Chemical Processing - January 2008 - (Page 5) JANUARY 2008 • VOLUME 71, ISSUE 01 Economic skies turn cloudy 24 Improve your supply chain Design and Optimization The supply chain is an increasingly important factor in driving ef ciency and competitiveness in the chemical industry. Despite chemical company executives’ efforts, they aren’t always producing lasting improvements and sustainable results. Cover Story Indications are that the global economy will slow, signi cantly impacting the chemical industry. Worldwide demand for chemicals will continue to grow driven largely by consumption in developing countries. 28 Avoid costly materials mistakes Maintenance and Operations This rst part of a three-part series examines a dozen important factors to consider in materials selection. Using this advice can help pre-empt many common problems. 34 Make the most of automation upgrades Instrumentation and Control Too often modernizations haven’t provided the hoped-for nancial bene ts. It’s important to understand common mistakes as well as areas where upgrades can really offer value. 18 COLUMNS 7 9 From the Editor Just call it alchemical engineering. DEPARTMENTS 13 In Process • Glycerol girds for new role • Kidney-like membrane boosts desalination • Biodiesel catalyst nears piloting ChemicalProcessing.com Search our digital piles. 38 Air separation unit gets fast fix Making it Work When implementing a new Model Predictive Controller (MPC) project or maintaining an existing MPC application, model identi cation is the most dif cult, time-consuming and labor-intensive part of the process. Learn how a faster and lower cost method was used to replace a poorly performing MPC on an air separation unit. 11 Field Notes It really isn’t your problem. Resolve to trim that excess air. Get the lead out. 41 Process Puzzler 16 Energy Saver Suppress a start-up issue. 44 Equipment & Services 47 Product Spotlight/ Classifieds 49 Ad Index 17 Compliance Advisor 42 Plant InSites How’s our content? Tell us what you like or what you would like to see but didn’t in this issue. Use this link www.surveymonkey. com/s.asp?u=110833089655. Bubbles can buoy level measurement. Researchers burst a bubble. 50 End Point Chemical Processing (ISSN 0009-2630) is published monthly by Putman Media Inc., 555 West Pierce Road, Suite 301, Itasca, IL 60143. Phone (630) 467-1300. Fax (630) 467-1109. Periodicals postage paid at Itasca, IL, and additional mailing of ces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Chemical Processing, P.O. Box 3434, Northbrook, IL 60065-3434. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Quali ed reader subscriptions are accepted from operating management in the chemical processing industries at no charge. To apply for a quali ed subscription, ll in the subscription card. To nonquali ed subscribers in the United States, subscriptions are $68 per year. Single copies are $14. Canadian and foreign annual subscriptions are accepted at $115 surface per year. Single copies are $16. Canada Post International Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 40028661. Canadian Mail Distributor information: Frontier/BWI, PO Box 1051, Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, L2A 5N8. Copyright 2007 Putman Media Inc. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the copyright owner. REPRINTS: Reprints are available on a custom basis. For price quotation, contact Foster Reprints, (866) 879-9144, www.fostereprints.com also publishes Control, Control Design, Food Processing, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Plant Services. Chemical Processing assumes no responsibility for validity of claims in items reported. www.chemicalprocessing.com January 2008 • 5 http://www.fostereprints.com http://www.chemicalprocessing.com
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