Plant Equipment Feature Library

Operations Engineer's library catalogues editorial features going back five years.

Access to all archive material is free to all, including non-members of IPlantE (the Institution of Operations Engineers) or BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors), under the umbrella of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). However, to discover the many benefits of becoming an SOE member, please click here.

14/02/2022 Steam trap management

Crucial parts of the steam supply system, these simple components let out water and condensate, but their failure could have a significant effect. By Toby Clark » Read More

15/04/2013 Full steam ahead

Often overlooked – and that includes in terms of maintenance – steam generation and distribution systems are ripe for some serious energy and cost saving. » Read More

06/12/2012 Leave well alone?

It's both a strength and a weakness that boilers generally operate for years without problems. On the one hand, plant managers are happy, but on the other, no one knows how much better they could be doing. Brian Tinham reports » Read More

05/10/2012 Laundry saves £30,000 thanks to flash steam recovery

Commercial laundry Bates of London is reporting savings of tens of thousands of pounds in energy since installing FREME (flash recovery energy management equipment) plant, from Spirax Sarco. » Read More

07/12/2011 Pedigree steam traps save Marston’s £60,000 in first year

One year after upgrading its steam traps with up-to-date equipment from Spirax Sarco, Marston's Brewery is reporting savings of £60,000 in energy and hot water costs. » Read More

08/08/2011 Energy event 2011

The upcoming Energy Event promises a packed agenda focused on optimising energy management, procurement and efficiency. Laura Cork reports » Read More

09/12/2010 Steaming ahead

Engineering innovation has the propensity to change plant practice, and that applies to boilers and steam generation too. But improvements can also be made by going back to basics. Brian Tinham reports » Read More

01/03/2010 Wasting away

The Carbon Trust reckons that UK companies are still wasting €1 billion worth of energy per year, largely due to unresolved plant optimisation issues and inefficiencies in energy generation plant itself. Brian Wall reports on ways ... » Read More

01/12/2008 Trapped steam

Pulp and paper mills are among our most energy- and emissions-intensive plants. Large quantities of steam are essential for many of its processes and the sad fact is that, because boilers, steam distribution systems, heat exchangers, ... » Read More

01/08/2006 Environment for change

In 1952, the Great Smog of London caused nearly 2,000 deaths above the norm for that period. This resulted in the Clean Air Act of 1956, which marked the beginning of effective environmental legislation in Britain. » Read More