Process Engineering articles from November 2006

Process Engineering archives from November 2006

Comment: November 2006.
November 21, 2006... UK process industries are, it seems, facing a new type of regulation; a do-it-yourself approach that relies much more heavily on self- monitoring than the threat of a surprise visit from regulatory inspectors, as in the past. As...

EA unveils water regs plan.
November 21, 2006... The Environment Agency (EA) has unveiled its blueprint for a new approach to industrial wastewater monitoring and regulation, based on improved process control and self-monitoring by operators. The proposals were presented to delegates at the...

Bayer calls for greater biotechnology support.
November 21, 2006... During 2006 Bayer has been investing Euro1.9 billion in research and development, with the focus now on life sciences - particularly with the acquisition of Schering AG - and biotechnology. According to Bayer chairman Werner Wenning:...

HF gains PICME.
November 21, 2006... Independent engineering and consultancy Haden Freeman is acquiring PICME, the Process Industry Centre for Manufacturing Excellence, which will operate as a stand-alone business and retain its own identity. Established in 2000, PICME...

'Buncefield' safety measures revealed.
November 21, 2006... Industry must introduce "immediate measures" to improve safety and environmental standards at major petroleum storage facilities, the Buncefield Joint Industry and COMAH Competent Authority Task Group has announced. The Task Group has...

IN BRIEF: HSE appointed.(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... The Health & Safety Executive has been appointed as the UK Competent Authority for the forthcoming EU chemicals legislation, REACH - registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals. The move has been welcomed by the Chemical...

IN BRIEF: SABIC acquisition.(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... SABIC is acquiring Huntman's European Base Chemicals and Polymers business for $ 700 million. Under the deal, SABIC said it will complete Huntsman's $150-million project to construct a 400-kpta capacity LDPE plant in Teesside and take on all...

IN BRIEF: New player in UK pumps sector.(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... The UK pumps sector has a new player with the formation of The Pump Company by Peter Staddon, who previously led Stork/JP Pumps for 20 years. The Crawley-based firm supplies a range of positive displacement and centrifugal pumps. ...

IN BRIEF: Atlas Copco acquisition.(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... Atlas Copco has acquired Microtec Systems GmbH, a Stuttgart, Germany- based toolmaker specialising in electric tightening tools for advanced small screw applications. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

ANALYSIS: Skills catch on the Humber.
November 21, 2006... An #8-million chemicals plant has opened in Stallingborough, near Grimsby. But this is no ordinary chemicals plant, it produces nothing but, hopefully, well trained and competent workers and apprentices. The plant, termed CATCH (the Centre...

ANALYSIS: What! No science?
November 21, 2006... In a world where technological and environmental awareness has never been higher, it is staggering that so many people are turned off by science. A recent survey by the Chemical Industries Association showed that over 80% of businesses...

ANALYSIS: Grundfos details process ambitions.
November 21, 2006... Grundfos has rolled out its strategy to establish itself as a major player in the process sector, starting in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries - with the chemicals industry to follow. The strategy is currently centred around...

PLANT VISIT - BAYER CROPSCIENCE: Cutting the mustard.
November 21, 2006... The Bayer CropScience team at Norwich is countering the threat of global competition with a highly flexible approach to manufacturing. Patrick Raleigh reports Peter JessopGlobal competition is the name of the game at the Bayer CropScience...

PLANT VISIT - BAYER CROPSCIENCE: Keeping energy costs in check.
November 21, 2006... Energy is a major issue at Bayer CropScience's Norwich operation, which has managed to reduce electricity consumption to around 2-2.5MW, down from some 2.5-3MW a few years ago. Since 1995, the site has operated a 4.4MW Combined Heat and...

SPECIAL REPORT - BUNCEFIELD: Buncefield blast concern.
November 21, 2006... The devastation at Buncefield was far in excess of the forecasts provided by any existing model, Patrick Raleigh learns from HSE investigation manager Taf Powell The Buncefield incident remains of great concern to the safety investigators...

SPECIAL REPORT - BUNCEFIELD: More barriers can equal less safety.
November 21, 2006... While Powell was restricted from commenting on many issues concerning Buncefield - legal and criminal proceedings are still under consideration - he did comment on other major industrial accidents worldwide. Powell, who is head of HSE's...

