Process Engineering articles from February 2004

Process Engineering archives from February 2004

The industry's poor image is having a detrimental effect on its own employees ... we have not only a mobile workforce but also one that increasingly views its prospective employers with often ill-disguised scepticism.(Comment)
February 1, 2004... At last month's CIA Business Outlook Conference (see page 14), Shell Chemicals' Sven Royall said the sparkle had gone from his sector of the industry. 'Petrochemicals once had the capacity to excite,' he recalled. 'We made the building blocks...

Aventis defence.(News)
February 1, 2004... Hostile takeovers are a rarity in the pharmaceutical industry, with most companies quite willing to join forces to form blockbuster companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca. But the French firm Sanofi-Synthelabo is attempting to take...

Paints buoy ICI profits.(News)
February 1, 2004... The only remnant of the 'old' ICI, the paints business, was one of the few bright spots in what new chief executive John McAdam described as an 'unsatisfactory' profit performance in 2003. The company posted net profits of [pounds sterling]219...

Cutting crew.(News)
February 1, 2004... Big jobs require big tools, and the dismantling of the Windscale Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (WAGR) is a bigger job than most. The latest task, the removal of the steel pressure-vessel which held the reactor core, will see the oxypropane...

Electrical recycling.(News)
February 1, 2004... A group of 13 manufacturers of household electrical goods has set up a joint company to recycle materials from their products once they have been discarded. Called REPIC (Recycling Electrical Producers' Industry Consortium), it will be a...

Oil and gas plant spending to rise.(News)
February 1, 2004... Spending on process equipment by the oil and gas industry is set to rise sharply in the coming years, according to a report from market researchers at the ARC Advisory Group. The worldwide market for 'plant-level' expenditure, both in the...

Big cheeses.(News)
February 1, 2004... Carlisle Process Systems has won a [pounds sterling]40 million contract to build a new cheese and whey facility for the Southwest Cheese Company in Clovis, New Mexico. They will form part of a team which is building a 300 000[ft.sup.2] cheddar...

Energy-saving electrolysis.(News)
February 1, 2004... A new process for making chlorine from hydrochloric acid could cut energy usage by 30%, according to German major Bayer. The company has installed two electrolysers based on the technology at its Brunsbuttel site, producing a total of 20 000tpa...

BASF buys plasticisers.(In Brief)
February 1, 2004... BASF has bought a phthalate plasticisers business from US company Sunoco for $91 million. The business is based in Pasadena, Texas, and produces phthalic anhydride, phthalate esters, oxo-alcohols and 2-ethylhexanol. It had sales of $150 million...

Basra order for parker.(In Brief)
February 1, 2004... Parker Instrumentation is to supply valves and compression tube tube fittings worth over [euro]200 000 for the refurbishment of the Basra refinery in southern Iraq. The order includes over 1000 of the company's new Hi-Pro ball valve, which will...

New MD for Siemens drives.(In Brief)
February 1, 2004... Juergen Koehler has been named as the new managing director of Siemens' UK automation and drives business, succeeding Hans Ullrich Schliefer, who is retiring.

Astrazeneca water plant.(In Brief)
February 1, 2004... Purac has been awarded a [pounds sterling]19 million contract to build a water purification plant for AstraZeneca's Avlon production site near Bristol. The facility will be operational by summer 2005.

Acid test.(News)
February 1, 2004... Aker Kvaerner has won a $17 million contract to build an acetic acid plant expansion at the Yangtse River Acetyls Company (Yaraco) complex in Chongqing. The EPC contract, awarded to the company's European process business, AK Process, follows...

New launch for C6 Solutions.(News)
February 1, 2004... Following its venture capital-funded management buy-out, venerable chemicals company Hickson & Welch has relaunched itself under the new name of C6 Solutions. 'This is an exciting time for everyone involved in the company,' says chief executive...

