Process intensification plant-size reductions

Figure 1.28 Illustration of a future plant using process-intensification equipment, aiming at giving the corresponding shape or perception. Compared with today s plants, a reduction in size is predicted [25].

Often this low reactive content can lead to designing for total containment i.e., no relief system is required by which further emission reductions are achieved. Moreover, the diffusive emissions (smell) can be reduced by reducing the number of flanges and valves. Because the size of the plant will also be reduced, it is likely that the social status of a chemical plant can be raised by the introduction of process intensification. 

However, the integration of PIM also creates synergy in the development of intensified processes, novel product forms, and size dependent phenomena, which in turn provides novel intensified processes. Process intensification-miniaturization is seen as an important element of sustainable development because it can deliver 1) at least a 10-fold decrease in process equipment volume 2) elimination of parasitic steps and unwanted by-products, thus eliminating some downstream processing operations 3) inherent safety because of reduced reactor volume 4) novel product forms 5) energy, capital, and operating cost reduction, and an environment friendly process 6) plant mobility, responsiveness, and security and 7) a platform for other technologies. 

In the past few years a novel approach to chemical engineering has emerged. This new way of treating processes is called Process Intensification (PI). Although many definitions exist for PI, the main goal is to achieve considerable size reductions in chemical plants. Consequently a smaller plant will lead to improvements in the field of HSE, energy consumption and waste reduction. Recently an overview of PI incentives has been given by Stankiewicz et al.1... 

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