Chemical Processing - March 2008 - (Page 25)

formation it calculates to a le that can be read directly by KG-Tower, eliminating the need for manual transfer of data. PRO/II also supports hydraulic sizing and rating for a wide array of structured packings from Koch-Glitsch. It’s a similar story with Sulzer Chemtech, as PRO/II supports hydraulic sizing and rating for a wide range of structured packings from that company. “At our latest user meeting, both companies were showing their own in-house design packages for equipment such as high ef ciency packings. So they start with PRO/II, which can design the overall column and take account of factors such as uid types, ows and viscosities. Then they can use their own packages to nd, for example, how many meters of packing are required in a particular column,” notes Gulati. Other SimSci-Essscor partnerships involve software supplied by organizations as diverse as FRI, Det Norske Veritas, Innotec and the Institut Français du Pétrole. The number two consideration for the distillation process is now energy management in an around columns, according to Gulati. “We’re talking here about real-time heat and material balances,” he says. Years ago, if there was a problem in the column, operations or technical support staff assigned to that particular unit would have to start by taking readings, calculating heat and mass balances, plugging this information into some sort of model and then deciding on a way forward, he says. “It’s all online today, so every few minutes the data can be reconciled. So we can calculate the overall yield, for example, or how much energy is being used. It can also be used for predictive analysis. For example, what increase in ef ciency would I get if I clean the re-boiler now?” IPS is taking what Gulati describes as a holistic approach to distillation optimization. “By combining maintenance, visualisation, data and design/modeling together, we can immediately identify any potential problems and alert maintenance staff. In this way, the cost of problems can be quanti ed and they get sorted quickly.” Overall, while business is good for those companies involved in distillation, a major constraint is emerging: a lack of skilled labor. “Companies like ours — contractors — are very short of people to do project development,” says UOP’s Sturtevant. “Lots of training simulator operators will be retiring in the next ten years, so we need to train the next generation. But there is a real problem nding people to do this training now. The engineering companies are getting most of the talent,” notes Gulati. CP Rental Cooling. For Chemical Process Applications Rental Cooling Emergency Planned Supplemental Turnaround Pilot Plant We keep process lines running at peak capacity. Our engineers speak your technical language and can help you solve your temperature control problem. Chillers Cooling Towers Pumps Heat Exchangers Tanks Air Conditioners Air Handlers Dehumidifiers Heaters Boilers Generators 800-586-8336 We are the rental cooling, heating and dehumidiﬁcation experts. March 2008 • 25 CarrierRentals.com www.chemicalprocessing.com http://CarrierRentals.com http://CarrierRentals.com http://www.chemicalprocessing.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Chemical Processing - March 2008

Chemical Processing - March 2008 Contents From the Editor ChemicalProcessing.com Field Notes In Process Energy Saver Compliance Advisor Distillation is Bubbling Feel Secure About Vulnerability Assessments The Door Opens For Membranes Achieve Effective Heat Exchanger Control Epoxy Maker Finds the Right Glue for Its Business Process Puzzler Plant InSites Equipment & Services Product Spotlight/Classifieds Ad Index End Point

Chemical Processing - March 2008

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