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• Take Some Basic Steps With A Caustic System

   We circulate 50% caustic through the tubes of a vertical 1-1 shell-and-tube condenser using 50% steam reduced from 400-psig steam. The exchanger contains 60 tubes, each ½-in. diameter with 0.083-in. walls, but 20 have been blocked off. The caustic enters the bottom of the exchanger and, after…

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• Consider Flow Regime’s Impact On Sample Analysis

  By Randy Rieken, Swagelok Co.

  Fluid within the lines of an analytical sampling system exhibits one of two flow patterns — laminar or turbulent (Figure 1). Each type highly depends on the velocity of sample fluid as well as the fluid’s density and viscosity. It’s important to know the type of flow to expect when designing…

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• U.S. Chemical Industry Soars

  By Kevin Swift and Martha Gilchrist Moore, American Chemistry Council

  Economic growth in the United States remained dynamic at the end of 2018 with gains in manufacturing double what they were a year ago. However, all the world’s other major economies have slowed, ending a rare period of synchronized expansion.In the United States, business investment is on the…

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• Better Understand Boilers

  By Amin Almasi, mechanical consultant

  Steam finds wide use in chemical processing for applications ranging from heating fluids to driving equipment. The boilers that generate this steam from water come in many different varieties and sizes. So, here, we’ll look at the types and designs of boilers for process plants, as well as issues…

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• 3D Printing Adds A New Dimension To Process Equipment

  By Seán Ottewell, Editor at Large

  3D printing now boasts costs and technology that’s allowing it to make an impact on chemical industry equipment and operations. Stefan Guertzgen, global senior director industry solution marketing and communications for chemicals, SAP, Newtown Square, Pa., points to three primary developments…

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• Take The Pressure Off Troubleshooting

  By Andrew Sloley, Contributing Editor

  Process engineers always want more instruments. However, project managers invariably balk at the cost, especially for devices not needed when an operation is running right. The usual compromise leads to a mix of instruments (some tied into the control system and others purely for local indication)…

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