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Volume 5, Issue 5
Petrochemicals, millennials and automation
Feature
A major energy sector recruiter discusses the changes facing the petrochemicals workforce. Fluid Handling International spoke with Janette Marx, COO at Airswift, a global workforce solutions provider for the energy, process and infrastructure sectors, about how the workplace is changing for engineers in the petrochemicals sector. Airswift is currently carrying outsurveys for the Global Energy...
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Chemical resistance
Feature
How an algae biofuel producer in Portugal beat the erosion and corrosion chemicals cause to impellers. Among the renewable energy sources available today, generating biofuels from algae is a relative newcomer to the industry but one that has grown exponentially. In fact, the algae products market is anticipated to only increase further, with projections indicating a potential $44.7 billion...
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Brexit's implications for chemicals regulation
Feature
The implications of Brexit for the regulatory framework in which the UK chemical sector operates should not be underestimated. The UK government intends to repeal the European Communities Act 1972 and transfer EU into UK law through the “Repeal Bill”. The Bill, currently being discussed in Parliament, will convert directly applicable EU legislation into UK law on the day the UK leaves...
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Reducing the variables
Feature
For a manufacturer of membrane materials, producing consistent quality meant finding a pumping solution which worked reliably with a host of different chemicals. Process challenges involve numerous variables. Surfactor, a manufacturer of membrane materials, is not alone in facing the challenges of ensuring process quality. The biggest challenge for the industry is to produce consistent quality,...
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Building a smarter future
Feature
How smart water technology is driving smarter living. Across the world, more and more of us are living in cities and urban areas. According to the United Nations, 66% of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2050. Currently, around half of all urban dwellers live in cities with populations between 100,000 and 500,000 people, and almost 10% of urban dwellers live in mega cities...
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WEFTEC 2017 Preview
Feature
Since 1928 the US’ Water Environment Federation has been holding an annual meeting to provide a forum for knowledge and technology exchange within the water and wastewater fields. Now, WEF’s Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference, aka WEFTEC, is a leading event for developments in water quality, research, solutions, knowledge development and cutting edge technologies. Attracting...
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A modern alternative
Feature
Traditional lift stations use submersible pumps in a wet well. The pumps are activated by float switches when the water reaches a preset level, and then run at full speed to empty the wet well. A primary issue with submersible pumps in wet wells is clogging with wipes and other flushable materials. The float switches are subject to fouling with fats, oils and grease and may require frequent...
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Taking the stress out of piping design
Feature
It is a fundamental principle that all piping systems require support and some degree of flexibility. Today’s pipe stress engineer must go beyond checking for just allowable pipe stresses, and check for load limitations on key equipment and/or support structure. This requires not just understanding general piping codes such as ASME B31.1 & 31.3, but also careful consideration of codes...
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Arresting the danger of flames in plant piping
Feature
Flame-transmission-proof devices have been used for decades as a key part of plant safety across the globe. With appropriate application they provide protection against combustion and explosion propagation that can infiltrate through openings or connecting pipes, in storage tanks for example, potentially destroying them. Wherever flammable gases or vapours could appear in combination with oxygen,...
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Sealing the standards for LNG
Feature
With the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry representing a high business potential for valve manufacturers, trunnion mounted ball valves (TMBV) are being used extensively for cryogenic service. The performance requirements for valves handling LNG are among the most demanding in any industry, especially with regard to low-temperature performance at temperatures of around 163° C, bubble-tight...
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A positive choice for muliphase fluids
Feature
Increasing production of heavy oil, extra heavy oil and bitumen is critical to a stable world economy. These crudes generally require special production techniques to overcome their high viscosity. While many in the industry have focused on such methods as steam assisted gravity drain (SAGD), cyclic steam injection (CSI) and vapour recovery, flow assurance solutions are also of vital importance....
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