In 1851, the year that the first America’s Cup sailboat race was contested, the top speed for a wind-powered vessel was 10 knots. Over the next 100 years, top sailboat speeds barely budged, but by the mid-1970s, top sailing speed…
Understand and follow these tips to ensure accurate and reliable temperature values Even though electrical thermometers are used quite frequently in chemical process industries (CPI) plants, people often underestimate just how wrong the temperature displayed can be if these measurements…
Performance improvements in robotics technologies for manufacturing and energy operations are leading to greater productivity, cost savings and safety improvements In the chemical process industries (CPI), mobile robots, often in conjunction with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), are…
Cutting edge technologies for recycling mixed plastics are being developed, and carefully chosen control valves will be critical for process viability and success Since their introduction over a century ago, plastics have become a mainstay in all aspects of our…
The Open Process Automation Standard (O-PAS) includes a business guide that outlines the business benefits of interoperability. This article discusses the benefits in the chemical industry While envisioning the Open Process Automation Standard (O-PASTM), the Open Group’s (www.opengroup.org) Open Process…
In January, specialty materials maker Celanese Corp. (Irving, Tex.; www.celanese.com) beta-launched a remote-operations control room (ROCR) that allows hands-free queries of plant data for faster data gathering and decision-making. The ROCR leverages recent advances in generative-artificial intelligence (gen-AI)-powered natural language…
The following list is a selection of recently published books that may have relevance for parts of the chemical process industries (CPI): Processing of Biomass Waste: Technological Upgradation and Advancement. Edited by Angana Sarkar and Ulla Lassi, Elsevier Press, March…
In low-flow applications, Coriolis mass-flow controllers can be susceptible to clogging due to their small orifice. Filtration can solve most common clogging issues. Here are tips for filtration and clog prevention Advanced material and catalyst research, as well as critical…
The patented technology to measure buildup can be used to optimize cleaning cycles and avoid unplanned shutdowns To keep operations at peak efficiency, process systems must be kept as clean as possible. However, some of the normal byproducts of operating…
The following questions and answers come from a conversation between Chemical Engineering magazine and Tathagata Basu, General Manager – Refining and Petrochemical at Honeywell Process Solutions (Houston, Texas; process.honeywell.com). The discussion revolves around the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies…