Pilot tests are an important step in the development of any process. They help us verify the feasibility of a separation task. Shreewire offers pilot testing facilities at our state-of-the-art pilot and laboratory testing centre for evaluation of a variety of separation tasks.

In the chemical and refining industry, setting up a pilot plant is an important step to ensure safe column sizing by measuring equilibrium data. Pilot testing ensures high separation efficiency at low-pressure drop and allows a safe scale-up into planning of an actual production plant.

Services

We offer a broad range of services including

• Process development
• Feasibility studies
• Process validation
• Laboratory plant trials
• Pilot plant trials
• Documentation and test reports

 Pilot Facility

At our testing facilities, we offer a laboratory and a pilot column with the following features

• Laboratory and pilot column for all separation technologies
• Column sizes
  
  • Pilot column – 150mm diameter
  • Laboratory column – 50mm diameter
• Approximately up to 75 theoretical stages
• Internals: structured packing and random packing
• Vacuum down to 10-3 mbar (0.1 Pa)
• Heating system from 20-250 degree celsius
• Cooling system from 10-100 degree celsius

 Testing

Theoretical models correctly predict the performance of separation tasks. However, pilot tests are still required for several tasks, including

• Mixtures with impurities
• Systems with unknown vapour-liquid equilibrium
• Requirements related to very high product purity

Based on the results from simulations or process data from clients, the column is configured according to process requirements, and parameters are varied during the tests to simulate the conditions in the actual test, including

• Types of internals, number of stages
• Reflux ratio
• Operating pressure
• Feed flow
• Position of side streams

Test Analysis

Analysis of samples is essential for evaluating the test results. We provide our customers with the latest computer-controlled testing equipment. In case of special requirements, we are associated with certified laboratories that provide us with the required test results.
We provide the following testing facilities

• Gas chromatography (GC)
• Karl-Fischer titration
• pH test

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