CONTROL & SOFTWARE - DRIVES & CONTROLS: Power play.
November 21, 2006... Many companies do not operate a strategic approach to saving energy and this is frustrating the efforts of engineers to replace outdated equipment with modern, energy-efficient products such as variable speed drives. Patrick Raleigh reports...

CONTROL & SOFTWARE - DRIVES & CONTROLS: Water winner.
November 21, 2006... Severn Trent Water was recognised at the Electrical Industry Awards 2006 for "Best Environmental Initiative of the Year", following an installation that reduced energy consumption by over #12,000 per annum at its Wanlip Sewage Treatment Works...

PROCESS MANAGEMENT - DATA ACQUISITION: Boarding the DAQ bus.
November 21, 2006... Developing technology means that data acquisition is no longer the preserve of qualified engineers, software specialists or programmers. Patrick Raleigh examines what is behind the change. Data acquisition (DAQ) is finding a broad range of...

PROCESS MANAGEMENT - DATA ACQUISITION: FPGA: One to watch.
November 21, 2006... DAQ is expanding into highly specialised areas thanks to advances with Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology. While some in the industry believe FPGA is very much like a PLC, "it is a completely different animal," according to...

PROCESS MANAGEMENT - DATA ACQUISITION: Data acquisition gets active.
November 21, 2006... The increasing power of industrial PCs and the industrial Ethernet are extending the use of data acquisition in factory automation and process control applications, says John Hayward Data acquisition customers have to date been mainly...

PLANT MANAGEMENT - WATER & WASTEWATER: Pure and simple.
November 21, 2006... New regulations are driving the development and adoption of improved water treatment technologies, but process companies should first establish their exact requirements before investing. Patrick Raleigh reports Meeting increasing demands...

PLANT MANAGEMENT - WATER & WASTEWATER: Bio energises dairy industry.
November 21, 2006... Biological treatment systems are also making significant inroads, particularly in the food & beverage industry, where the latest fixed film systems deliver both highly effective waste treatment and energy recovery. The Norrmejerier Dairy...

PLANT MANAGEMENT - WATER & WASTEWATER: Spanish brewer goes electric.
November 21, 2006... Efforts by European Union regulators to eliminate trace chemicals in a broad range of products and materials are pushing process companies towards alternative water treatment technologies. Spanish brewer Mahou has ordered electrolytic...

PLANT MANAGEMENT - WATER & WASTEWATER: Ultra pure technology makes mark.
November 21, 2006... An important emerging market for membranes is in ultrapure water (UPW) systems, which, for example, can be used to remove dissolved oxygen to less than 1 part per billion. Such capabilities are now in demand in industries such as...

TECHNOLOGY IN ACTION: Steel plant makes sound savings.
November 21, 2006... Vibration monitoring is fine for checking the condition of high-speed motors, fans and pumps. The equipment is cost-effective, easy to use and the data is easy to interpret. It is less effective when components or machines rotate at less...

Bayer targets production of pharmaceuticals on tobacco plants.
November 21, 2006... Icon Genetics, a subsidiary of Bayer Innovation, is producing pharmaceuticals from tobacco plants using its MagniCON Process. Substantial market opportunities are seen for the process in the future and Bayer believes it is currently the leading...

TECHNOLOGY IN ACTION: Total safety.
November 21, 2006... Improved safety and reduced maintenance are the headline benefits for Total at its refinery in Antwerp following the installation of a Rosemount Analytical Oxymitter on its catalyst regeneration unit. The Oxymitter is an in-situ probe with...

Technology tracker - Automation suppliers: Yokogawa.
November 21, 2006... Yokogawa has launched a new alarm management software system, which it claims is the world's first alarm management solution to utilise the Consolidated Alarm Management System (CAMS) concept. Manufacturing plants are increasingly...

Technology tracker - Automation suppliers: ABB.
November 21, 2006... The new COM 610 communication gateway from ABB is designed to connect substations, protection relays and terminals to a control centre, irrespective of the source of the individual devices. It is intended for smaller networks or existing...

