface sanitizers
MOL (Budapest, Hungary; www.mol.hu) has started production of hand and surface sanitizers to offer protection against the coronavirus. Both products have been in short supply in Hungary. Lubricants producer and MOL Group member MOL Lub Ltd. has shifted production of…
Recently Published Books for the CPI: March 2020
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,…
Batch Drying: Maximizing Product Yields
Use the strategies discussed here to maximize the yields of solid products from batch drying vessels Successfully drying a wet solid in a drying vessel does not complete the operation — the dry solids must be removed from the vessel.…
Updating Legacy Rotating Equipment
A brief look at the benefits of installing modern materials and design upgrades through retrofit projects in chemical plants Modern chemical manufacturing plants depend on the reliable operation of numerous important assets to maintain productivity. Retaining legacy equipment is a…
Determining Overall Pump Lifecycle Costs
Beyond the purchase price, there are other optimizable costs that will help moderate pump-related expenses, when estimating pump lifecycle costs Facility managers who rely on industrial pumps for the various liquid-transfer duties in their manufacturing processes may occasionally think that…
Facts at your Fingertips: Distillation Trays and Packing
Industrial distillation columns use either trays or packing to promote vapor-liquid contact in separating the components of liquid mixtures to the desired purity. Approximately one half of columns are equipped with trays globally, and the other half contain packings. This…
Technology Profile: Polyoxymethylene Production
This column is based on “Polyoxymethylene from Methanol and Acetic Anhydride – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/polyoxymethylene-production-cost. Polyoxymethylene (also known as POM and polyacetal resin) is a thermoplastic polymer fiber. Owing to…