Process Heating articles from March 2004

Process Heating archives from March 2004

Don't let your good intentions get you: act now, not later.(Editor's Page)
March 1, 2004... Anyone who has attended the Industrial Heating Equipment Association's annual safety seminar has seen the slide presentation on catastrophic oven failures and heard the discussion of why they occurred. Like most calamitous events, the failures...

NFPA 86 revisions are focus of safety seminar.(The Insider)
March 1, 2004... The Industrial Heating Equipment Association (IHEA), Cincinnati, will hold its annual Safety Standards Seminar on May 11 and 12 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, Ill. This year's seminar will review the newest edition of NFPA 86...

Chromalox receives SCR patent.(The Insider)
March 1, 2004... Pittsburgh-based Chromalox has been awarded a patent for the advanced technology utilized in its MaxPac SCR product line. According to the company, its patented multi-directed airflow feature enhances the compact design. In addition, other...

Bekaert acquires France's Solaronics.(The Insider)
March 1, 2004... Bekaert Combustion Technology N.V., Assen, Netherlands, acquired Solaronics Technologies, Armentieres, France, and its subsidiaries, Solaronics IRT and Solarelec. Bekaert's combustion technology division specializes in gas burners based on...

Metso to rebuild Stora Enso's paper machine.(The Insider)
March 1, 2004... Helsinki, Finland-headquartered Metso Corp.'s Metso Paper will rebuild Stora Enso North America's paper machine at the Biron mill in Wisconsin. The modernized production line is scheduled to start up during the first quarter of 2005. The...

BP saves $2.5 million using optimizer.(The Insider)
March 1, 2004... Implementing a process optimization tool at BP's Grangemouth, Scotland, utilities and ethylene plants has resulted in a $2.5 million cost savings, increased plant throughput and improved environmental status. It is the third closed-loop...

SPI offers U.S. plastics study.(The Insider)
March 1, 2004... The economic impact of the $310 billion plastics industry on the overall U.S. economy in 2002 is the focus of "The Size and Impact of the U.S. Plastics Industry," a study released by the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc. (SPI), Washington....

Elan Chemical installs a delta cooling tower.(The Insider)
March 1, 2004... For more than 30 years, Elan Chemical Co., Newark, N.J., has produced natural and synthetic products for the flavor and fragrance industry. Elan's production of aromatic chemical intermediates for the flavor and fragrance industry accounts for...

Calendar.(Calendar)
March 1, 2004... MARCH March 16-18 -- Interphex Conference, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City. Sponsored by ISPE, the Society for Life Science Professionals. Call (800) 363-3631 or (203) 840-5533 or visit www.interphex.com. March 22-25...

Living in the past is dangerous: is it 1990 yet?(Energy Notes)
March 1, 2004... The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently released the 2003 edition of its Standard for Ovens and Furnaces, NFPA 86. This edition combines all of the material previously published in three separate standards--NFPA 86, NFPA 86C...

Dust control systems for thermal process drying systems: separation and recovery techniques, part 2.(Drying Files)
March 1, 2004... In the first part of this file (January, p. 20), I noted that it is necessary by desire and, in many instances, by law to separate and recover final product, dust and other potential solid emission products from the exhaust airstream. Various...

A look at induction heating: heating billets for diecasting.(Heating Highlights)
March 1, 2004... Take an aluminum alloy billet 6" dia. and 20" long. You have to heat one every minute to uniform slush consistency (1,085[degrees]F [585[degrees]C]) ready for diecasting. Convection and radiant heating cannot make the required speed or put the...

Solving safety problems with fabric: are you covered?(Safety Zone)
March 1, 2004... If you are an engineer in a pulp and paper, converting or printing plant, then you know how hot a steel calender roll can get. You also know that during breaks in production cycles, when maintenance is being performed, you need to adequately...

Fiberglass.(Fibers)
March 1, 2004... Fiberglass. The most commonly used heat-resistant fiber. Withstands 1,000[degrees]F (538[degrees]C) continuously with a melting point of 1,400[degrees]F (760[degrees]C). Texturized fiberglass yarn provides good high-heat insulating...

Amorphous silica.(Fibers)
March 1, 2004... Amorphous Silica. Chemically treated fiberglass, resulting in even better heat protection--up to 1,800[degrees]F (982[degrees]C) continuously with a melting point over 3,000[degrees]F (1,649[degrees]C).

