Product category:
Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment
News Release from: Strata Technology
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 17 March 2003
Fast track to pilot PVC plant
Strata Technology has designed, built and commissioned an automated PVC pilot plant for Harlow-based Synthomer.
Strata Technology has designed, built and commissioned an automated PVC pilot plant for Harlow-based Synthomer, part of the polymers division of Yule Catto and Co, a global supplier of synthetic polymers With all the complexity of a full-scale design, including the risk elements, the engineering challenges posed by the pilot plant were considerable; not least because of the highly toxic and flammable nature of vinyl chloride monomer and the exothermic nature of the vinyl chloride polymerisation reaction
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 21 May 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Synthomer's pilot plant can mimic conditions in a full-scale commercial reactor, and it can be tuned to match the technology of any PVC producer worldwide.
It incorporates a PC-based control system, with efficient VCM containment in the reactor, and essential safety and fail-safe alarm systems to avoid reactor temperature and pressure excursion.
Safety features include dedicated VCM mass metering, with a venting and extraction capability for the entire plant area, and VOC destruction to better than 99.99% for gases released to the environment.
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The Strata Technology design incorporates a dual, interchangeable reactor system, with 10 litre capacity bodies, and geometries to match the two principal current technologies a short squat reactor, and a tall and thin reactor.
3D modelling was used extensively in the development of the reactors and other key components to ensure that client requirements were met.
The reactors are designed for pressure containment up to 18bar(g) and a maximum operating temperature of 80C.
The design was developed using the latest instrumentation and control system for precise process and parameter monitoring during runs, with automated shutdown features.
Double automated valves were an absolute necessity for process containment and were a specific customer safety requirement.
The pilot plant has a dedicated PC-based automation and control system, interfaced with VOC detection for added safety.
Strata also developed the user-friendly, dedicated software that enables sophisticated process trending, data recording, alarm recognition, and parameter monitoring to be carried out.
"It's been a very good project, delivered in cost and on time", comments Synthomer's Technical Manager, Dr Peter Shaw.
"Strata is technically excellent and brought skills that we don't have internally.
We certainly learned from each other as the project developed, but Strata was the only company that could offer the appropriate fast track design, project management and construction".
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