Process Engineering articles from March 2004

Process Engineering archives from March 2004

Comment.
March 1, 2004... In last month's issue, we commented on one of the great attractions of process engineering as a career--it offers the chance of working anywhere in the world. Graduates are no longer constrained by geography, we said--they are able, and...

Ten-year plan for science.(News)
March 1, 2004... Plans to boost UK spending on science and technology are to be a centrepiece of Gordon Brown's summer spending review. The Chancellor indicated to senior figures in the research community at a recent 'power breakfast' that he is planning a...

REACH threat to Belgian chemicals.(News)
March 1, 2004... The Belgian chemical industry could lose up to 30% of its products as a result of the European Union's proposed Registration, Evaluation and Assessment of Chemicals (REACH) regime, according to a study by the national industry association,...

ICI sells food ingredients.(News)
March 1, 2004... ICI has opted to sell the food ingredients business of its Quest International subsidiary to Irish firm Kerry Group for [pounds sterling]238million. The flavours and fragrances operations of Quest will be retained, but ICI is pumping some...

Output set to rise further.(News)
March 1, 2004... The UK's strong economic performance is spilling over into the manufacturing sector, with engineering companies experiencing their best output performance for seven years, according to the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF). Engineering...

Testing times.(News)
March 1, 2004... Companies which make or use thermoplastics are the target for a new service from German chemicals major Bayer. The company's materials science business has opened a Thermoplastics Testing Centre (TTC), which can carry out tests on the...

De Salis takes reins at safety consultancy.(News)
March 1, 2004... Rowan House, the independent safety consultancy for the process industries, has announced several changes to its board, which reflect continued growth in its services. Clive de Salis has moved from the position of operations director to become...

BP close Baglan Bay plant.(In Brief)
March 1, 2004... BP Chemicals' isopropanol plant at Baglan Bay, the last petrochemical plant at the site, is to close at the end of March. This marks the end of 40 years' of petrochemicals manufacture, said works general manager Gareth James. 'Over recent years...

Compliance alliance.(In Brief)
March 1, 2004... Sira and Lloyd's Register Verification have joined forces to provide 'simple, easy-to-use routes' for compliance with 16 European Directives including ATEX. 'The overseas markets, particularly the USA, need a clear and simple route to full EC...

Malvern deal with Parsum.(In Brief)
March 1, 2004... Malvern Instruments has secured distribution rights for in-line particle measurement equipment from Parsum outside Germany.

BASF alliance for Malaysian PBT.(News)
March 1, 2004... BASF has unveiled plans to build a world-scale polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) plant in Kuantan, Malaysia, to utilise the 1,4-butanediol (BDO) produced by its newly-commissioned plant next door (see PE Plants & Projects Profile, page 24). Like...

Automation link-up.(News)
March 1, 2004... Siemens Automation and Drives and Bayer Technology Group, the EPC contracting arm of the German major, are to join forces to develop automation systems for chemical and pharmaceutical firms. The firms are aiming to capitalise on the trend...

Fluor takes the LION's share.(News)
March 1, 2004... US-based EPC contractor Fluor is to take charge of a major clean fuels project in South Africa for a joint venture between BP Southern Africa and Shell SA Energy. The LION (Large Increase in Octane Number) project will be located at the...

Total success for Invensys.(In Brief)
March 1, 2004... Invensys has received its third order to replace a control system for Total's offshore operations. The company is to supply a Foxboro I/A Series control system, including Triconex safety systems, to the L7CC production platform in the North...

Steady growth for flow.(In Brief)
March 1, 2004... The market for flow sensors in Europe is set to grow steadily in the next few years, according to a report from Frost & Sullivan. Demand will be driven by the need to comply with EC regulations, and the increasing emphasis on improved accuracy...

BOC offers gas compliance.(In Brief)
March 1, 2004... Companies buying hazardous gases such as sulphur dioxide and ammonia from BOC can now take advantage of a service helping them comply with EU legislation, including REACH, when it takes effect.

Shell opts for MTL in China.(News)
March 1, 2004... The current spate of large-scale petrochemical projects in China is starting to bear fruit for control and instrumentation companies, with Shell and CNOOC now awarding fieldbus contracts for their CSPC joint venture complex in Nanhai (see PE...

Gas field boost for Oman.(News)
March 1, 2004... AMEC has won a contract to provide front-end engineering design (FEED) services for oil production facilities in Oman. The contract was awarded by Petroleum Development Oman for the development of the Harweel cluster of oilfields in the south...

