Chemical Engineering October 2016 - 62

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FIGURE 3. Maximized product flowrates and shutoff reliability in the coupling connection allow for improved
product containment
often than not that choosing equipment
based on quality construction
is a much better choice than relying
solely on price first.
Even after acknowledging and
addressing the questions that must
be considered before deciding on
the proper loading system for the
operation, finding the operational
optimum in manufacturing and
handling requires many specific
steps to be completed succinctly
and reliably. Consider the transfer
of liquids in the process - as
mentioned, there are many specific
transfer points that must be taken
into account, and throughout the
myriad liquid-transfer processes,
chemical manufacturers and handlers
aim to optimize two critical
areas: the safety of production personnel
and the environment; and
the time needed to complete the
manufacturing process.
Ensuring personal and environmental
safety is important because
not only the end products, but also
many of the raw materials used in
chemical manufacture, can be volatile,
hazardous or corrosive - from
general categories like acids and
solvents to more specific formulations
such as butadiene, xylene and
toluene - so they therefore must be
treated with the utmost respect and
properly contained.
Additionally, preventing spills or
leaks is vital because any that occur,
besides being dangerous on various
levels, have the potential to interrupt
the production schedule, which
not only delays product completion,
but can also lead to the loss
of high-value, expensive ingredients
and the incurrence of prohibitive
cleanup costs.
Plunging ahead
When considering the dry-disconnect
couplers that will play an important
and prominent role at the end of
hoses and loading arms in the safe
transfer of hazardous chemicals and
their feedstocks, a certain type of
technology has charged to the forefront
over the years. This technology
is referred to in the industry as either
a bayonet-and-plunger or poppet
style dry-disconnect coupler.
The bayonet-and-plunger drydisconnect
coupler technology has
gained acceptance because its
design and operation possesses
a number of benefits for the user.
Most importantly, there is relatively
little fluid loss when the coupler is
disconnected - as little as 0.5 mL
of fluid, or the equivalent of 1/10th
of a teaspoon. These couplers are
also generally equipped with safety
locks that prevent the coupler from
opening accidentally as the liquid is
flowing through it.
Most brands of bayonet-andplunger
couplers are lightweight
and easy to maneuver, which eliminates
undue operational stress and
strain on hoses and loading arms,
as well as the person operating the
loading system. Their low cost also
makes them attractive to manufacturers
who are looking to streamline
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING WWW.CHEMENGONLINE.COM
OCTOBER 2016
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Chemical Engineering October 2016

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