Power of process still wins through

The March/April edition of Process Engineering magazine covers quite a broad range of problematic industry issues - among them, in no particular order, the UK government’s carbon-pricing policy, over-bearing machinery safety regulation and the diminishing stock of UK-based ownership and investment in process assets.

Amid all these matters of concern, though, it is reassuring to note how process engineers are still combining their skills with advanced technologies to deliver major benefits for their organisations, industries and the UK economy as a whole.

Our coverage includes a report on a Scottish Water project involving the use of software-based variable-speed drive technology to overcome the problem of pump blockages at sewage-treatment facilities (p16).

Our feature on process optimisation, meanwhile, details how the use of process modelling software from London-based PSE has enabled petrochemicals producer Repsol to entirely eliminate two distillation columns from the design of a new propylene oxide plant (p23).

Process engineers still combine skills with advanced technologies to deliver major benefits for their organisations and industries

The solids-handling feature includes a report on how technology from Sheffield-based Atomising Systems has enabled a leading tin producer to dramatically increase production levels at a plant in China (p50).

Back in the UK, we learn how INEOS Chlor engineers have reduced process variability by 5% at the company’s chlor-alkali and chlorine derivatives site in Runcorn. The adoption of a new valve technology has delivered tighter control, so allowing increased plant throughput and avoiding several unplanned shutdowns (p52).

Another technology report looks at how engineers at tissue-paper manufacturer SCA Hygiene Products’ plant have eliminated boiler shutdowns, which were costing up to £20,000 each in lost production (p52).

Patrick Raleigh
Editor