Diary dates.(Calendar)
March 1, 2004... 24-26 MARCH The BHR Group's 9th International Conference on Pressure Surges focuses on the latest developments in surge analysis for the design and operation of successful applications. Designers, contractors, suppliers and owners will...

Bacteria power.(Technology Today)
March 1, 2004... A new twist on the established technology of using bacteria to treat wastewater could make the bugs work harder by using them to generate electricity at the same time. Developed at Pennsylvania State University, these microbial fuel cells...

Second-hand cyclotron boosts PET scan centre.(Technology Today)
March 1, 2004... The University of Birmingham has become the home for the first centre in the world to combine a cyclotron with a positron emission tomography (PET) scanner for industrial, rather than medical, applications. The centre's cyclotron was...

Swing votes.(Technology Today)
March 1, 2004... Cambridge-based valve specialist Camcon Technology has won an Innovation Award from the East of England Energy Group for a magnetic rolling swing valve. Notable for its high-speed operation and low energy consumption, the valve is designed for...

Photo finish.(Technology Today)
March 1, 2004... The value of platinum isn't only in its scarcity and purity. Like many relatively heavy transition metals, its ability to catalyse organic reactions makes it indispensable for the chemical industry. Researchers from the US Department of...

Do the twist.(Technology Today)
March 1, 2004... New research into the ways that complex organic molecules fold could have implications for the design of computer memory, according to chemists at Purdue University in Indiana. The team, led by Timothy Zwier, has determined how tryptamine, a...

Greenhouse goals.(Technology Today)
March 1, 2004... Fluor is to join forces with Mitsui Babcock, Alston Power and Imperial College to research new ways to capture and recover carbon dioxide from power stations. The research is funded by the International Energy Agency (IEA) Greenhouse Gas R&D...

Qualified response: the European Union is attempting to clarify rules on how professionals can move between member states. Stuart Nathan looks at some of the problems of drafting rules which will apply equally to engineers, doctors and architects.(Qualifications)
March 1, 2004... THE question of how engineers will be able to move around the various European Union member states is still uncertain, following the rejection of the Commission's proposals for recognition of professional qualifications. The European Parliament...

Emissions monitoring: as European and UK regulators tighten the requirements on process plants to reduce emissions to the atmosphere, operators have to raise their game. Cameron Stathers discusses how monitoring equipment can help them comply with the regulations.(Regulations)
March 1, 2004... OVER the past ten years European legislation has called for increasingly vigilant monitoring of emissions from the UK's manufacturing and processing plants. Maximum permitted amounts have been gradually lowered as time has progressed, and that...

Weighing up the options: the mass balance is a fundamental element of process engineering and relies on the accuracy and reliability of the measuring systems employed. Rod Morgan explains the design parameters to be considered when selecting an effective weighing system.(Process Weighing)
March 1, 2004... THE weighing industry has seen a number of significant changes over the past decade. The developments in information technology, the importance of manufacturing traceability, the legislative considerations of health and safety and the adoption...

The total process solution: combining four established and successful exhibitions into one, the Total Processing & Packaging show is by far the largest UK event dedicated to the process industries for many a year. Over the following pages we highlight many of the process products and services to be found in Halls 1 to 5 of the NEC from 29 March to 1 April.(Process Equipment)
March 1, 2004... IN their own distinct ways, the Eurochem, Interphex, Pakex and PPMA shows established their respective positions by addressing different elements of the process industries. Eurochem began 30 years ago as very much a chemical industry-focused...

All-purpose vessels.(Process Equipment)
March 1, 2004... For the first time at a UK exhibition, Newson Gale is planning a dedicated stand showing a range of CE, ASME and UN pressure vessels. The products on display at stand 1G95 in Hall 1 have applications in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food,...

Joining forces with SPX.(Process Equipment)
March 1, 2004... SPX Process Equipment, comprising Bran + Luebbe, Waukesha Cherry-Burrell, Lightnin Mixers, Plenty Side Entry Mixers and Plenty Mirrlees Pumps, is showing products from all its member companies at its Total stand, G40, in Hall 1. Exhibits...

Small size, big performance.(Process Equipment)
March 1, 2004... Silverson's Ultramix dynamic mixer, on show on stand 1J20, is designed for applications which are beyond the capabilities of a conventional agitator but which do not need the intense high shear of a Silverson Rotor/Stator mixer. With its...

Gentle mixing.(Process Equipment)
March 1, 2004... On stand 3091, the Inotec ViscoJet range of mixers is being demonstrated by UK agent Orthos Engineering. The patented low-speed machines provide high efficiency with very low energy usage and exceptionally gentle but thorough mixing of...

