Automated systems for batch weighing can improve overall product quality by raising the accuracy and consistency of the mixture compared to what can be achieved with the manual addition of pre-weighed bags. Automated batch-weighing systems integrate load cells with connections,…
Among all the engineers who will be involved in the purchase of a mixer or blender next year, roughly half will welcome a change in their production method. The other half will be determined to prevent it. Searching for the…
The ability to model a process to see if it meets project requirements and is economically viable enhances the conceptual design. Modeling gives engineers a means to identify the most promising processes, in terms of capital investment and return, and…
Understanding the inherent limitations of current overpressure protection analyses is key to developing a more robust heuristic In designing and sizing relief-device and effluent-handling systems, one commonly overlooked aspect of the performance is examining the potential for low temperatures that…
After a serious accident at a chemical plant, petroleum refinery or other freestanding industrial facility, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB; www.csb.gov) may immediately initiate an investigation, often getting “in the air” while the emergency is still unfolding. The CSB…
One of the most energy-intensive utilities for many facilities in the chemical process industries (CPI) is the steam system. Traditionally, steam-use optimization has centered on efficient heat transfer and eliminating waste [ 1]. Further optimization can involve a broader look…
A gas flare is an elevated vertical conveyance found accompanying oil wells, gas wells, drilling rigs, petroleum refineries, chemical plants, natural gas plants and so on. Although modern flare systems are specifically designed to reduce the thermal radiation, pollution…
Throughout the chemical process industries (CPI), the need to drain a tank or process vessel arises. In batch-type plants, it is a regular occurrence and is one factor that affects the total cycle time per batch and ultimately the entire…
Among the most widely used technologies in the chemical process industries (CPI), spray drying involves dispersing a liquid or slurry in a hot gas to produce a dry powder product. A wide range of pumpable solutions, suspensions and emulsions can…
Failures of piping due to vibration-induced fatigue are a serious problem in the chemical process industries (CPI) and a matter of concern for the safety and reliability of plant operations. Due to the complexity of flow-induced vibrations in pipes, no…