Selecting Tube Inserts for Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers
Richard L. Shilling, P.E.
A tube insert modifies flow stream characteristics to enhance heat transfer. Here’s how to choose the optimal insert to meet process requirements.
Notice: The AIChE website is undergoing an ecommerce system upgrade to better serve you. Between 7 a.m. (EST) Friday, December 6 and 9 a.m. (EST) Monday, December 9 you will not be able to purchase or renew any AIChE products or services through the website. Customer Service phone lines are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday... Learn more
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Japan’s Chemical Industry: From Post-War Recovery to Globalization
Saburo Nakata
The recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan had a devastating impact on the people and industry of this economic and cultural giant. This article reflects on the emergence of Japan’s chemical industry in the half-century since World War II that led...
Software & Information Technology
Learn about the latest MathCAD release and how it enhances computational power, integrated software that facilitates refinery development, software that identifies safe operating limits, and much more.
Chem Economics: ACC Releases Portfolio of Specialty Chemicals Indexes
T. Kevin Swift
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has launched a new set of indexes covering nearly 30 segments of the U.S. specialty chemicals market. (The first, which dealt with plastic additives, was discussed in the July issue, p. 13.) This is the first set...
A ChE’s Guide to Intellectual Property
M. Henry Heines
Patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights are an important part of any company's business strategy.
Handle Corrosive Acids and Caustics Safely
Richard W. Prugh, P.E., CSP
Understand the corrosivity hazards of acids and caustics, and follow these guidelines to manage those hazards through inherently safer design, engineering and administrative controls, and personal protective equipment.
CEP: AIChE Journal Highlight - A New Spin on Separations
The microelectronics industry has been revolutionized by technologies that boast ever-increasing capabilities in increasingly smaller areas. Now, the ability to pack high functionality into smaller devices is poised to transform the chemical process...
The Other Bio: Chemicals and Materials
Miriam Cortes Caminero
Just in case you haven’t noticed, a new wave of biotechnology is underway. Over the last three decades, we have seen biological technologies used in therapeutics and agriculture. More recently, we have seen the use of biotechnology for industrial purposes.
Bio-Based Materials Step into the Operating Room
Sujata K. Bhatia, M.D., P.E.
A new class of implantable medical materials — constructed from naturally derived and renewably sourced polymers — is poised to transform clinical medicine.
U.S. Research Universities - Globalize or Face Demise?
William R. Schowalter
Although the effects of globalization have revolutionized corporate behavior, they are only beginning to affect the thinking, and much less the policies, of U.S. research universities. It is something that should be embraced, rather than resisted.
CEP: Profile - Engineering Flavors and Bridging Cultures
As the winner of a February 2012 episode of the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, Winnette McIntosh Ambrose, a National Institute of Health scientist specializing in vision research, demonstrated that inspired chemical engineers can succeed in any realm — when they bring the right ingredients to the mix.
Spain's Chemical Industry from the 19th Century to the Present
Jaume Soley
In the wake of the mid-20th century emergence of the oil-based global chemical industry and the rise of Europe as an International market force, Spain's chemical industry has become modern and competitive.
CEP: What's New
Read about new products and services in the areas of fluids and solids handling; instrumentation; environmental health and safety; and materials and chemicals.
The Secret Science of Movie Stunts and Special Effects
AIChE Webinar
Jul 24, 2012
Steve Wolf, founder of Science in the Movies and President of Special FX International, presents The Secret Science of Movie Stunts and Special...
Chemical Product Design
AIChE Webinar
Jun 20, 2012
This webinar will discuss whether the skill set of chemists and chemical engineers is appropriate for this altered chemical industry.
Patents And The America Invents Act-Strategies In View Of Patent Law Reform
AIChE Webinar
May 9, 2012
On September 16, 2011, the America Invents Act (AlA) was enacted, representing the first major overhaul of the U.S. Patent system in nearly 60 years.
Pipe Flow: A Practical and Comprehensive Guide
May, 2012
Pipe Flow provides the information required to design and analyze the piping systems needed to support a broad range of industrial operations, distribution systems, and power plants.
Maintenance and Reliability for Chemical Engineers (Part 4)
AIChE Webinar
Apr 10, 2012
Learn how to develop a business case for reliability improvement and the benchmark and margin analysis approaches to understanding values of...
