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New Packaging Technologies Ensure Chemical Safety
Robotics and smart systems contribute efficiency to chemical packaging Preparing chemicals and pharmaceuticals for distribution, transport, storage and use is a demanding operation. Fortunately, modern packaging solutions with advanced technologies and smart systems can increase the efficiency of packaging operations,…
New aluminum alloy outperforms traditional aluminum for 3D-printed components
Results from recent testing indicate that automotive components made from a novel aluminum alloy, via 3D printing, outperformed those made from traditional aluminum alloys. Traditional wrought aluminum alloys are challenging to process using additive manufacturing (3D printing), so researchers have…
Transitioning from Academia to the Engineering Workforce
Moving from engineering student to engineering employee can be a challenge, but there are strategies to help facilitate the transition New college graduates provide a continued source of engineering talent to companies, government agencies and other organizations. However, integrating new…
Low-cost graphene-encapsulation technology improves cathode lifetimes
Battery performance tends to degrade over time due to the natural wear that occurs when, for example, cathode active materials (CAMs) expand and contract while shuttling ions for the reversible storage and release of electrical energy. CAMs also degrade due…
Nozzle Penetrations in Pressure Vessels: Two Methods for Reinforcement Design
Pressure vessels are weakened when nozzles must be introduced, and reinforcement is required to compensate. Presented here are two methods for calculating the necessary reinforcement When pressure vessels are penetrated for introducing nozzles, the vessel is weakened and must be…
Preserving federal statistics
Since its introduction in 1963, the Chemical Engineering Plant Cost Index® (CEPCI) has been tracking changes to construction costs for chemical manufacturing and related process facilities. The data from which the CEPCI is calculated come from a carefully selected and…
Low-energy, application-specific carbon nanotube manufacturing with hydrogen co-product
Due to their strength, electrical conductivity and surface area, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are increasingly finding application in advanced electronics, energy-storage installations, batteries, medical devices, separation processes and much more. A new CNT production technology developed by the SPICE division of…
Focus On: Level Measurement and Control
Solids level probes designed for durability and reliability The VRX series (photo) is engineered to provide dependable point-level detection for powders and bulk solids, even under demanding industrial conditions. A highly visible, onboard status-indicator light changes from green to red…
Destroy PFAS and remove perchlorate in a single process
A new water-treatment process is said to be the first to comprehensively destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) while also eliminating perchlorates. The PFASER technology, developed by WSP Global (Montreal, Que., Canada; www.wsp.com) is an advanced electro-oxidation (EO) treatment system…
Corrosion Protection and Redundancy: Key Ingredients to the Maintenance Recipe
Equipment redundancy, supported by impactful corrosion protection, can create a potent combination for avoiding unplanned downtime In the chemical process industries (CPI), production would come to a standstill without process heating and cooling systems. There would be no cracking and…