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Condensate return systems can have a big impact on productivity, energy efficiency, and site reliability. Use this guide to better understand your condensate return, optimize its operation, and mitigate common pitfalls such as high backpressure and water hammer.
JAMES R. RISKO, CEM, PEM, MBA, is the Retired President of TLV Corporation (Charlotte, NC; Email: JimRisko@gmail.com; Phone: 704-641-8959), formerly responsible for U.S. and Canadian operations. With 46 years of steam systems experience, he has authored more than 60 technical articles, and has provided webinars to over 3,000 attendees globally. He has presented papers for the Kister Distillation Symposium, Distillation Experts Conclave, Fractionation Research Inc., American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), AIChE, the Ethylene Conference,...Read more
Air-cooled heat exchangers (ACHE’s), sometimes called air coolers, are used in a variety of applications in refineries, petrochemical plants, gas treating plants, compressor stations, power plants, and other industrial applications. These processes are often critical to the operation...
Weighing is a critical activity in most production and laboratory environments, and weighing equipment must be calculated periodically. This article explains the connection between proper and timely calibration and product quality....
"Run it till it breaks and then patch it" is a dangerous management philosophy. Over a 40-year career in chemical manufacturing and process safety consulting, the author has seen the results of this approach. In this article, he reviews some of the worst process safety...
Overpressure protection must be provided for pressurized equipment by means of pressure relief devices (e.g., pressure relief valves, bursting discs, explosion hatches, water seals, buckling pin devices, and pressure/vacuum breather valves). These pressure relief devices sometimes require...
Gamma scanning is one of the most powerful diagnostic techniques available for distillation and absorption towers. Although most gamma scans are shot through the active areas of the tower, in many cases, invaluable insight to the nature of a problem or bottleneck can be gained by also scanning...