Galvanic Corrosion Between Dissimilar Metals
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 5, 2012
A Dow USGC cracker suffered a tube failure on a cracked gas compressor inner stage cooler after ten plus years of service. To further extend the...
Validation of PHAST Dispersion Model As Required for USA LNG Siting Applications
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 5, 2012
PHMSA in consultation with FERC has issued guidance relating to approval in the USA of atmospheric dispersion models for LNG siting applications...
Furnace Stories
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 5, 2012
The cracking furnace is the heart of the ethylene plant, consuming the most energy, adding the most value and with the potential to cause the most...
Modeling of LNG Spills Into Trenches and Troughs
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 5, 2012
Trenches and troughs are commonly used in LNG storage and transfer facilities to contain potential LNG spills. The trenches are concrete-lined...
Development of a Differential Pressure Prediction for An Oil Quench Tower
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 5, 2012
The fouling of oil quench tower internals is a recurrent problem for ethylene plants and it is important to monitor the rate of fouling so that...
Assuring Ethylene Purity: Reliable Sub-Ppm Measurement of Ammonia and Water with Online TDL Analyzers
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 5, 2012
Accompanying the ever-increasing performance of polymerization catalysts used to produce polyethylene (PE) is a general increase in catalyst...
CFD Simulation of the Falcon Tests Using the Homogeneous Equilibrium Model in FLACS
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 5, 2012
The CFD model FLACS was recently validated [1] against the 33 experimental data sets included in the Model Evaluation Database [2], which was...
Modeling of Ground Flare Pits
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
New LNG liquefaction facilities have been configured to include large ground flares to allow for the safe combustion of large volumes of combustible...
Anti-Surge Methods for the Base Load LNG Plant Propane Compressor
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
The propane compressor represents a significant capital investment and operating expense of a LNG plant, and is an essential component in providing...
Appropriate Placement of Compressors and Expanders
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
The term “Appropriate Placement” was introduced in Pinch Analysis during the 1980s to indicate how special unit operations should be correctly...
Design Considerations for Diesel Hydrotreaters
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
In 2006, the United States EPA mandated the use of 15 ppmw ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) for on-road diesel fuel. At that time several refiners...
Source Term Modeling of Vapor Cloud Formation During a Cryogenic Liquid Spill Based on a Boiling Model by CFD Method
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
The formation of a flammable vapor cloud following a spill of cryogenic liquids, such as ammonia and LNG (liquefied natural gas), on a ground or...
Hydrotreating of Biooils to Jet Fuels: An Overview
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
This paper will give an overview of the current status of jet fuels production from hydrotreating of biooils, including vegetable oils and microalgae...
An Engineering Approach to the Synthesis of Integrated Distillation Schemes for Systems Involving Difficult Separations
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
An Engineering Approach to the Synthesis of Integrated Distillation Schemes for Systems Involving Difficult Separations D. Jantes Jaramillo, G.T...
Hydrocracking - An Overview
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
The paper will present an overview of the Hydrocracking process as applied in the refineries today. It will cover Mild Hydrocracking, Partial...
Tutorial on Hydroprocessing: ìHydroprocessing Catalysts and Processesî
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
The products of petroleum refining must meet tight specifications, including limits on sulfur, nitrogen, olefins, aromatics, and other contaminants...
Theoretical Study of Expansion Foam Application on LNG Pool Using Computational Fluid Dynamics
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
LNG facilities could harm the personnel on site and jeopardize local communities nearby, due to the flammability and dense gas behaviors of LNG...
Innovative Hydrocavitation Technology Process to Create Composite Fuels
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
Goal of the Project The primary goal of the project is the creation of composite fuels for combustion processes containing biomass, coal, coal...
Evaluation of Reverse Osmosis - Electrode-ionization Pilot Project in PT Badak NGL
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
PT Badak NGL utilizes groundwater for Plants and Community water consumption. Demineralization water production in PT Badak NGL uses ion exchange...
Capital Cost Targeting of Total Site Heat Recovery
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
Heat recovery on Total Site level can provide a considerably high potential for energy saving. It offers additional degrees of freedom for heat...
Simple Opportunities for Improving Energy Efficiency
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
Energy efficiency has become an important theme in the process industries, and many companies have implemented sophisticated strategies to improve...
