operation

Vortex tubes can produce cold air from compressed air, but using them to cool air-line suits in chemical plants requires careful consideration of airflow, utility systems, mounting, hot-air discharge, and worker safety.

Learn the key differences between batch plants and continuous plants. Compare equipment, process control, plant operation, and maintenance strategies with practical insights from over 20 years of chemical plant engineering experience.

Learn what numbering-up means in batch chemical plants and how it improves equipment flexibility. Discover its relationship with product changeovers, reactor sizing, and long-term plant design.

Liquid unloading from tank trucks is a routine operation in chemical plants, but it involves important safety and design considerations. Learn why vapor return lines matter, how pressure imbalances occur, and what engineers should consider when designing unloading systems.

Japanese chemical plants often pride themselves on operational expertise and shop-floor skills, but how valuable are these strengths in modern global manufacturing? This article explores the limitations of traditional plant “technical strength” in commodity chemical production.

A firsthand perspective on how moving to operations reshapes the role of mechanical and electrical engineers in chemical plants—highlighting decision-making, speed, and cross-functional impact.

Batch distillation is a flexible process built from standard equipment and can be implemented in compact spaces. This article explains system configuration, utilities, capacity, materials, and practical considerations from an engineering perspective.

After moving from plant operations to a corporate role, the perception of plants shifts from execution centers to competitive options, while the role of mechanical engineers evolves from routine execution to strategic contributors focused on cost, investment, and long-term value creation.

Learn how crude oil supply disruptions impact non-petrochemical chemical plants, causing solvent shortages, rising costs, and rapid production shutdowns in batch processes.