Spinning up a storm.(Process Equipment)
March 1, 2004... Separation specialist Broadbent Centrifuges is bringing a variety of products for the pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals and specialities end of the chemical sector to the Total show. Horizontal decanters, scroll/screen centrifuges, vertical...

The little freeze.(Process Equipment)
March 1, 2004... Among the new launches as Total is Telstar's new Series LyoBeta freeze-dryers or lyophilisers, which can be seen on stand H50. The lyophilisers, which are laboratory units designed specifically for advanced research centres, are available with...

Alfa's magic line-up.(Process Equipment)
March 1, 2004... Heat exchangers, hygienic pumps, centrifuges and filtration modules are among the products which will be on display at Alfa Laval's stand, G60. And if that weren't enough, the stand, one of the largest, also features a magic show. To fit...

ATEX focus on pumps.(Fluids Handling)
March 1, 2004... The ATEX directive is the focus for Rietschle Thomas's stand, 1H11. Process systems manager Dave Laurenson will be on hand to discuss the implications of the regulations, and on how users of pumps and compressors can comply with them. ...

Sealing a partnership.(Fluids Handling)
March 1, 2004... Focusing on reducing cost of ownership, sealing specialist John Crane is using Total to showcase its partnership approach to providing services. The company is showing its well-known range of mechanical seals on stand 1H60, but also wants to...

Up, up and away with Busch.(Fluids Handling)
March 1, 2004... Visitors to Busch UK's stand will not only be able to see the company's new dry screw vacuum pump, but will also have the chance to win a hot-air balloon trip. However, the new pump should be incentive enough--it is the only one on the market...

Polymer pumps.(Fluids Handling)
March 1, 2004... On stand 1F02 Albany Engineering is launching its new range of polymer-cased gear pumps. The Type FF pumps are economical and versatile, with applications in areas where low cost, light weight, abrasion and corrosion resistance are important....

Peristaltic push.(Fluids Handling)
March 1, 2004... Designed for applications needing exceptionally robust equipment, Watson-Marlow Bredel's 520 Series peristaltic pumps are making their debut at the Total show, on stand 1F11. For smaller volume applications, the company is also launching its...

German company makes its mark at total.(Fluids Handling)
March 1, 2004... Bavarian valve and control system company Schubert & Salzer is exhibiting a range of valves and meters on stand 1B21. Visitors to the stand will be able to see products such as the EHEDG hygienic sterile valve, GS control valves, ultrasonic...

Automation and control: with a major focus on drives, control and instrumentation technology across its constituent parts, Total goes beyond the conventional control exhibition by showing automation in its true context, alongside the machines and systems it controls.(Control & Automation)
March 1, 2004... ALTHOUGH not a separate element to Total, automation and control sits high on the agenda of many visitors. Whether their interest is on the process or on the packaging line, there is something to see--from process control systems, through...

Weighing solutions.(Control & Automation)
March 1, 2004... On stand 4385 Mettler Toledo is launching several new products. A combined checkweigher/metal detector, for example, has been designed specifically for the food industry. It offers features such as interlocked covers and either bins or roller...

Close in on Rittal.(Control & Automation)
March 1, 2004... On stand 4284 Rittal is showing a selection of its enclosures, thermal management systems, information kiosks and software for electrical and process design. This includes Industrial Workstations (IW) that 'bring the desk into the factory'....

Omron's overview.(Control & Automation)
March 1, 2004... Among the many demonstrations on Omron Electronics' stand (4246) is a process supervision system. This combines the company's F160 vision products with CJ1 programmable controllers and NS machine-management HMI terminals. This arrangement...

Double drive time for Danfoss.(Control & Automation)
March 1, 2004... Spreading its presence at Total across both Halls 1 and 5, Danfoss is demonstrating for the first time in the UK its all-new high performance ac drive, the VLT AutomationDrive FC300. With its integral PLC, AutomationDrive is said to...

Steady as a rock.(Control & Automation)
March 1, 2004... Nova Weigh's latest 5000 series of instruments can be seen on stand 1E05, where the company's 'Rock-Steady' digital signal processing will be highlighted. Unlike in the lab where weighing systems are stable and vibration-free, in the...

Festo's feast of automation.(Control & Automation)
March 1, 2004... New for Total on stand 4350 is the Festo range of actuators and controls for process applications, including manifold-mounted pilot valves for process valve actuation featuring open fieldbus connectivity--for example, DeviceNet or Profibus...

Pharma focus on dew-point.(Control & Automation)
March 1, 2004... Dew-point specialist Michell Instruments is showcasing on stand 1E50C two brand new instruments developed to cater for applications in the pharmaceuticals industry. The first is OptiCal, a standalone calibrator for RH sensors with an in-built,...

