VERIFICATION OF A PROCESS IN A DEMONSTRATION PLANT: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO FIND ALL THE PROBLEMS?

摘要

A demonstration plant is erected to fully simulate the future plant. Its configuration and type of equipment is similar to the full-scale plant, and it should be run in the designated site, using the real raw materials. Its main purpose is the verification of the process, which was developed on the bench-scale or pilot plant scale, regarding production rate, recovery, product quality and analysis of accumulation phenomena. Quick accumulation phenomena can be detected and solved during the running-in of the bench or pilot plant. Slow phenomena, which are detected after a few weeks or months, are the more problematic ones. They are caused by solvent decomposition, oxidation, precipitation or extraction of traces of harmful elements. A crucial problem is to decide how long should the running-in be. An example of a full follow-up of a process in a demonstration plant is given.