March 2010 Issue Preview
Ad Closing: February 8, 2010 | Material Closing: February 15, 2010
Cover Story
Biofeedstocks Beckon
By Seán Ottewell, Editor at Large
More and more chemical companies are developing technology to produce feedstocks from renewable resources or are considering switching to such feedstocks provided by others. Here’s an update.
Design & Optimization
Rethink Mass Notification
By Joe Wilson, Federal Signal
Traditional emergency-mass-notification approaches aren’t optimum. Sites should consider integrated incident planning and execution tools to trigger and coordinate response, communication, notification and collaborative efforts.
Maintenance and Operations
Take a Strategic Approach to Maintenance
By John Murphy, Infor
To boost their competitiveness, chemical companies must elevate their asset-management practices using predictive maintenance techniques on their most strategic assets and taking energy efficiency into account.
Instrumentation and Control
Consider State-Based Control
By David Huffman, ABB
All processes, even continuous ones, never operate at one set of conditions all the time. Yet state-based control is under-utilized. It’s now easier to implement and can avoid potential mistakes and provide situational optimization.
Making it Work
Magnetic Separators Keep Pumps Running
By Rob Albee, One Eye Industries
A plant producing polycrystalline silicon suffered premature failure of its magnetic-drive pumps. The culprit turned out to be ferrous metal contamination. Installation of magnetic-separator basket strainers solved the problem.
Energy and Utilities
Washington Changes the Landscape
By Gary Faagau, Energy Columnist
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 focuses on increasing both energy efficiency and availability of renewable energy. Here’s a rundown on how it affects plants and what they should be doing now.
Regulatory Compliance
Regulators Aim for Solid Progress
By Lynn Bergeson, Regulatory Columnist
Many plant operations involve handling of solids. Depending upon the material, this can pose both environmental and safety issues. Washington continues to devote significant attention to addressing such issues.
Plant InSites
Capacity Constraint Causes Conundrum
By Andrew Sloley, Troubleshooting Columnist
In preparing to revamp a fractionator, plant staff ran tests that indicated lower-than-expected unit capacity. A tower scan didn’t provide insight as to why. The ultimate solution highlighted the need for accurate equipment records.
Advertising Information
For advertising information contact your district manager or our Production Manager at 630/467-1300 ext. 468. Send insertion orders to her at Chemical Processing, 555 W. Pierce Rd., Suite 301, Itasca, IL 60143; fax 630/467-0197; e-mail rfitzgerald@putman.net.
