Equipment, selection specifications, comparison

As stated above, the focus of recent investigations of microreactor applications in the field of emulsification was on the use of micromixers, and different types of micromixers have been employed. However, it is difficult to compare them with regard to liquid-liquid dispersion performance since the mixers are most often investigated for different specific applications. However, a suitable comparison is the basis for future targeted equipment selection. Furthermore, micrombcers are in competition with conventional and other innovative equipment such as static mixers, membranes and homogenizers. Therefore, benchmarking with such equipment is also required. 

Selection of a specific separation technique or scheme requites the above in formation plus comparison of capital cost, opeiadng cost, space available for equipment installation, and meterial of construction requirements, if die desired separation quality is obtainable by several approaches, the last four factors become trade-off parameters. 

The duty specification, jar sedimentation and filtration tests enable the slurry settling and filtering characteristics to be broadly classified, and a selection problem to be specified through a series of letter codings. In order to select and rank equipment from this information it is necessary to provide charts and/or tables which relate equipment performance to the letter codings. Comparisons between the user defined specifications and the tables/charts enable the selection process. 

Equation 20 applies to an entire plant or project in which revenue is determined by the value of products sold. In designing specific units within the plant revenue is not considered, and the focus is on equipment and utilities costs for that specific unit In a typical chemical plant, the separation system has the highest cost for both equipment and utilities. The reactor is a minor cost in comparison, but it has a large effect on separation system costs. Good reactor design is crucial in order to produce a valuable product with the highest selectivity and therefore minimize separation costs. 

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