PTA boost for Broadbent.(News)
February 1, 2004... The huge growth in the man-made fibres business in India and East Asia has led to an unprecedented surge in orders at centrifuge manufacturer Broadbent. The company has received [pounds sterling]25 million-worth of orders for decanter...

Grundfos takes control of Hilge.(News)
February 1, 2004... Grundfos has gained a footing in the hygienic end of the process sector by buying a 94% stake in German manufacturer Hilge for an undisclosed sum. Hilge develops and manufactures stainless steel pumps designed for breweries, dairies, and...

Climate change alliance.(In Brief)
February 1, 2004... Amcor Flexibles and Brunner Mond are the first companies to sign up to the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management scheme, which aims to reduce C[O.sub.2] emissions. The programme offers advice, guidance and analytical tools to identify and reduce...

Croatian project.(In Brief)
February 1, 2004... Honywell Process Solutions is to automate refinery and power plant operations for Croatia's national oil and gas company, INA Industrija Nafte Zagreb. The contract, worth $3.8 million, will improve monitoring and control at the Rijeka refinery....

ABB signs up Intergraph.(In Brief)
February 1, 2004... ABB Offshore Systems is to join forces with the process, power and offshire division of Intergraph to develop EPC requirements within Intergraph's SmartPlant Foundation software.

Chemistry decline.(In Brief)
February 1, 2004... The Royal Society of Chemistry has warned that declining applications and top-up fees could lead to the closure of all but six of the UK's university chemistry departments in the next 10 years.

Industry goals for chlorine.(News)
February 1, 2004... European chlorine producers have produced what they claim is the first set of long-term sustainability goals developed by a sector of the chemical industry. The targets, which have been agreed by 40 companies producing over 20 million tpa of...

New deal to prevent Invensys sales.(News)
February 1, 2004... Troubled automation company Invensys has unveiled a [pounds sterling]2.7 billion refinancing plan which, if successful, will mean it will not have to sell two of its businesses. The plan involves the issue of 2187 million new Invensys share and...

Diary dates.(Calendar)
February 1, 2004... 16-18 MARCH POWTECH 2004 is the European show for mechanical processes for powder and bulk solids technology. Around 550 exhibitors will present the latest developments. Venue: Nuremberg, Germany Details: Claudia Schregimann, T...

Mussel power.(Technology Today)
February 1, 2004... Beachcombers will know well that mussels are tenacious creatures, anchoring themselves to rocks and other surfaces with a grip that's hard to tear loose. The substance they use to glue themselves fast is the subject of much research, both in...

Cleaner chlorine.(Technology Today)
February 1, 2004... AMEC has signed a five-year agreement to distribute a new chlor-alkali process developed by Ineos Chlor in China. Known as BiChlor, the technology uses a membrane process to electrolyse brine into chlorine and caustic soda. Demand for...

Nanoparticles turn green.(Technology Today)
February 1, 2004... The nano-revolution shows no signs of abating, as can be seen elsewhere on these pages. Now, thanks to chemists at the University of North Carolina, it may begin to converge with another major trend in chemical research and industry, the design...

Centipedes in space.(Technology Today)
February 1, 2004... The next generation of spacecraft could be powered by materials whose structures are halfway between a centipede and a dress-making accessory--but thousands of times smaller. Teams from the Universities of Michigan and Purdue University in the...

Nanofibre a step closer.(Technology Today)
February 1, 2004... The potential for carbon nanotubes seems to be vast. From conducting electricity to forming the basis for light, superstrong fibres, their applications spread across a wide range of industries. Or rather they would, if there were any way of...

Clean catalyst.(Technology Today)
February 1, 2004... A new catalyst for an important industrial reaction could help improve environmental performance. The catalyst, which turns alcohols into more reactive saturated aldehydes or ketones, was developed by Jose Gimeno, Victoria Cadierno and Sergio...

Outreach for CFD.(Technology Today)
February 1, 2004... The use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is becoming more widespread in process engineering to model the behaviour of gases and liquids in process plants, but it is still a rather expensive technique. Smaller companies, particularly, tend...

