On the implementation of automation in fine chemical plants
Thread Content
Our factory is in the field of fine chemical manufacturing, and we would like to ask everyone their views on the implementation of automation in fine chemicals. For example, dropwise addition and temperature increase – what instruments and control methods are used in the process of achieving this?
It seems no one is here; let’s discuss it together
Most members of the group are from the petrochemical and coal chemical industries; there are relatively few in the fine chemical industry.
Control depends on the size of your device; the smaller it is, the more difficult it is to achieve automatic control, in my opinion
The automated transformation of fine chemicals involves quite a lot of aspects, and we have some experience in this area. Add QQ 45429154 to chat
1. Regarding the dropwise addition. It has an automatic dripping device that allows a certain amount of material to be dripped at a constant rate over a set period of time ； Dropping is generally required for temperature control; a temperature control valve can be installed on the dropping pipeline to adjust the dropping rate by controlling the temperature of the reactor. 2. Regarding the adjustment of the tank temperature, it is usually done manually by turning valves on-site, which is quite laborious. A temperature control valve can be installed on the heat transfer fluid pipeline to adjust the flow rate of the heat transfer fluid based on the tank temperature, thereby achieving automatic temperature control. The production capacity in the fine chemicals sector is very limited, and the manufacturing processes are complex and variable. Often, the orders received amount to only one or two tons, so there is no need to invest so much time and money to fulfill them. If a certain product is manufactured on an annual basis with a production capacity of 100 tons or more per year, partial automation can be considered ； With an annual production capacity of up to a thousand tons, full automation can be considered.
Well, yes, nowadays automation in the petrochemical and coal chemical industries has largely become standardized. However, in the field of fine chemicals, automation is not very satisfactory at present. I want to see to what extent other fine chemical factories have automated their processes
We are all reaction vessels, mainly involved in batch reactions. So it’s better to see how automation can be achieved.
The key to this dripping and temperature increase lies in program optimization; currently, we use PID control, which is not very ideal. What type of control do you use?