Computer programming serves as a tool that can be
used to enhance the simulating process in chemical development.
There is, however, no substitute for the laboratory plant in
evaluating process development. Only a scientifically designed
laboratory plant can provide a reliable basis for a scale-up of
actual conditions. The correct design of a scale-up will serve as
a valuable tool in evaluating existing laboratory processes under
a variety of conditions and will prevent the misdirection of
investment funding by enabling the testing of conditions without
large quantities of material. A laboratory plant can be equipped
flexible, so the conditions in different production plants can be
simulated. This can be done e.g. by exchangeable reactors,
stirrers etc. Continuous and batch plants can be used most
efficiently when the degree of automation is high. In laboratory
plant applications the aspect of reproducibility often is more
important than the savings in man power. Automation of boring
routine jobs makes the work more attractive and has a positive
effect on motivation. As there is not the „laboratory plant“, each
of them is individually planned, built and finally tested by AP-Miniplant. |
