Chemical Processing Distilled

Solution promises to reduce sensor maintenance, improve process performance, and ensure a safe work environment in the chlor-alkali industry.

While liquid tank level is one of the basic measurements used in process plants, its importance cannot be overstated. Incorrect high level measurements can cause vessels to overflow leading to lost product, a safety hazard or an environmental problem. Incorrect low level measurements can burn out pumps and can cause problems with inventory control.  Enter differential pressure level measurement, w...

The use of surrogate testing is a valuable tool in ensuring that contained dust collectors are meeting several requirements including environmental, employee health and safety and production cleanliness and efficiency. Traci Purdum, executive digital editor of Chemical Processing, spoke with David Steil, pharmaceutical market manager at Camfil Air Pollution Control, to better understand surrogate...

Pardon the pun, but check valves are fairly straight forward -- they ensure flow in only one direction. In most designs, the upstream fluid force pushes a spring-loaded poppet open, allowing flow. An increase in downstream or back-pressure force drives the poppet back into the seat, stopping reverse flow. But their simplicity shouldn’t be taken for granted. Chemical Processing spoke with Brian Str...

One of the most commonly used compounds in the chemical industry is water – not only as a solvent in processing, but also as an energy carrier in the cooling or heating cycle. Monitoring water quality can predict performance and protect equipment.   Chemical Processing spoke with Amanda Scott, product management leader for the Sievers* product line at SUEZ --Water Technologies & Solutions, we disc...

Many chemical companies are striving to improve the reliability of vacuum systems, lower total cost of ownership and meet regulatory requirements for emissions standards and noise reduction. To address these demands as well as specific vacuum technology problems, vendors are responding with novel applications of established equipment as well as new technologies.   Enter dry vacuum pumps. Chemical...

What are human factors? Dave Strobhar -- founder and principal-human-factors engineer for Beville Engineering – defines human factors and offers sound advice going forward.

In this Minute Clinic, we tackle font size requirements in regard to alarm management.

This Minute Clinic episode offers straight-forward solutions to help operators make better decisions. 

Diagrams and line labeling could save thousands of dollars when it comes to operator performance.

In this Minute Clinic, we learn how to calculate total operators required to cover a post position. 

Many companies use targets to drive design and that can lead to negative consequences.

In today’s Minute Clinic, we learn about alarm redundancy without alarm duplication.