The problem with particulate solids is they segregate every time we turn around. Why? Because they are a two-phase material and only about half is the solid we’re interested in. As a troubleshooter at corporate engineering, the most common call I got from plants was about blenders that didn’t blend. The problems arose because people believed some myths. This In Case You Missed It podcast features Tom Blackwood's "Beware of Blending Myths" column that appeared on the Chemical Processing site Oct....
May 10, 2024•5 min•Ep. 58
In the news this week: The U.S. EPA finalizes methylene chloride ban; Plastics Treaty negotiations wrap up in Ottawa; and Dow and BASF report lower Q1 sales.
May 03, 2024•8 min•Ep. 57
In this episode, we explore the importance of storytelling in the chemical industry. From knowledge capture and transfer to making technical information understandable and engaging, storytelling aids in retaining tacit knowledge and contextual understanding and enhances employee engagement.
Apr 12, 2024•25 min•Ep. 56
In the chemical industry, digitalization and emissions monitoring are pressing operational challenges. While exploring the technological innovations behind these trends, attention often shifts to advanced software and precision sensing technologies. But the critical components that ensure the smooth operation of a process plant can be overlooked. Central to many operations, vacuum pumps are crucial for various chemical processes, from managing raw materials to distillation.
Apr 05, 2024•11 min•Ep. 55
This week’s news roundup examines the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and how it could impact the chemical supply chain. We also learn that several U.S. oil companies are following in the footsteps of Dow by announcing their plans to utilize small nuclear reactors to meet their electricity requirements. And finally, in the Did You Know Department: Neanderthals Were Smarter Than We Thought. Indeed, today's multi-billion-dollar adhesives industry can be traced back more than ...
Apr 05, 2024•10 min•Ep. 54
In Case You Missed It brings the written word to life. In today’s episode, I will be reading an article from Andrew Sloley, Chemical Processing’s Plant InSites columnist. This column “Project Management: Workflows Matter” was published on our website on March 30, 2022. Written by: Andrew Sloley, Plant Insites columnist Read by: Traci Purdum, editor-in-chief URL: https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/home/article/11288741/project-management-workflows-matter-chemical-processing...
Mar 29, 2024•5 min•Ep. 52
Executive Editor Jonathan Katz catches us up on what's new in the chemical industry.
Mar 20, 2024•5 min•Ep. 53
Research on team performance barriers finds that fatigue, workload, competing priorities, conflicting information, and lack of technical expertise are significant hurdles. Psychological safety is crucial for effective team environments, allowing individuals to speak up and admit uncertainty without fear of reprisal. Tools such as self-assessment guides and realistic teaming scenarios aid in developing teamwork skills. Continuous learning and improvement are essential for optimal team performance...
Mar 15, 2024•32 min•Ep. 51
The combination of high accuracy, versatility, direct mass measurement and minimal maintenance requirements make Coriolis meters suitable for various industrial applications. Unlike volumetric flow meters, Coriolis meters directly measure mass flow, making them less susceptible to variations in temperature, pressure and fluid density. To learn more, Chemical Processing spoke with Alec O’Keefe, regional product lead and Coriolis meter product specialist at Krohne Inc.
Mar 08, 2024•27 min•Ep. 50
This news roundup ponders an elevator to space and questions Chemours ethics.
Mar 07, 2024•7 min•Ep. 49
Exxon looks to balance fossil fuels with sustainability, Didion execs sentenced and yellow snow for battery recycling. This news roundup covers the chemical industry in February 2024.
Feb 28, 2024•7 min•Ep. 48
Upsets are going to happen, so why not plan for it? Learn how. In this episode of Distilled, we discuss managing upsets and distinguishing between shutdown-related and non-shutdown upsets. Dave points out a lot has changed over the years. Indeed, the preference is shutting down during upsets and advancements like safety instrumented systems aid in automatic shutdowns. However, concerns about overreliance and security exist. Proactive measures involve maintaining situational awareness and impleme...
Feb 16, 2024•22 min•Ep. 47
In today’s episode, Traci Purdum will be reading a column from contributing editor Dirk Willard. This column “Properly Vet Contractors” was published to chemicalprocessing.com October 19, 2021. Engineers once flew around the country to check out contractors’ facilities before signing deals. Nowadays, many bosses instead heavily rely on the Internet. Unfortunately, a nifty-looking web site can make a firm seem impressive and much more capable than it actually is. You don’t want to discover the tr...
Feb 02, 2024•6 min•Ep. 46
A sobering look at the economy, PFAS regulations continue, blue-ringed octopus key to sustainable energy, and black-mass recycling. All news found here: https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/industrynews Read by Executive Editor Jonathan Katz.
Jan 23, 2024•8 min•Ep. 45
The discussion revolves around operator training efficiency in the industry. Despite decades of training, companies often lack feedback on its effectiveness. New technologies like simulators and virtual reality offer objective ways to measure and improve training. Identifying and addressing deficiencies is crucial, similar to the aviation industry's approach. Differentiating between console and field operators, the former presents more straightforward opportunities for measurement. Training prog...