Performance and popularity: predictions of the strongest growth for several years might seem to signal easier times for the chemicals sector. But the perennial unpopularity of the industry isn't going away, and it could cause major problems with regulators and employees, as Stuart Nathan reports.(Business Outlook)
February 1, 2004... The past few years have been tough for the chemical industry, and it's been a long time since there has been any source of post-Christmas cheer in the Chemical Industries Association's Business Outlook Conference. This year, however, was almost...

Constant flux reactor: featuring a novel approach to heat exchange and temperature control, a new design of reactor is nearing full-scale commercialisation. Mike Spear reports on the development of a system that has turned conventional heat transfer thinking on its head.(Reactor Technology)
February 1, 2004... It's one of those fundamental equations drummed into the heads of chemical and process engineers at the beginning of their careers. The amount of heat (Q) transferred in a heat exchanger is proportional to the area (A) of the exchanger and the...

Multiphysics modelling: unit operations such as mixing and blending can be difficult to model mathematically because of their multiphase nature. Mike Spear reports on the latest version of a software package that significantly speeds up the modelling and simulation of these systems.(Mixing Design)
February 1, 2004... Most mathematical modelling of engineering systems centres on the software's ability to solve the often quite complex series of partial differential equations (PDEs) that describe the fundamental underlying processes. Techniques such as...

Mixer remix.(Mixing Products)
February 1, 2004... The Lightnin Classic mixer is just that, a classic. The portable or fixed mount mixer has been a well-known sight on many process applications, large and small. But recognising that mixing technology doesn't stand still, SPX Process Equipment...

Right mix for water.(Mixing Products)
February 1, 2004... Static mixers from Chemineer are being used on additive injection and chemical dosing applications by Three Valleys Water in Hertfordshire. At the company's Batchworth Water Treatment Works more than [pounds sterling]14 million is being...

From lab to plant.(Mixing Products)
February 1, 2004... Silverson Machines, the specialist manufacturer of high shear mixers, has recently commissioned a purpose-built R & D laboratory at its dedicated test facility in Chesham, Bucks. 'The laboratory is used primarily in the development of new...

Standardising batch control: the gold standard for worldwide batch processing control, ISA-88, has had widespread impact in the process sectors which use batch operations. Dave Emerson explains the standard and the advantages it can hold for engineers and operators.(Batch Control)
February 1, 2004... The ISA-88 batch control standard has had a profound and unifying impact on the batch processing industry. Its influence is steadily being felt beyond the classic domain of batch process control. Even before the ISA-88 standard was formally...

Flexibility the key at Pfizer's process development labs.(Batch Control)
February 1, 2004... Automated process control systems are part of daily life at pharmaceutical manufacturing sites around the world. Pfizer's site in Sandwich, Kent site, which is home to 5000 employees, is no exception Unlike many other pharmaceutical...

Joint effort to control AstraZeneca's trial production.(Batch Control)
February 1, 2004... AstraZeneca has opted for a control and data acquisition system from Eurotherm for its Large Scale Laboratory (LSL) in Macclesfield. Costing [pounds sterling]500 000, the DCS was developed by Eurotherm and AstraZeneca along with the main...

From process to packaging: as the boundaries between continuous and discrete processing begin to blur, the integration of process and packaging technologies takes on added significance. Mike Spear reports.(Total Packaging)
February 1, 2004... Process control companies were probably among the first to identify the new area of 'hybrid manufacturing', that slice of industry that falls in the gap between established process industries like chemicals and oil and gas, and traditional...

Wrapping up Tunnock's.(Total Packaging)
February 1, 2004... Haggis, malt whisky, deep-fried Mars Bars--Scotland's contribution to gastronomy can hardly be overstated. The products of Thomas Tunnock's factory in Uddington, near Glasgow, are dear to the heart and stomach of many Scots. The UK's largest...

Domino to mark quarter-century.(Total Packaging)
February 1, 2004... Coding printer specialist Domino is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and is marking the occasion by bringing its latest developments to the Total Show. The company manufactures laser coders, continuous ink-jet and secondary packaging...

