Handling large-scale chemical processing plant

Scale-up techniques for using the results of pilot plant or bench scale test w ork to establish the equivalent process results for a commercial or large scale plant mixing system design require careful specialized considerations and usually are best handled by the mixer manufacturer s specialist. The methods to accomplish scale-up will vary considerably, depending on whether the actual operation is one of blending, chemical reaction tvith product concentrations, gas dispersions, heat transfer, solids suspensions, or others. 

Coal is currently economically useful only in plants that are equipped for large-scale handling of solids, and it is used only indirectly as a raw material for chemical synthesis. Accordingly, there has been considerable research on processes for converting coal into gaseous or liquid fuels and chemicals. Only gasification has advanced to commercial status. 

In the area of FBR fuel reprocessing, PNC has developed process and equipment with remote handling technique, through large scale cold mock-up tests at the three Engineering Demonstration Facilities (EDFs) and laboratory scale hot tests at the Chemical Processing Facility (CPF) in Tokai Works, on the basis of accumulated experience in the Tokai reprocessing plant for LWR fuels. 

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