System Process Equipment

As equipment ages or becomes obsolescent and spare parts are no longer manufactured, the requirement to maintain and share adequate stocks of replacement parts becomes ever more critical. To date there is no evidence that major items critical to the continuing operability of chemical agent stockpile incineration facilities have been unavailable, causing operations to be stopped for a significant time. 

Although the robotics and furnaces employed in chemical demilitarization are unique, they are robustly designed and are expected to have adequate operating life if they are maintained and upgraded as needed. The designers and manufacturers of these components are continuing businesses that are available for support and spare and replacement parts production. 

Where there are problems due to aging of robotic components, the staff at the uncontaminated chemical demilitarization training facility (CDTF) at the Edgewood Area of 

Aberdeen Proving Ground (Maryland), and the associated skunk works operated by General Physics Corporation have facilitated troubleshooting of robotics problems when they are encountered at the sites.  

The incineration facilities use several furnaces to complete the disposal process. A liquid incinerator destroys agent. A deactivation furnace system destroys energetic materials. To decontaminate the metal munition bodies and certain other materials, a metal parts furnace is used. The furnaces are critical to both the operation and the closure of the disposal facilities. In past operations the deactivation furnace system (DFS) kiln shell has exhibited periodic damage from the destruction of residual explosives. A loss of a furnace during operations would delay disposal operations for a significant period because of long procurement times. 

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Most basic validation activities within the cGMP pilot plant are identical to those expected in practice in a manufacturing facility. A validation master plan should be developed that addresses the design specifications and qualification, installation qualification (IQ), operational qualification (OQ), and performance qualification (PQ) of all major utility systems, process equipment, and computer control systems. Installation and commissioning data should be retained as part of an engineering documentation package. A workable... 

Pressure relief equipment includes relief valves, safety valves, rupture discs, piping, drums, vent stacks, pressure indicators, pressure alarms, pressure control loops, and flare systems. Process equipment is typically rated for specific pressure and temperature ranges. Engineering specifications... 

Evaluate the risk of injury, illness, environmental harm, and property damage to which the public or an organization is exposed associated with the organization s facilities, products, systems, processes, equipment, and employees by applying quantitative and qualitative threat, vulnerability,... 

Computer modelling provides powerful and convenient tools for the quantitative analysis of fluid dynamics and heat transfer in non-Newtonian polymer flow systems. Therefore these techniques arc routmely used in the modern polymer industry to design and develop better and more efficient process equipment and operations. The main steps in the development of a computer model for a physical process, such as the flow and deformation of polymeric materials, can be summarized as ... 

PTFE is outstanding in this group. In thin films it provides the lowest coefficient of friction (0.03—0.1) of any polymer, is effective from —200 to 250°C, and is generally unreactive chemically. The low friction is attributed to the smooth molecular profile of PTFE chains which allows easy sliding (57). Typical apphcations include chemical and food processing equipment, electrical components, and as a component to provide improved friction and wear in other resin systems. 

A central location where instmment leads are short is preferred. In modem faciHties with distributed control systems, all units are controUed from a central control room with few operators. Only a few roving operators are available to spot trouble. It is desirable to deep process equipment a minimum of 8 m away from the control room. Any equipment and hydrocarbon-containing equipment should be separated by at least 15 m if possible. Most control rooms are designed with blastproof constmction and have emergency backup power and air conditioning. The room is pressuri2ed to prevent infusion of outside air that may have hydrocarbon content in the explosive range. 

Consumption of natural gas, as of the mid-1990s, was about 2000 x 10 /yr. Using seismic detection equipment, exploration firms search for gas reserves buried deep underground and beneath the sea floor. Advanced computer systems process the seismic data to pinpoint the most likely locations for reserves. These advanced systems have both cut the time required for data analysis, by 80%, and gready improved the success rate for new drill rigs. 

Acid cleaners based on sulfamic acid are used in a large variety of appHcations, eg, air-conditioning systems marine equipment, including salt water stills wells (water, oil, and gas) household equipment, eg, copper-ware, steam irons, humidifiers, dishwashers, toilet bowls, and brick and other masonry tartar removal of false teeth (50) dairy equipment, eg, pasteurizers, evaporators, preheaters, and storage tanks industrial boilers, condensers, heat exchangers, and preheaters food-processing equipment brewery equipment (see Beer) sugar evaporators and paper-mill equipment (see also Evaporation Metal surface treati nts Pulp). 

Removal of Particulate Matter. The amount of particulate entering a cooling system with the makeup water can be reduced by filtration and/or sedimentation processes. Particulate removal can also be accompHshed by filtration of recirculating cooling water. These methods do not remove all of the suspended matter from the cooling water. The level of fouling experienced is influenced by the effectiveness of the particular removal scheme employed, the water velocities in the process equipment, and the cycles of concentration maintained in the cooling tower. 

The low cost, light weight, and exceUent electrical conductivity of graphite anodes have made this impressed current protection system valuable for cathodic protection of pipelines, storage vessels, process equipment, and also for weU casings both on- and offshore. 

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