Performance improvements in robotics technologies for manufacturing and energy operations are leading to greater productivity, cost savings and safety improvements In the chemical process industries (CPI), mobile robots, often in conjunction with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), are…
Particle size and shape, as well as particle size distribution (PSD) are key determinants of bulk solids behavior [1–4]. A particle can be defined as a single unit of material having discrete physical boundaries that define its size. Particle science…
Steam-heated storage tanks are critical to manufacturing processes, and prioritizing reliability in tank-system design and operations can mitigate unwanted issues Storage tanks are essential to the chemical process industries (CPI), and they require significant capital investment to ensure optimal installation…
By combining mechanical integrity and reliability programs into a single framework, plants can streamline their asset maintenance strategies and mitigate all types of risk Asset maintenance first hit the headlines during the late 1980s when it became a target for…
There have been several recent announcements regarding regulatory changes that affect the chemical process industries (CPI). One of the latest is a set of final rules announced on April 9 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA; www.epa.gov) that significantly…
A large selection of ion-exchange resins is available today for a constantly growing variety of applications. In order to choose the appropriate resin for a specific application, it is important to carefully evaluate the range of resin and process properties…
Bipolar plates (BPPs) are a key component in electrolyzers and fuel cells. BPPs include two key components: the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), in a fuel-cell system; and the catalyst-coated membrane (CCM), in an electrolyzer. In a fuel-cell stack, for example,…
Membranes are widely used in a variety of industrial separation processes, but the polymeric materials that make up many membranes are not durable enough to handle extreme conditions, such as processes with low pH or hazardous-metal content. Membrion, Inc. (Seattle,…
NanoTech Materials Inc. (Houston; www.nanotechmaterials.com) is expanding its commercial partnerships for the use the company’s Insulative Ceramic Particle (ICP) technology, which can be used in fireproof coatings, as well as in a range of applications for roof coatings that lower…
RO Membranes Toray Industries, Inc. (Tokyo, Japan; www.toray.com) has developed a highly durable reverse osmosis (RO) membrane that is said to offer double the resistance to cleaning chemicals of conventional counterparts. This reduces performance degradation from membrane wear and simplifies…