Carbon.(Fibers)
March 1, 2004... Carbon. Technically the product being used by industry is partially carbonized acrylic fiber. Overall heat resistance is 500[degrees]F (260[degrees]C), but direct heat tends to travel across the fabric surface rather than penetrating through...

Aramid.(Fibers)
March 1, 2004... Aramid. A synthetic fiber with excellent strength and insulation characteristics up to about 600[degrees]F (316[degrees]C).

Silicone rubber.(Coatings)
March 1, 2004... Silicone Rubber. Withstands temperatures to 500[degrees]F with minimal smoke generation when exposed to excessive heat and flame.

Vermiculite dispersion.(Coatings)
March 1, 2004... Vermiculite Dispersion. Mineral-based finish applied to fiberglass fabrics boosts heat resistance by about 50 percent. Like carbon, heat tends to travel across rather than through it.

PTFE (like DuPont's Teflon) coating.(Coatings)
March 1, 2004... PTFE (like DuPont's Teflon) Coating. Temperature limits similar to silicone rubber but with better chemical resistance.

How to: design a successful heat trace system.(How to Handbook)
March 1, 2004... New materials and controls have made heat trace systems an efficient method of avoiding heat loss and providing temperature control in process equipment. With a wider range of choices and new temperature options and control capabilities, the...

Specifying heat transfer fluid for food processing applications: defining "food grade" and a new set of regulations from NSF International make it easier for process engineers in food manufacturing to choose a heat transfer fluid.(Heat Transfer)
March 1, 2004... Until recently, the term "food grade" has been used loosely to describe heat transfer fluids that are suitable for food processing applications. It has not been a term that specifically describes heat transfer fluids in their stated use but was...

Improving fan operation in curing equipment: knowing how to utilize variable-frequency drives in paint application and curing equipment can boost productivity, save energy and increase your bottom line.(Fans)
March 1, 2004... Energy savings is one of the key ingredients in the reduction of costs for any manufacturing operation. Variable-frequency drives (VFDs) provide the adjustable motor speed that can reduce energy consumption on paint curing lines. Once...

The drying game.(Equipment Overview)(Cover Story)
March 1, 2004... Whether it's a batch/cabinet, paddle or web dryer you need for your processing game plan, you are looking in the right place. The following pages are filled with Process Heating's annual equipment overview on dryers. You also can conduct...

Direct-expansion evaporator coil design: understanding the importance of a thermostatic-expansion valve and distributor operation in a direct-expansion evaporator may help you in choosing the right refrigeration system.(Heat Exchangers)
March 1, 2004... As summer approaches, it may be time to upgrade or design your process cooling or industrial refrigeration system. Many refrigeration systems incorporate direct-expansion evaporators, which can be one of the most challenging types of coils to...

Improving plasma spray coating control: power control during the plasma-spray-coating finishing process is important to achieving uniform results on the product.(Power Control)
March 1, 2004... Plasma spray coating is used in a range of finishing applications, including semiconductors, metals and architectural glass. Plasma spray coating is a process of thermally spraying one substance (usually in a powder form) onto another. For...

Temperature measurement.(Products)
March 1, 2004... To monitor temperature readings, install the applications software on a handheld computer, clip on the OM-MT20 module and take temperature measurements. The software screens are made to be simple, clear and easy to understand. Set up the...

Electric batch oven.(Products)
March 1, 2004... Designed for curing powder-coated parts, the oven consists of infrared heaters mounted in an enclosure with a separate recirculating heated air system. Three individually controlled vertical zones allow the user to run top, center and bottom...

Modulation system.(Products)
March 1, 2004... Recent revisions to indoor air quality (IAQ) standards require the introduction of more outdoor air, which can cause temperature consistency problems. Series 3 modulation system is designed to achieve constant discharge air temperatures as well...

Laboratory oven.(Products)
March 1, 2004... Designed to test coatings and processes in your own facility, IR Smart oven provides an accurate and repeatable testing environment, offering control, repeatability and [+ or -]2 percent temperature accuracy. Features include independently...

Multistage Heat Exchanger.(Products)
March 1, 2004... C-Series Model offers the ability to remove the fin-tube core from either side of the housing without disassembling the gas duct. A range of gas connection sizes and types are offered to match your system requirements. Exchanger also offers the...

