Often, operational problems in steam systems are misattributed because the system’s steam quality is not closely monitored. A clear understanding of steam quality can help to better address these issues Steam quality describes the proportion of saturated steam (vapor) in…
Ethylene is used almost exclusively as a building block — it is the largest-volume petrochemical produced worldwide (Figure 1). Production of ethylene grew rapidly in the middle of the 20th century, when oil and chemical companies began separating it from…
Filtration is arguably the most common unit operation in the chemical process industries (CPI). Filtration processes can be divided into three broad categories: cake filtration, where the incoming slurry contains enough solid material to form a cake on the filter…
Citric acid is a naturally occurring tricarboxylic acid commonly found in plants and animals (Figure 1). In its pure form, it is a colorless compound readily soluble in water. Citric acid is mainly used to add taste to food and…
When designing a regenerative thermal oxidizer, engineers should not overlook the high-cycle valves that control process air and help maintain efficiency Regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) are regularly utilized in the chemical process industries (CPI) to collect and control air-pollution emissions…
The versatile nature of gear-pump technology allows operators to handle multiple fluids in multiple applications Pump technology can be traced as far back as the B.C. era, when ancient Egyptians used a shadoof to move water from one source (in…
Paying attention to the seal design used in centrifugal pumps can help in water management. This article uses the beverage industry to illustrate this point Economic survival in a climate where industry competition and environmental concerns converge is not easy.…
Selecting personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety eyewear, for the chemical process industries (CPI) depends on the hazards present in the facility where it is used. The following describes considerations for selecting eye and face protection based on the potential…
Perfluorinated ion-exchange membranes are developing beyond legacy applications to find use in a wide variety of emerging markets, including renewable energy Ion-exchange membranes are used in numerous industrial processes, including seawater desalination, electrodialysis and the production of commodity chemicals via…
Contracting a pilot plant is a viable approach for any organization. However, it can be fraught with potential issues, which need to be understood and addressed in advance Reduced in-house resources have limited the options many organizations have for designing…