Base case design pilot plant testing

For each of the most promising alternatives in the synthesis tree, a base-case design is created. Because this is central to the work of all design teams, the strategy for creating a detailed process flow diagram is covered and the need for pilot-plant testing is discussed. 

Most chemical plant processes are complex. Materials of construction for process equipment and piping must be selected with care to assure corrosion-free operation of those plants. In a well designed plant, materiids selection is based on a number of factors prior service history, field in-plant corrosion tests, pilot plant corrosion tests and laboratory corrosion tests, in that relative order of usefiihiess. often, actual service history regarding materials performance is not available because plants kept poor records, plant personnel were not trained to evaluate corrosion failures, or, in the case of new processes, because there is no service history. The same can be said for field in-plant corrosion tests. Pilot plant testing is usually the best alternative in such cases, but such facilities are typically operated only for short runs and are not well suited for gathering long-term corrosion performance data. 

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