Hydroprocessing Design - Tutorial
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
Hydroprocessing or hydrotreating is the key technology to clean, to refine, and to convert crude oils into valuable products, such as gasoline and...
Modeling Dynamic Heat Transfer in Piping Systems Using An Enhanced ASTM C-680 Algorithm
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
AIChE 2012 Spring Conference Modeling Dynamic Heat Transfer in Piping Systems using an Enhanced ASTM C-680 Algorithm Debby Sielegar Process...
Synthesis and Optimisation of Demethaniser Flowsheets for NGL Recovery
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
Synthesis and Optimisation of Demethaniser Flowsheets for NGL Recovery Muneeb Nawaz 1 , Megan Jobson 2 , Adrian Finn 1 1. Costain - Energy &...
Guidelines for Jetting and Flashing LNG Vapor Exclusion Zone Analysis
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 4, 2012
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) has been a growing energy resource in the U.S., for which significant import and storage infrastructure was developed in...
Eliminating Difficult Start Ups with State Based Controls
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
Some processes are just difficult to start up. Every year, significant production is lost due to start up delays, product quality issues after...
Practical Process Integration Retrofit Part 4. Handling Large Projects
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
Practical Process Integration Retrofit Part 4. Dealing with Large Projects G.T.Polley The Cross-Pinch Method is suitable for use in identify...
Work Output of Multicomponent LNG Mixtures in Two-Phase Expanders
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
A two-phase expander recovers more work from a multicomponent LNG mixture than a single phase expander. The calculation of the recoverable work...
Increasing Propane Desuperheater and Condenser Reliability in PT Badak NGL
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
PT Badak NGL is the operator for natural gas liquefaction at Badak LNG Plant, Bontang, Indonesia. At present PT Badak NGL has 8 Trains. The mode for...
Cryogenic Expander Application in Propane Liquefaction Process
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
The use of cryogenic liquid expanders in the propane liquefaction process can increase the amount of liquefied product by reducing the boil-off...
Platformer Debutanizer Revamp & Optimization
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
Problem As part of Saudi Aramco Yanbu Refinery Excellence Program, We Identified the platforming high RVP issue as one of the most critical problem...
Cost Effectiveness of 2-Row Membrane System for FLNG
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
One of the most critical issues in engineering and design of FLNG is to reduce top side weight along with its load distribution to the sub-structure...
Successful Implementation of Advanced Process Control in Cryogenic Plants
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
Successful Implementation of Advanced Process Control in Cryogenic Plants. Tom Lyndrup and Greg Rogers, Enterprise Products LLC, Houston, Texas...
Green Diesel Production - An Overview
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
Currently, there are two renewable diesel fuels available: biodiesel and green diesel. The biodiesel or FAME is the transesterification of vegetable...
Reducing CO2 Emissions From Refineries Through Chemistry Upgrade
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
Despite the lack of a global greenhouse gas emission reduction agreement, regional schemes are moving forward to limit CO 2 and other GHG emissions...
Practical Process Integration Retrofit Part 1. Cross-Pinch Method
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
Practical Process Integration Retrofit Part 1. Cross-Pinch Method G.T.Polley A number of techniques have been developed to aid the process engineer...
Absorption Refrigeration for Auxiliary Applications in LNG Plant
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION FOR AUXILIARY APPLICATIONS IN LNG PLANT Jordan Belue a , Robert Havlik b , Stanley Huang a , a: Chevron Energy Technology...
Carbon Capture Ready Heavy Oil Extraction and Upgrading
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
Carbon dioxide emissions from heavy oil production are typically higher than that of producing conventional crudes. Ultimately, carbon dioxide...
Opportunities and Challenges for Advanced Biofuel Industry
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
Biofuels have been criticized for leading to rise in food costs. Advanced biofuels steer clear of this controversy as they are produced mostly from...
Practical Process Integration Retrofit Part 5. Software Needs
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
Practical Process Integration Retrofit Part 5. Software Needs G.T.Polley In this final paper in our series on process integration retrofit we look at...
Practical Process Integration Retrofit Part 2. Remaining Problem Analysis
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
Practical Process Integration Retrofit Part 2. Remaining Problem Analysis & Driving Force Plot G.T.Polley The Cross-Pinch Method is not the only...
