Know Your Options for Particle Fine Removal
Photo by David Geib on Pexels.com Process engineers struggle to clarify process liquids. Particle fine removal is part of the ongoing battle. But there are ways to automate the clarification processes to improve filtration and minimize operator exposure. The cake solid’s structure and the nature of the process will determine which types of pressure-filtration automated clarification technologies are best for you. Before we discuss removal of particle fines, let’s discuss how they are generated.…
Theory of Filtration and Theory of Creativity
Photo by Fiona Art on Pexels.com Having been in the solid-liquid filtration, centrifugation, and drying marketplace since 1982, I have long said filtration is both a science and an art. I’ve witnessed the overlap of theory of filtration with theory of creativity. The practical and creative together make what we do so exciting. I entered the filtration business with Pall Corporation after five years with the USEPA and receiving my MS in Environmental Science from Washington University in St.…
Benefits of a Continuum Approach to Optimizing Final Drying
As we announced in March, BHS has acquired AVA-GmbH. The AVA technologies provide for turbulent mixing, reacting and drying of wet cakes as well as powders and process slurries. The vertical and horizontal technologies are vacuum or atmospheric, batch and continuous, for final drying to “bone-dry” powders. They are an essential part of our “Continuum Approach.” What do I mean by that? This blog briefly reviews our first ground-breaking study showing the benefits of a “Continuum Approach” to…
Changing from Batch to Continuous Processing
Our approaches to process engineering must always be evolving. Otherwise, we’ll never grow and innovate. Recently, I contributed a feature to The Chemical Engineer on making the change from batch to continuous processing. Here's an edited version of that article for my loyal blog readers. As there is a push to become more efficient, many process industries have begun thinking about continuous processing. Many specialty and fine chemical operations are batch operated. It is easy and typically…
Dryer Selection and Bulk Solids Handling
Image source: https://www.toolshero.com/decision-making/blindspot-analysis/ Solids handling is not a unit operation. Therefore, it’s not covered in engineering courses. This leaves process engineers struggling to understand the “flowability” of bulk solids. This blind spot is huge. So, let’s talk about dryer selection and bulk solids handling. Recently in The Chemical Engineer, Grant Wellwood described bulk solids handling as the biggest industrial activity on the planet. The article…