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Chemical Engineering Practice

Don't Get Burned Picking Dry-Type Flame Arresters

October
2002
Fluids and Solids Handling
Stanley G. Grossel
These commonly used devices rely on an internal medium to extinguish flame fronts and take the punch out of shock waves, protecting piping, equipment and personnel. Selecting such equipment involves considering the probable type of combustion,...

Working with Non-Ideal Gases

March
2003
Fluids and Solids Handling
Jimmy Peress
Here are two proven methods for predicting gas compressibility factors.

Reduce Unplanned Shutdowns

September
2003
Instrumentation
Cindy Scott
Today's intelligent devices are equipped with modern alarm technology that enables speedy delivery of critical information to key personnel, thus enhancing efficiency and minimizing downtime.

Apply Solubility Theory for Process Improvements

March
2004
Reactions and Separations
Michael J. Gentilcore
For solid compounds that dissolve in solvents but do not ionize, the thermodynamics of solubility can provide valuable predictions and insights.

Understand Flow Patterns in Glass-Lined Reactors

November
2004
Reactions and Separations
Christopher J. Ramsey, David S. Dickey, Keith E. Johnson , Kevin J. Bittorf
Physical modeling and computer simulation provide insights into the performance of a glass-lined reactor.

Improve and Maintain Cooling Tower Efficiency

April
2005
Heat Transfer
James L. Willa
Changing maintenance and/or operating procedures can significantly increase cooling tower performance without major capital expenditures. Here are some tips for ensuring proper design and operation of major tower components.

Safely Handle Powdered Solids

December
2005
Fluids and Solids Handling
Daniel E. Silva, Robert Zalosh, Russell Kahn, Stanley S. Grossel
Understand some of the accident scenarios that result in dust explosions, and follow these suggestions for preventing them.

Increase Powder Flow via Gas Injection

July
2006
Fluids and Solids Handling
Herman Purutyan, John W. Carson, Thomas G. Troxel
Fluidization and air-assisted discharge are two ways to optimize fine-solids handling. However, the choice of technology is as important as designing and operating the system properly.

Improving Heat Exchanger Designs

April
2007
Heat Transfer
Christopher A. Bennett, David C. King, R. Stanley Kistler, Thomas G. Lestina
This article defines and explains the factors that affect heat exchanger design margins. With the proper application of design margins, capital costs can be lowered and plant operations improved.

Use Model-Predictive Control to Improve Distillation Operations

January
2008
Instrumentation
Daniel R. Webb, Robert D. Rounding, Robert J. Conroy, Umesh Mathur
This methodology, based on steady-state and dynamic simulation, can be used to develop the necessary models— and avoid disruptive and costly step testing to the extent feasible.

Realizing the Promise of Wireless

May
2009
Instrumentation
Bob Karschnia, Peter Zornio
Innovation drives the growth of wireless technology, as successful applications demonstrate cost savings, reliability, safety, and ease of use.

Visualizing the McCabe-Thiele Diagram

December
2009
Reactions and Separations
Paul M. Mathias
Use this spreadsheet-based visualization and interactive analysis of the McCabe-Theile diagram to understand the foundations of distillation engineering. <br><br>

Produce Reliable Models with Efficient Meshing

August
2010
Computational Methods
Christian Wollblad, Ed Fontes, Henrik von Schenck, Phil Byrne
Improve your modeling skills to construct accurate, effective meshes that simulate or optimize a process in less time.

Identifying Corrosion and Its Causes

April
2011
Fluids and Solids Handling
Gary Geiger, Mel J. Esmacher, P.E.
An important first step in maintaining equipment reliability and efficiency is understanding the various types of corrosion damage that can occur.

Measuring Temperature by Indirect Means

November
2011
Back To Basics
Gary Freemer
Noncontacting infrared thermometers can be used in many applications that are too harsh or impractical for thermocouples and resistance temperature detectors. Understand their principles of operation and their advantages and limitations to select...

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