APC2: Aligning People with Control
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
Advanced Process Control (APC) can take on many flavors and levels of sophistication. On the digital control systems (DCS), advanced regulatory...
Maximizing Benefits in Selection of Gas Monetization Methodology: Transformed FLNG
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
When Shell announced FID of the Prelude FLNG project, even uncertainties have not been totally cleared up, it is true to get a bright picture in...
Simultaneous Biofuel and Electricity Generation Using CO2-Neutral Microbial Fuel Cell
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
Limited availability and the environmental impacts from fossil fuels require that we find alternative energy sources that are renewable and safe. The...
Practical Process Integration Retrofit Part 3. Path Analysis
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 3, 2012
Practical Process Integration Retrofit Part 3. Path Analysis G.T.Polley The concept of transferring heat along paths was first suggested by Dhole [1...
All Sulphur Plants Are Not Created Equal
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 2, 2012
All Sulphur Plants are Not Created Equal ABSTRACT Sulphur recovery from natural resources is required to meet environmental regulations on sulphur...
Application of Exergy Analysis for LNG Plants and Receiving Terminals
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 2, 2012
Natural gas liquefaction is an energy-intensive process. New world scale LNG plant usually has multiple trains with each train has a very high...
Sulfur Recovery and Tail Gas Treating Process Gas Analyzers, Stigma, Sins and Salvation
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 2, 2012
Process Engineers have a strong inclination for qualitative and quantitative analysis of process streams. On-Line process gas analyzers are a...
Process Safety and Corporate Responsibility
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 2, 2012
In his Keynote Address at the AIChE 2012 Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety in Houston, TX, on April 2, 2012, Michael J. Dolan of...
Advanced Control of Multiple Sulfur Recovery Units
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 2, 2012
Sulfur Recovery in a Refinery entails collecting sour vent gases (containing H2S) from a number of sources, including Hydrotreaters, Hydrocrackers,...
Installing a Charge Gas Compressor Booster
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 2, 2012
The Braskem Ethylene Southeast Plant expansion study from 500 MTA to 700 MTA recommended that the charge gas compressor turbine and the 1 st and 2 nd...
Combustion of Mixtures: A Modified IFC Approach
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 2, 2012
While most studies on flares have been done with single hydrocarbon fuels or binary mixtures, the reality of most industrial flares is that they see...
Control and Optimization of Refrigeration Compressors Using Process Model Based Control
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 2, 2012
Optimal control of refrigeration compressors is important during each phase of ethylene operations; startup, steady state, and shutdown. At steady...
Tutorial: The Chemistry of Refinery Fouling
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 2, 2012
The chemistry of refinery fouling is well enough understood to mitigate nearly all fouling. The key information required are the location of the...
Maximizing LNG Capacity for Liquefaction Processes Utilizing Electric Motors
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 2, 2012
In some locations currently being considered for LNG projects, relatively low cost electricity from the local power grid may be available. For these...
Useful Tips for Optimal Fired Heater Performance
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 2, 2012
Advanced Process Control Strategies for Process Fired Heaters Fired Heaters are used extensively throughout refineries for heating, vaporization and...
The Economics of Process Measurements
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 2, 2012
What is the economic value of a new measuring device in a process plant – a new analyzer, a more accurate flow measurement, an additional temperature...
Recent Experiences on Modelling Fouling of Crude Refinery Preheat Trains Handling Complex and Heavy Crude Slates
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 2, 2012
Recent Experiences on Modelling Fouling of Crude Refinery Preheat Trains Handling Complex and Heavy Crude Slates Ishiyama E.M., Polley, G.T. and Pugh...
Fate of Ammonia in Refinery Amine Systems
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 2, 2012
Fate of Ammonia in Refinery Amine Systems Ralph H. Weiland, Nathan A. Hatcher & R. Scott Alvis Optimized Gas Treating, Inc. Sugar Land, TX...
Industrial Experience in Handling Cleaning of Crude Refinery Preheat Trains
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
Apr 2, 2012
Industrial Experience in Handling Cleaning of Crude Refinery Preheat Trains 1,2 Ishiyama E.M., 1 Pugh S.J. and 2 Wilson D.I. 1 IHS ESDU, Houndsditch...