Take the Endress bus.(Control & Automation)
March 1, 2004... Presenting its own 'show within a show', Endress + Hauser is bringing its brand new 'Demobus' to stand 1A05. This fully functional mobile demonstration suite allows E+H to show off its one-stop shop approach to process solutions. Once on board,...

'Nil satis, nisi optimum', says ifm?(Control & Automation)
March 1, 2004... With one of the largest stands at Total (4185), ifm electronic is featuring many new developments in specialist sensing and control. Highlights include the efector octavis, efector dualis and efector metris, which, apart from a novel approach...

Bespoke solutions.(Control & Automation)
March 1, 2004... On stand 4116 Easiweigh is highlighting its expertise in providing bespoke turnkey solutions to any weighing application. The company's complete line capability includes vibratory pre-feed equipment, in-feed systems and single- or multi-lane...

Weighing approvals.(Control & Automation)
March 1, 2004... On stand 4537, the National Weights & Measures Laboratory (NWML) is promoting its range of legal metrology and consultancy services for manufacturers of weighing equipment. Part of the DTI, NWML is the national authority providing a type...

Solids small and large: in an exhibition ranging from processing to packaging, the role of solids handling in both, and at the interface between the two, features prominently around all five halls of the Total show--from raw materials to final packaged product.(Solids Handling)
March 1, 2004... ONCE one of the Cinderella areas of process engineering, solids handling and processing is today characterised by a wealth of detailed technical know-how on the properties and performance of powders, particles and bulk solids. From particle...

Balmoral provides improved choice for process plant specifiers.(Advertorial)(Advertisement)
March 1, 2004... The latest restructuring of a UK-based manufacturing company has seen the re-emergence of a long time supplier to the processing and chemical markets. Bringing more than 20 years' experience of specialised liquid storage to the industry is...

Gas or dust? ATEX answers.(Equipment in Action)
March 1, 2004... When rotary valve manufacturer Rota Val was asked to provide a fully tested and certified ATEX version of its flagship Hypergienic valve to a pharmaceutical customer, it ran into a problem. Although designed to meet the stringent...

Savoury stores.(Equipment in Action)
March 1, 2004... Despite its name, Wrexham-based Village Bakery (Coedpoeth) is currently striving to fully automate its production of high quality bread and savoury pastry products. As part of a [pounds sterling]3million expansion project, silo and vessel...

The boys for the black stuff.(Equipment in Action)
March 1, 2004... Continued growth has caused Guinness to redevelop its Waterford site in Ireland on a very tight timescale. After assessing potential suppliers, Guinness has opted for the Invensys company, APV, which has recently equipped large-scale breweries...

Power water treatment.(Equipment in Action)
March 1, 2004... Process engineering contractor Purac has successfully commissioned a new water treatment plant at Ratcliffe on Soar power station near Nottingham. Powergen awarded the [pounds sterling]1.3million contract to install the high purity...

Sunshine in a vacuum.(Equipment in Action)
March 1, 2004... Made by Coca Cola Enterprises (CCE) at its Milton Keynes plant, 'Capri Sun' is one of the most popular 'lunchbox' juice drinks in the UK at the moment, with a [pounds sterling]43million share of the market. But so competitive is this market,...

All steamed up for pudding production.(Equipment in Action)
March 1, 2004... As part of an upgrade to its steam plant, the Cornwall-based chilled dessert manufacturer Kensey Foods has installed a prepackaged boiler room from Fulton Boiler Works to meet growing demand from its major supermarket chain customer. ...

Pump packages boost industrial heritage.(Equipment in Action)
March 1, 2004... Thames Water has replaced the original sewage pumping facilities at Blake's Lock in Reading with five new highly efficient pump and motor packages. The buildings of the Victorian pumping station on the River Kennet will now be turned into a...

Delivering oil-free process air.(Product News)
March 1, 2004... Compressor manufacturer CompAir has introduced a new range of oil-free, water-injected single screw compressors. Designed for applications where there is a need for high quality 'active' air--air that comes into direct contact with the...

Mix and match compressors.(Product News)
March 1, 2004... With over 50 000 units in operation, Atlas Copco's Z series of oil-free compressors have a reliable pedigree behind them. But the new-look ZR/ZT 110-160 series involves much more than a styling makeover, according to the company. Its innovative...

UK and International Plant Cost Indices.(Plant Cost Indices)
March 1, 2004... Previously to be found in the News pages, last month we relocated our long-standing UK and International Plant Cost Indices to this newly created Engineering Practice section. This important data is of great value to project engineers. For...