. Part of the Panel Discussion on Pilot Plants Presented before the Division of Petroleum Chemistry, 123rd Meeting, American Chemical Society
HE PILOT PUNT STAGE is o very important link in the chain of events that produces a new or improved cammercia1 operation. The pilot plant stage is expected to simulate commercial scale operation to the extent that no major changes will be required in the design or process feaiures of the commercial plant when it is put an stream. The pilot plant phase is a foscinating and exciting stage in the research and development work on o new process or o process improvement. The econcinic effects of the potential commercial operation have usuolly been developed to show the profits oWainable with the commercia1 plant. Successful pilot plant demonstration by the earliest possible date becomes the order of the day. The construction features and operoting results of ths pilot plant are received day by day, sametimes hour to hour, to determine the changes that might be made to achieve the gwl which has been sketched fmm exploratcfy and bench scale experiments. A maximum of cooperation is sought between the design, mechanical, operating, dato, and analytical groups and those responsible for bench xale work. The generation of helpful ideas which comes from such a meeting of minds is extremely stimulating to those who participate in such experiences. Along with its importance and interest, the pilot stage brings a heavy burden into research and developmentmmely, high expenditures per unit result. The high cost of pilot plant work does not meon that pilot plant demonstrations will constitute the bulk of expenditures in a completed proied. Bench Kale work on catolyst research plus feed stock studies plus varioble investigations may well make up the maior part of expense in a proiect. However, pilot plant construction, operating, and mechanical costs produce a high rate of expenditure per data period. The obiective of this series is to exchanae exDerience . about pilot plank so that we may reduce ow expenditures on the pilot plant phase. It is strongly 'hoped that the discussions on philosophy of pilot plant application, on design, construction, operating and maintenance ond on the specific subject of instrumentation will yield ideas which will be put into practice in pilot plants throughout the industry.
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1.0 J. Blak Shndard Oil D.nlopmmt Ce.
Pilot Plants in the Petroleum Refwing Industry
J. W. Payn. S o r m y - V m ~ ~1oboroltori.s n
A General Philosophy of Pilot Plants
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Basic Factors
C. 1. Brown 18x9
