Activity
  • Optimise Plant Performance in Chemical Facilities Using Continuous Integrity Monitoring

    Rosemount ET310C The demand for corrosion management in chemical facilities has increased because of the high risk of corrosion and the severity of events, which could harm life. Corrosivity can be significantly impacted by even little changes to the process. Asset integrity may suffer from changes in flow rates or product specifications and, if left unchecked, could cause unplanned outages and under-utilisation of…
  • Optimise Plant Performance in Chemical Facilities Using Continuous Integrity Monitoring

    Rosemount ET310C The demand for corrosion management in chemical facilities has increased because of the high risk of corrosion and the severity of events, which could harm life. Corrosivity can be significantly impacted by even little changes to the process. Asset integrity may suffer from changes in flow rates or product specifications and, if left unchecked, could cause unplanned outages and under-utilisation of…
  • Ideal Temperature Measurement for Ammonia Applications

    Temperature measurement and monitoring is critical to synthesize ammonia for nitrogen fertilizer production. Growers usually use nitrogen-based fertilizers to supplement the soil and improve crop quality and yields. The United States alone consumes 11.8 million tons of nitrogen-based fertilizers annually. Ammonia (NH 3 ) can be used directly as a fertilizer, or as feedstock to produce other forms of fertilizers such…
  • Ideal Temperature Measurement for Ammonia Applications

    Temperature measurement and monitoring is critical to synthesize ammonia for nitrogen fertilizer production. Growers usually use nitrogen-based fertilizers to supplement the soil and improve crop quality and yields. The United States alone consumes 11.8 million tons of nitrogen-based fertilizers annually. Ammonia (NH 3 ) can be used directly as a fertilizer, or as feedstock to produce other forms of fertilizers such…
  • PAT in the Chemical Industry: The Effectiveness of Analyzers

    For those who have never worked in the pharmaceutical industry, the term PAT (process analytical technology) may be unfamiliar. It describes an effort between pharmaceutical manufacturers and the FDA, started some 20 years ago, to establish procedures so those companies could have greater flexibility when making changes to validated production processes. Rather than simply following a fixed recipe and testing at the end…
  • PAT in the Chemical Industry: The Effectiveness of Analyzers

    For those who have never worked in the pharmaceutical industry, the term PAT (process analytical technology) may be unfamiliar. It describes an effort between pharmaceutical manufacturers and the FDA, started some 20 years ago, to establish procedures so those companies could have greater flexibility when making changes to validated production processes. Rather than simply following a fixed recipe and testing at the end…
  • Avoid the Misconceptions Leading to Poor Alarm Management

    In today’s manufacturing environment, where fewer experienced people are running the plant, well-designed alarm strategies are more important than ever. A timely, clear, accurate alarm—one that is not buried in an alarm flood—can mean the difference between safe operation through a process aberration or a disaster that impacts safety or creates an environmental incident. Plant operators know the importance of good alarm…
  • Avoid the Misconceptions Leading to Poor Alarm Management

    In today’s manufacturing environment, where fewer experienced people are running the plant, well-designed alarm strategies are more important than ever. A timely, clear, accurate alarm—one that is not buried in an alarm flood—can mean the difference between safe operation through a process aberration or a disaster that impacts safety or creates an environmental incident. Plant operators know the importance of good alarm…
  • Building a Portfolio of Sustainability

    I joined a breakout session at the 2022 ARC Industry Forum, Building a Portfolio for Sustainability , hosted by ARC Advisory Group’s Peter Reynolds . Included in the panel accompanying this session was AspenTech’s Paige Morse . Here is the description of this session: The energy transition and move toward a circular economy is causing investors, energy, and chemicals companies to re-align capital, priorities, and projects…
  • Building a Portfolio of Sustainability

    I joined a breakout session at the 2022 ARC Industry Forum, Building a Portfolio for Sustainability , hosted by ARC Advisory Group’s Peter Reynolds . Included in the panel accompanying this session was AspenTech’s Paige Morse . Here is the description of this session: The energy transition and move toward a circular economy is causing investors, energy, and chemicals companies to re-align capital, priorities, and projects…
  • How High-Temperature Tolerant Flue Gas Analyzers Simplify Continuous Emissions Monitoring

    In a Chemical Processing article , David and Katherine look at how new gas analyzer technologies optimize emissions monitoring in chemical plants and refineries. It is difficult to find a process industry application that doesn’t burn some kind of fuel to generate heat. And where there’s combustion, environmental regulators won’t be far behind because industrial-scale fired heaters, boilers, and other processes invariably…
  • Improving Quality in Midstream Lithium Production

    In an earlier post, Solving Battery Production Growth Challenges , we touched on the upstream, midstream, and downstream production from lithium mining to lithium battery production. Today, we’ll focus on the midstream production process. Again, Sung Heon Lee and I collaborated on the content of this post. The midstream part of the lithium value chain involves manufacturing the Cathode, Anode, Electrolyte, and Separator…
  • Improving Quality in Midstream Lithium Production