Flat pack machines.(Total Packaging)
February 1, 2004... Packaging equipment distributor WLT is presenting machinery from a number of manufacturers on its stand, 4440. Among the exhibits will be a range of feeders from KoRa-Packmat, which is capable of processing flat, wrapped or thin items such as...

Simple set-up for self-contained labeller.(Total Packaging)
February 1, 2004... Herma's new generation of servo-driven label applicators, the 400 range, will be on display on stand 4560 at the Total Show. The designers have integrated the control module for the 400 watt heavy-duty servo motor inside the machine's housing...

Synchronised ice.(Total Packaging)
February 1, 2004... Drives manufacturer Danfoss's Danish headquarters is no stranger to the cold, which might have given it a head start in designing a new packaging system for Fredericks Dairies choc-ice production line in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. Fredericks was...

Concrete example.(Total Packaging)
February 1, 2004... A new range of ultrasonic sensors for detection and distance measurement of transparent materials from Erwin Sick could find applications in the cement industry, the company claims. Exhibiting at the TOTAL Show on stand 4313, Sick says the new...

Stay on the track with CSL.(Total Packaging)
February 1, 2004... CSL is using the Total Show as the launchpad for an energy-efficient slat band modular conveyor, which can be built up to transport product around curves, up inclines and along straight sections. Powered by a single motor, the systems are...

Cleaning up on the filling front.(Total Packaging)
February 1, 2004... Mettler-Toledo's weighing products are as useful for packaging applications as for controlling and monitoring processes plants. The company's products are currently helping major cleaning products manufacturer Robert McBride maintain accuracy...

A new Vision for sealing systems.(Total Packaging)
February 1, 2004... Convenience food manufacturers are among the target markets for Packaging Automation (PA)'s Vision range of tray sealers, on display at stand 5132. Its newest model, designed for a high output but with a small footprint, is also suitable for...

Give them a lift.(Total Packaging)
February 1, 2004... Lifting and handling company Palamatic operates in several process sectors, particularly chemicals and pharmaceuticals, where its equipment is used to lift drums and cases of material. The food industry is also a major customer, such as meat...

Conveying light weights.(Total Packaging)
February 1, 2004... Astec Conveyors is exhibiting a selection of conveying systems on stand 3084, targeted especially at handling small, lightweight pharmaceutical conveyors. The systems are equipped with rubber-padded side grips which provide positive handling...

Ishida checks weight of wrapped foods.(Total Packaging)
February 1, 2004... Visitors to Ishida Europe's stand, 5410, will be able to view the company's new DACS-Zenith checkweigher, designed for high-speed applications with low target weights. Especially suited to flow-wrapped biscuits and confectionery, the weigher...

Mollers in China.(Total Packaging)
February 1, 2004... Maschinenfabrik Mollers, which can be seen on stand 4436 at Total, has received orders worth [euro]10million from petrochemical projects in China. The orders, for polyolefin granule bag-filling lines, are from the CSPC Nanhai Petrochemicals...

Changing direction.(Total Packaging)
February 1, 2004... Food packaging specialist Raque, who can be seen on stand 5346 at the Total Show, has added a range of divergers and convergers to its slate of packaging machines. The divergers incorporate their own PLCs to control the diverging sequence....

Dimaco systems to verify at the end of the line.(Total Packaging)
February 1, 2004... Dimaco (UK) is launching a variety of end-of-line inspection systems on stand 3281 at Total, including a pack label identification system designed for the food industry. The Veri-PACK system can operate at speeds of up to 200 labels per minute,...

Jelly service on a plate.(Equipment in Action)
February 1, 2004... At its petroleum jelly plant in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Fuchs Lubricants has just clocked up three years' distinguished service from six plate heat exchangers installed by Tranter. To keep the jelly liquid, process line temperatures are...