Sample heater kit.(Products)
March 1, 2004... Sample heater kit allows design engineers to evaluate the carbonfiber-based heating technology. Kit includes any combination of 10 heaters with sizes ranging from 2 X 5" up to 10 X 20". All heaters are terminated with 12" lead wires and can be...

Flammability Analyzers.(Free Literature)
March 1, 2004... The use of PrevEx Flammability Analyzers can lower oven and dryer heating costs n processes which use solvents Benefits can range from a simple reductionof heated ventilation air to a combination of both reduced heating and increased...

Research Inc.(Free Literature)
March 1, 2004... Research SpotIR[R] heaters offer the capability to heat a circular area as small as 25 inches with infrared technology. An air-cooled reflector coupled with rapid response T3 lamps offer users the benefit of a high density heating solution and...

Heliflow Heat Exchanger.(Free Literature)
March 1, 2004... Full-color catalog includes details Heliflow Heat Exchanger's unique features which combine simplicity and high-efficiency with compact, lightweight versatility. The six-page literature outlines benefits such as providing more efficient...

William H. Joyce, Ph.D., was named chairman and CEO, and Bradley J. Bell was named executive vice president and CFO, at Nalco, Naperville, Ill., by the investor group that has acquired Nalco from Suez S.A., Paris, in a $4.2 billion transaction.(Places & Faces)
March 1, 2004... William H. Joyce, Ph.D., was named chairman and CEO, and Bradley J. Bell was named executive vice president and CFO, at Nalco, Naperville, Ill., by the investor group that has acquired Nalco from Suez S.A., Paris, in a $4.2 billion transaction....

Eurotherm Controls Inc..(Places & Faces)
March 1, 2004... John Searle assumed the role of president of Eurotherm Controls Inc., a unit of Invensys plc, Leesburg, Va., on January 1, following the retirement of Bill Perry. Searle has held several positions in his 10 years with the company, including his...

Chromalox.(Places & Faces)
March 1, 2004... Pittsburgh-based Chromalox offers its "Cold Weather Product Resource Guide" on CD, which includes product and design information to help keep processes up and running during the cold winter months. The CD includes an option to install the...

BTU International Inc.(Places & Faces)
March 1, 2004... BTU International Inc., North Billerica, Mass., shipped two convection curing systems to Renard Manufacturing, Miami Lakes, Fla. The systems are used to cure epoxy and polyimide materials in a nitrogen atmosphere, minimizing oxidation of the...

Instrumentation, Systems and Automation Society (ISA).(Places & Faces)
March 1, 2004... T. Duncan Schleiss, vice president of marketing for Emerson Process Management, Houston, received the E.G. Bailey Award from the Instrumentation, Systems and Automation Society (ISA), Research Triangle Park, N.C., for his leadership and vision...

RKC Instrument America.(Places & Faces)
March 1, 2004... Naoki Nakamura was appointed president of RKC Instrument America, South Bend, Ind., when Teru Hochi returned to RKC headquarters in Japan.

Ircon Inc.(Places & Faces)
March 1, 2004... Ircon Inc., Niles, Ill., appointed Paul Olinick as the director of sales for the Americas. He will be based out of Ircon headquarters.

Gessner Co., Carlton, Mass., a manufacturer of finishing systems for the textile industry, selected Wilmark Inc., Charlotte, N.C., as its exclusive representative for textile machinery sales in the United States and Canada.(Places & Faces)
March 1, 2004... Gessner Co., Carlton, Mass., a manufacturer of finishing systems for the textile industry, selected Wilmark Inc., Charlotte, N.C., as its exclusive representative for textile machinery sales in the United States and Canada. Wilmark will...

Wenger Manufacturing Inc., Sabetha, Kan., parent company of Extru-Tech Inc., Sabetha, Kan., appointed Scott Krebs to executive vice president, COO, for Extru-Tech.(Places & Faces)
March 1, 2004... Wenger Manufacturing Inc., Sabetha, Kan., parent company of Extru-Tech Inc., Sabetha, Kan., appointed Scott Krebs to executive vice president, COO, for Extru-Tech. Krebs joined Extru-Tech as a project engineer in 1991.