    In an earlier post, Solving Battery Production Growth Challenges , we touched on the upstream, midstream, and downstream production from lithium mining to lithium battery production. Today, we’ll focus on the midstream production process. Again, Sung Heon Lee and I collaborated on the content of this post. The midstream part of the lithium value chain involves manufacturing the Cathode, Anode, Electrolyte, and Separator…
  • Effective Radar Level Measurement in Reactor Applications

    For chemical and specialty chemical manufacturers, reactors are used to perform many of the chemical reactions in the path to finished products. These reactors can be batch or continuously operated depending on the type of chemical reactions sought. In a World of Chemicals article, Improving Process Batch Performance in the Chemical Industry , Emerson’s Varshneya Sridharan shares considerations for effective reactor level…
  • Effective Radar Level Measurement in Reactor Applications

    For chemical and specialty chemical manufacturers, reactors are used to perform many of the chemical reactions in the path to finished products. These reactors can be batch or continuously operated depending on the type of chemical reactions sought. In a World of Chemicals article, Improving Process Batch Performance in the Chemical Industry , Emerson’s Varshneya Sridharan shares considerations for effective reactor level…
  • Chemical Industry Solutions for Safety Performance Improvements

    We often highlight how advancements in technology enable digital transformation initiatives to drive improvements in production, reliability and sustainability. But what about safety? In an AIChE recorded webinar, Digital Innovations for Improving Safety in Chemical Plants , Emerson’s Michael Machuca and Marty McDonough highlight was to drive safety improvements for this important industry. Michael and Marty discussed…
  • Chemical Industry Solutions for Safety Performance Improvements

    We often highlight how advancements in technology enable digital transformation initiatives to drive improvements in production, reliability and sustainability. But what about safety? In an AIChE recorded webinar, Digital Innovations for Improving Safety in Chemical Plants , Emerson’s Michael Machuca and Marty McDonough highlight was to drive safety improvements for this important industry. Michael and Marty discussed…
  • One Package to Simplify Growing Sensor Deployments

    FDI combines the best features of EDDL and FDT packages. Historically, differing asset monitoring devices, even if mounted on the same installation, might have very different ways of sending their data or configuration methods. Such a situation leaves project teams in a bind—do they stick with only one type of sensor, potentially eliminating their ability to use devices that are a better fit, or do they support multiple…
  • One Protocol to Simplify Growing Sensor Deployments

    FDI combines the best features of EDDL and FDT packages. Historically, differing asset monitoring devices, even if mounted on the same installation, might have very different ways of sending their data or configuration methods. Such a situation leaves project teams in a bind—do they stick with only one type of sensor, potentially eliminating their ability to use devices that are a better fit, or do they support multiple…
  • Driving Repeatable Chemical Manufacturing Batch Operations

    A key performance indicator (KPI) for many batch manufacturers is right the first time. Automation plays a large role in driving success in this KPI. In a recorded webinar, Achieving Repeatable Golden Batch Outcomes , Chemical Engineering magazine’s Scott Jenkins hosts Emerson’s Michael Machuca and Marty McDonough to discuss some of the automation solutions that can improve the Right First Time metric. They discuss…
  • Driving Repeatable Chemical Manufacturing Batch Operations

    A key performance indicator (KPI) for many batch manufacturers is right the first time. Automation plays a large role in driving success in this KPI. In a recorded webinar, Achieving Repeatable Golden Batch Outcomes , Chemical Engineering magazine’s Scott Jenkins hosts Emerson’s Michael Machuca and Marty McDonough to discuss some of the automation solutions that can improve the Right First Time metric. They discuss…
  • A Step Closer to Plug-and-Play Engineering with Module Type Package

    In the chemical industry, manufacturers often need to change operations or accommodate new products to meet customer demand. However, the extensive integration efforts required to connect manufacturing equipment and automation systems often complicate engineering, slowing projects and impeding speed to market. Emerson’s MTP-capable products like the DeltaV Distributed Control System seamlessly integrate to further reduce…
  • A Step Closer to Plug-and-Play Engineering with Module Type Package

    In the chemical industry, manufacturers often need to change operations or accommodate new products to meet customer demand. However, the extensive integration efforts required to connect manufacturing equipment and automation systems often complicate engineering, slowing projects and impeding speed to market. Emerson’s MTP-capable products like the DeltaV Distributed Control System seamlessly integrate to further reduce…
  • Emerson’s Solids Level Measurement Solutions Help Lime Plant Operate Safer and More Efficiently

    Advanced automation technology from Emerson is helping to solve a range of solids level measurement challenges at a large lime processing plant in the US. The need to reduce costs and increase operational efficiency is driving greater adoption of automation technology. For producers of lime, limestone and clay products, automation is key to continuous production. However, due to the processes involved and the nature…
  • Emerson’s Solids Level Measurement Solutions Help Lime Plant Operate Safer and More Efficiently

    Advanced automation technology from Emerson is helping to solve a range of solids level measurement challenges at a large lime processing plant in the US. The need to reduce costs and increase operational efficiency is driving greater adoption of automation technology. For producers of lime, limestone and clay products, automation is key to continuous production. However, due to the processes involved and the nature…