Troubleshooting is an activity that process engineers dedicate a substantial portion of their careers to. However, it remains a topic that is not thoroughly addressed in chemical engineering education. While the core principles of chemical engineering are taught, they are often presented in isolation, requiring engineers to piece them together like a puzzle when faced with a potential issue. Troubleshooting in the Chemical Process Industries provides readers with practical insights into problem-solving within the Chemical Process Industry from a process engineering perspective. The book connects fundamental chemical engineering principles, emphasizes the importance of data collection and analysis in the problem-solving process, and demonstrates how these tools can be effectively applied to identify root causes and resolve operational challenges. It underscores the critical role of troubleshooting in addressing abnormal process behaviors that jeopardize or hinder the achievement of key objectives, such as production targets, product quality specifications, and environmental or process safety standards.

• Considers troubleshooting in three categories: for existing facilities, during retrofit of an existing facility, and for new plants.

• Covers plant performance monitoring and discusses the source of process data relative to instrumentation and associated errors.

• Discusses process simulation in troubleshooting, strategies for dealing with the empirical aspects of processes, and manipulation of raw process data into meaningful performance information.

• Explores the perspectives of process engineers and process operators, comparing and contrasting both functions and considering human factors issues.

• Features industrial case studies.

With this practical book, process engineers are given the know-how to solve real-world problems they are likely to encounter in industry through the application of sound process engineering methodologies.

André Bernard is a Senior Process Engineer in the Central Engineering Department at NOVA Chemicals. He has over 30 years of experience in plant operations and process design. He holds BS and MS degrees in chemical engineering from l’École Polytechnique de Montréal in Canada. He is a member of AIChE and a registered professional engineer in the province of Ontario and Québec in Canada.