Jan 19, 2024•20 min•Ep. 44
Welcome to the In Case You Missed It edition of Chemical Processing’s Distilled Podcast -- This podcast and its transcript can be found at chemicalprocessing.com. I’m Traci Purdum, EIC of Chemical Processing. In Case You Missed It brings the written word to life. In today’s episode, I will be reading a column from contributing editor Dirk Willard. This column “Career Advice: Master Cold Calls” appeared on our website in March 2022 Read by: Traci Purdum, editor-in-chief Article link: https://www....
Dec 22, 2023•5 min•Ep. 43
Predicaments can crop up at all stages of a chemical engineering career. Properly dealing with them without serious consequences often isn’t easy or sometimes even possible. You may face ethical as well as technical and political challenges. So, let’s look at a variety of these and how to deal with them. This edition of In Case You Missed It is based on the original column by contributing editor Dirk Willard. It was published March 29, 2021, and can be found here: Correctly Cope with Career Chal...
Dec 20, 2023•5 min•Ep. 42
In this episode we focus on alarm rationalization mistakes, emphasizing the importance of addressing underlying problems rather than just managing the steady-state alarm rate. The discussion highlights the need for a clear operator action for each alarm, uniqueness in alarms, and the impact of alarm floods on human factors. The conversation explores challenges, such as changes in processing equipment and the significance of data analytics in improving alarm systems.
Dec 08, 2023•26 min•Ep. 41
In this episode of Chemical Processing's Distilled Podcast, host Traci Purdum and guest Dave Strobhar, founder of Beville Engineering, discuss the importance of font size in operator training. They highlight concerns related to small font sizes on computer monitors used in control rooms, particularly with the increasing resolution of displays. Strobhar mentions the military's Mill Standard 1472, specifying preferred character heights for legibility and readability. The conversation covers issues...
Nov 21, 2023•17 min•Ep. 40
In the chemical industry, understanding the health of rotating equipment is crucial for safety and productivity. Regular inspections, compliance with regulations and proactive maintenance are vital for equipment reliability. Ares Panagoulias, the director of condition monitoring and test lab at Hydro Inc., emphasizes the importance of data in assessing equipment health. He advises using remote monitoring to prioritize maintenance and diagnose emerging problems before they become serious and cost...
Nov 13, 2023•13 min•Ep. 39
In this episode, Traci and Dave discuss the importance of reducing emergency procedures in chemical processing for better operator training and performance. They explore the benefits of streamlining procedures, emphasizing that about 90% of emergency steps are common across various situations. Dave advocates for simplified, condition-based procedures to enhance operator response during high-stress situations. They also touch on the significance of testing procedures in the field, involving junio...
Nov 09, 2023•19 min•Ep. 38
Helping operators learn from past incidents and use pattern recognition to make better decisions faster will improve safety and efficiency.
Oct 17, 2023•26 min•Ep. 37
SICK AG's David Inward on Chemical Industry Emissions Monitoring
Oct 10, 2023•9 min•Ep. 36
In this podcast episode, Dave Strobhar discusses an innovative approach to calculating operator needs and the impact of automation on staffing in the process industry. He emphasizes the importance of assessing the consequences of tasks not being performed rather than just counting tasks. Special conditions and cross-training are also explored as factors influencing operator requirements.
Sep 14, 2023•22 min•Ep. 35
Chemical Processing Notebook is a new column and associated podcast presenting talking points from various industry experts on a wide range of topics. This first CP Notebook column focuses on the impact PFAS regulations are having on the supply chain, from the upstream chemical producers to the downstream manufacturers using per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their products.
Sep 05, 2023•21 min•Ep. 34
In this episode, we're tackling the misconceptions around alarm targets and operator workload. Dave Strobhar debunks the myth that hitting a specific alarm target means operators are maxed out. He emphasizes that these targets are tools to assess alarm systems, not workload indicators.
Aug 26, 2023•22 min•Ep. 33
In the evolving world of chemical processing, companies face a formidable challenge as they strive to keep pace with ever-evolving industry demands, develop novel formulations and deliver innovative products to market. Meeting customer needs often requires adjustments to production processes, including new plants, facility expansions and equipment upgrades. The successful execution of such projects hinges upon comprehensive planning, particularly when it comes to evaluating process safety risks....
Aug 08, 2023•17 min•Ep. 32
The physical properties of hydrogen differ highly from other gases. Plant operators are therefore faced with major challenges due to the necessary adaptations that need to be made. To help us understand the challenges and options available, Chemical Processing spoke with Frank Flow, head of analyzer products and chemical industry at Flexim Americas Corporation.
Jul 14, 2023•23 min•Ep. 31
In this podcast episode, Traci and Dave discuss a study that shows advanced process control (APC) can lead to a degradation of operator skills. The study found that after just a week of using APC, there was a 10% loss in skill level, and after two weeks, there was a 50% loss. The data suggests that operators should periodically run the plant without APC to maintain their skills. The Center for Operator Performance is researching interventions such as simulators, micro-learning and improved graph...
May 31, 2023•16 min•Ep. 30
Analytical equipment needs to be robust, reliable and responsive in order to detect change and enable corrective action. It also should be easy to use and provide high uptime. When considering process organics monitoring, there’s a lot to unpack. To help make sense of all the capabilities, Chemical Processing spoke with Amanda Tyndall, senior product manager at Veolia Water Technologies and Solutions, which sponsored this episode.
May 15, 2023•16 min•Ep. 29
