Chemical engineering mysteries

Sometimes chemical engineering can be a mystery; sometimes a process can be a mystery, and sometimes your colleagues and clients can be mysteries as well as your family and friends.? However, the inspiration for this blog is a real mystery, Phosphate Rocks: A Death in Ten Objects, I recently read. Fiona Erskine, a professional engineer with 40 years of experience, combines a fictional mystery with actual chemical engineering mysteries. Let me explain without giving away too much of the book.

The 2021 novel begins with the demolition of the Scottish Agricultural Industries (SAI) phosphate fertilizer plant.? This beginning caught my attention right away as it follows exactly along from my Chemical Processing article and THE P&ID MINUTE on safely decommissioning chemical plants. ?Of course, in a slight deviation (ever so slight), a dead body is found in the phosphate rock of the plant during this demolition. Trust me when I say that I have no knowledge about finding dead bodies. What I can tell you is the remainder of this intriguing book intertwines the plant operation and clues to solve the murder.

Engineers will recognize the clues

What really stood out for me, though, is that the clues are relevant to chemical engineering. One involved the growth of crystals, slurry pumping, and pan filters. Getting to the bottom of the mystery when talking about growing large crystals is a sine qua non to make filtration easier. And here it is in a mystery novel!

Another entire section is devoted to the operation of a tilting pan filter, described as a large clock face, rotating bicycle wheel, a teapot and a series of cups, collectors, stainers, a vacuum cleaner, and a dustbin. It was quite an interesting description, but, of course, you can read about the actual operation in my Handbook of Solid-Liquid Filtration.

While many will be disturbed by the murder in this mystery, I’ll admit I was stunned when Erskine’s operators “slit” the filter cloth rather than fight the filter, to keep it in operation. I certainly hope this only happens in fiction!

Truth in fiction resonates

Throughout, the many diversions into chemical engineering to find the clues make this book really fun to read. Seeing the chapter highlighting the design of the plant shows, regrettably, a lot of truth. ?First, the valve specifications were not correct. Then the piping design saved money, but pipe supports were not correct. Sampling valves were not included. Venting/drains were not easily accessible. The commissioning disasters went on and on.

But this book’s continuing theme is the importance of asking questions and thinking critically. We do it as readers of murder mysteries and at P&ID we do it to get to the bottom of a process problem. The best way to combat any confusion? Write clearly and follow good engineering practices.

P&ID is not the one to call if you find any dead bodies, but we’re here to help solve your engineering, training, and process problems. The next time you encounter a chemical engineering mystery, give us a call.