Fieldbus project cuts cable costs for BP.(Equipment in Action)
February 1, 2004... One of the undoubted attractions of fieldbus technology is the reduction in the amount of cabling needed to link field instrumentation with plant control systems. This has been graphically illustrated on BP's ethyl acetate process at its plant...

Cream topping.(Equipment in Action)
February 1, 2004... Milk Link's Staplemead Creamery near Frome, Somerset, processes a range of viscosity-modified creams either direct from a separator or from cold stored cream. To provide the necessary flexibility in its pasteurising line, a new Tetra Plex C8...

From waste to wealth.(Equipment in Action)
February 1, 2004... Do you prefer your olives pitted and stuffed, or just as they come? Have you ever thought what happens to the stones that are removed, let alone the millions discarded by the huge olive oil industry? Well, like so many 'waste' products of the...

Space-saving solution.(Equipment in Action)
February 1, 2004... At its newly expanded polymer emulsion plant near Wellingborough, Northants, Scott Bader has opted for a [pounds sterling]70 000 heat exchanger package from Spirax Sarco for temperature control on its new process vessels. The four vessels--two...

As good as new.(Equipment in Action)
February 1, 2004... Processing plant is generally expected to have a reasonably long operating life, but designs can be overtaken by changing requirements. This has opened up opportunities for equipment suppliers such as Manesty. Already backed by lifetime...

Soup of the day in minutes.(Equipment in Action)
February 1, 2004... By using heat exchangers and other equipment from the HRS Group, one of Spain's leading food and drink producers, Garcia Carrion, has cut the processing time for its range of chilled fresh vegetable soups from one hour to five or six minutes....

Water savers cut industry bills.(Product News)
February 1, 2004... Moody Systems are helping to reduce food and drink manufacturers' water bills by using self-contained water saver units which recover and recycle process cooling and lubrication water which would otherwise be lost down the drain. The...

Linking into Ethernet for control.(Product News)
February 1, 2004... Process engineers can now extend plant-wide control applications to include Ethernet capabilities with the new National Instruments FBUS-HSE/H1 Fieldbus high-speed Ethernet (HSE) linking device. Using the device, engineers can now fully...

Trouvay & Cauvin take control.(Product News)
February 1, 2004... Trouvay & Cauvin has introduced a new range of bellows-sealed and gland-packed globe valves, piston valves, check valves and 'y' type strainers. Each will control steam, fluids and gases in a wide variety of applications for the process,...

Algor features multiphysics tools.(Product News)
February 1, 2004... Engineering simulation software specialist Algor has released Algor v14.2, a new version of its finite element analysis software that introduces coupled multiphysics capabilities for simulating natural, forced or mixed convection; support for...

Easy digital thermometer.(Product News)
February 1, 2004... Horiba Instrument's new infrared thermometer, the isquare, records and displays both the visual image and multiple temperatures simultaneously. It displays a digital picture of whatever it's pointed at, overlays and records the temperature...

Partnership delivers new control suite.(Product News)
February 1, 2004... Scada specialist Citect has joined forces with Mitsubishi Electric to offer MX4, a new suite of control software for use in the manufacturing and process industries. Combining Citect's software with Mitsubishi's hardware, MX4 is part of...

PC-based data acquisition.(Product News)
February 1, 2004... Designed for process monitoring and distributed I/O, the MX100 DAQMaster from Yokogawa is a modular, distributed PC-based data acquisition system. Unlike many such systems, it is said to offer isolated, true differential inputs through its...

UK and International Plant Cost Indices.(Plant Cost Indices)
February 1, 2004... Apologies to regular readers for the change in position of our long-standing UK and International Plant Cost Indices. Previously to be found in the News pages, we have relocated this important data for project engineers to this newly created...

Management overviews: Manufacturing/Business/Lean Sigma[TM]/DFSS/Lean/Planning.
February 1, 2004... Manufacturing Six Sigma (M1) Six Sigma has become the process improvement methodology of choice for organisations that are serious about world class levels of quality and customer service. This programme will provide Managers with a...