APRIL 2012 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 119, NO. 4 COMMENTARY www.che.com COVER STORY 36 Cover Story Revamping Your Process Plant An overview is given on a number of options to consider for increasing production capacities NEWS 11 Chementator This new LTS catalyst delivers a boost for hydrogen and ammonia production; Integrated energyefficient design boosts aromatics production; Drastically reduce energy consumption with exergy recuperation; This new PET process eliminates production steps; This water-treatment system can aid disposal options for brine; Expanded certifications for industrial virtualization; Growing algae with fluegas carbon dioxide; and more 19 Newsfront Challenges for U.S. Petroleum Refiners The future hinges on heavy oil pipelines, domestic rare-earthmetal supply and more 25 Newsfront Taking a Holistic Approach to Wireless Wireless technology is not just for instrumentation anymore. Smart processors rely on a blend of technology as they move toward plant-wide installations ENGINEERING 31 Facts at Your Fingertips Pipe Bends in Dilute-phase Pneumatic Conveying This one-page reference guide reviews how different pipe bends affect the complex behavior of pneumatically conveyed solids 42 Feature Report Sampling Particulate Materials the Right Way To obtain a representative sample for particle size characterization, adhere to the golden rules of sampling and follow these practical best practices 50 Engineering Practice Thermal Integration of Reboilers How to incorporate reboilers into composite curves, selection of reboiler types for a given application, and more suggestions are given 5 Editor's Page Do challenges for an industry mean hard times for ChEs? While the answer is not clear, the challenges that face a particular segment of the CPI are not necessarily reflected in fewer job opportunities for ChEs 30 The Fractionation Column Acid-gas absorption expert Fractionation Research Inc. pays tribute to an expert in the field 54 Engineering Practice New Measurement Practices for Cold Climates New approaches improve reliability and reduce costs in environments with extremely cold temperatures 60 Engineering Practice Better Chemistry By Design Simulation software helps to create higher-performance, safer and more-economical CPI plants 63 Engineering Practice Focus on Physical Properties to Improve Processes Exploiting the physical properties of chemicals can offer pathways to more simplified and elegant processes EQUIPMENT & SERVICES 33 Show Preview Powder & Bulk Solids The PTXi/Powder and Bulk Solids Exhibition and Conference will take place May 8-10 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. CE previews some of the exhibited products* 67 Focus on Motors & Drives Precise speed control for small motors with this device; The motors in these blowers are explosion proof; Motion control for when rapid speed changes are required; and more *ONLY ON CHE.COM * Web exclusive: Plant Perspectives * New Products, Show Preview * Latest news and more DEPARTMENTS Letters . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 8 Who's Who . . . . . . . 32 Reader Service . . . . 82 Economic Indicators . . . . . 83-84 ADVERTISERS Gulf Coast Section . 69 Product Showcase . . 78 Classified Advertising . . . . 79-80 Advertiser Index . . . 81 COMING IN MAY Look for: Feature Reports on Centrifugal Compressors for the CPI; and Water Savings; Engineering Practice articles on Pipe Vibration Analysis and Avoiding Problems During Distillation Tower Startup; An Solids Processing article on Pneumatic Conveying Systems; a News article on Sensors; a Technology Showcase article on Absorption and Adsorption; an Achema Show Preview; and more Cover: David Whitcher CHEMICAL ENGINEERING WWW.CHE.COM APRIL 2012 3http://www.che.com http://www.CHE.COM http://WWW.CHE.COM