A Working Guide to Process Equipment [Hardcover]

Norman P. Lieberman (Author), Elizabeth T. Lieberman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0070380759 | ISBN-13: 978-0070380752 | Publication Date: November 1, 1996

Chemical engineers and technicians often can't identify the source of equipment malfunctions because they don't understand how the equipment works. This easy-to-read guide offers explanations of the inner workings of equipment in petroleum refineries, chemical and pharmaceutical plants, fertilizer plants, and other continuous process facilities. Tips, worked out calculations, and simple process figures expedite troubleshooting of problems in heaters, turbines, vacuum systems, instrumentation, refrigeration systems, compressors, and much more.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Here's the Key to How Process Equipment Works--and How to Keep It Working At Its Best Process plant operators, engineers, managers, and other personnel need to understand--in a basic but simple way--how process equipment works. At last, there's a comprehensive, practical reference that sheds light on the inner workings of continuous process equipment for a broad range of technicians and industries, including plant operators and supervisors and service engineers in chemical, refining, pharmaceutical, and fertilizer plants, and other continuous process facilities. Based on the authors' extensive experience in the field, A Working Guide to Process Equipment carefully and clearly explains all the basic technical issues that you need to know to trouble-shoot even the thorniest process equipment problems. Here, in one resource book, is a wealth of useful diagnostic tips, worked-out calculations, practical examples, and informative illustrations to help you quickly pinpoint trouble and repair typical malfunctions in: Trayed and packed distillation towers; Natural and forced reboilers; Partial and total condensers; Steam systems and deaerators; Vaccuum systems; Fired heaters; Shell and tube heat exchangers; Centrifugal compressors; Gas turbines and reciprocating engines; Centrifugal pumps and motor drivers. In no time at all, this essential problem-solving manual will become your most trusted on-the-job tool for dealing effectively wtih costly equipment malfunctions.

About the Author

Norman P. Lieberman is a chemical engineer with more than 39 years of experience in process plant operation, design, and field troubleshooting. Currently, his company, Process Improvement Engineering, specializes in executing revamp designs for refinery crude, coker, visbreaker, and asphalt. Mr. Lieberman has taught more than 400 technical seminars based on the material found in this book.

Elizabeth T. Lieberman is a chemical engineer with more than 25 years of experience in the process industries. She works with Norm Lieberman in executing process revamp designs and instructing troubleshooting seminars. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 425 pages
• Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill (Tx) (November 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070380759
• ISBN-13: 978-0070380752
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,668,067 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How Process Equipment Works, December 25, 1999

By 

Scott A. Westveer "P.E." (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Working Guide to Process Equipment (Hardcover)

As a licensed professional engineer and consultant in the Houston, TX area, I found this to be an excellent and useful book. It simplifies and demystifies fundamental chemical engineering principals and effectively illustrates how theory applies to understanding the root cause/s of real world plant operating problems.

The Lieberman's also do a fine job of making the book interesting to read through the use of non-process plant related anecdotes. These anecdotes help the reader understand the principals presented by drawing upon experiences and situations common to everyday life.

I highly recommend this book to engineers of all experience levels who work in the petroleum refining and chemical process industries.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for students/interns and young process engineers!, July 18, 2003

By 

Katerina Cabello (Sulphur, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Working Guide to Process Equipment (Hardcover)

I'm a summer intern in an oil refinery and few of my tasks were to rerate exchangers, fin fan coolers, etc., and I didn't have any experience whatsoever! They don't teach at school how this equipment works in a process context and if you don't have a clue on what you're doing, this is the best book to refer to. It is very elementary, but at the same time, it can be very specific. It goes through fundamental steps for troubleshooting general processes as well as clear explanations of how most of the equipment in the industry work. Highly recommended at any level!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Process troubleshooting book., March 9, 2006

By 

Arvind Bhagat (Qatar) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Working Guide to Process Equipment (Hardcover)

Boringless, easy to understand and real practical book. Reading this book I have troubleshoot many process problems effectively.
I strongly recommend this fantastic practical book for all levels.
arvind bhagat.