Technology tracker - Automation suppliers: Emerson.
November 21, 2006... Emerson has introduced Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL) enhancements to its motor-pump monitoring technology. The new CSI 9210, it said, provides improved access to details surrounding the analysis results, thus enabling better...

Contracts: Emerson Process Management.
November 21, 2006... Emerson Process Management has won the fiscal metering contract for the Fujian LNG-import terminal. The $3bn project will create China's second largest LNG terminal, importing 2.6 million tonnes annually. Emerson Daniel products for the...

Contracts: BASF.
November 21, 2006... BASF has signed a multi-million dollar licence agreement to expand its use of Aspen Technology's engineering software that it uses to optimise the design and efficiency of production processes at facilities worldwide. The deal covers...

Contracts: Samsung Engineering.
November 21, 2006... Samsung Engineering has selected Honeywell's Experion Process Knowledge System to manage production at a new 1,000-ktpa ethylene plant in Saudi Arabia. The order is part of a $7-million contract, which also includes installation of...

Contracts: China Petrochemical Corp.
November 21, 2006... China Petrochemical Corp. has awarded Foster Wheeler contracts to design and supply three 100MWe circulating fluidised-bed boilers. The petroleum coke-fired boilers are scheduled for start-up at SINOPEC Tianjin Co's ethylene complex in Tianjin...

Contracts: BP.
November 21, 2006... BP has awarded a contract to Heerema Marine Contractors for the offshore removal and onshore recycling and disposal of the North West Hutton installation. It estimates that around 97% of the material recovered will be recycled. Copyright:...

Contracts: AMEC.
November 21, 2006... AMEC has been appointed by PetroChina Guangxi Petrochemical Company (GXPC) as project management contractor for the development of a $1.6bn refinery in Qinzhou, in southwestern China. The contract is worth $16m. Copyright: Centaur...

Contracts: ESR Technology.
November 21, 2006... ESR Technology has won a contract from the Dodsal Group to supply specialist composite (GRP) pipework consultancy for the RAS Laffan Cooling Seawater System in Qatar. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Contracts: Seepex UK.
November 21, 2006... Seepex UK has completed delivery of 13 pumpsets to Bechtel to be used in the construction of the $1.5 billion Onshore Gas Development (OGD) III project in Abu Dhabi. *For a regular update of major process industry contracts and projects...

APPOINTMENTS: BJ Process and Pipeline Services.
November 21, 2006... BJ Process and Pipeline Services has appointed Brent Greenway as sales manager for Saudi Arabia, with a remit to expand its portfolio of services in the Kingdom. He brings nine years' experience in the Middle East process and pipeline...

APPOINTMENTS: Institution of Chemical Engineers.
November 21, 2006... Dr David Brown has taken up his position as the new chief executive officer of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). Brown was formerly head of the UK technology and innovation management practice at Arthur D Little Ltd, and...

APPOINTMENTS: Civacon.
November 21, 2006... US-based cargo tank components and systems provider Civacon has appointed Simon Hill as director of engineering. Prior to joining Civacon as product manager a year ago, Hill was vice president of sales at Emco Wheaton's fluid transfer division....

APPOINTMENTS: CompAir.
November 21, 2006... CompAir is expanding its presence in the UK and Ireland with the appointments in the region of: Gobind Singh Rai as finance director; Colin Mander as director of industrial sales; and Richard Hilton to product manager, lubricated screws. The...

APPOINTMENTS: Tricool.
November 21, 2006... Tricool has appointed Reg Crowther as regional sales manager for the Midlands. He is to oversee operations in the region, develop Tricool's sales and service activities and open a regional office. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd....

APPOINTMENTS: Klaxon Signals.
November 21, 2006... Klaxon Signals Ltd has appointed Stuart Mason as its new sales director. He is a graduate of Sheffield University and Liverpool John Moores University (formerly Liverpool Polytechnic), and brings many years of experience in the fire industry to...

APPOINTMENTS: Dow Chemical.
November 21, 2006... Dow Chemical Co. has appointed Horacio Percossi as vice president of its Specialty Chemicals business. Previously business vice president of Dow Latex, Percossi holds a Chemical Engineering degree from Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires....