Research stations
Rectification station
The pilot-plant rectification station designed for the measurements of the hydraulic and mass-transfer characteristics of random and structured packings is available for the academic research and the commercial measurements. The station is equipped with an electrically heated reboiler with the maximal power output of 250 kW.
The DN300 and DN150 stainless steel rectification columns can be used for the measurements under the pressure from 10 to 200 kPa. Both the columns, designed for the packed bed of maximal height of 3 m, are equipped with the openings enabling the measurement of the concentration profiles along the column.
The column is equipped with 8-channel IR spectrometer which enables the online measurement of the concentration in liquid and/or vapour along the column.
Absorption station
The pilot-plant absorption station designed for the measurements of the hydraulic and mass-transfer characteristics of random and structured packings under absorption conditions is available for the academic research and the commercial measurements. The station is equipped with two stainless-steel storage tanks of 0.5 m3 volume; the air-blower with the maximal output of 850 m3/h and maximal pressure of 5 kPa; and with the humidification column.
The DN300 absorption column made from PVC-U for the maximal height of the packed bed of 1.2 m can be used for the measurements performed using aqueous systems. The liquid flow-rates up to 100 m3/m2/h and the gas velocities up to 3 m/s can be utilized.
The DN150.6 absorption column made from transparent PVC-U for the maximal height of the packed bed of 1.8 m is designed for the measurements on non-aqueous systems. The liquid flow-rates up to 120 m3/m2/h and the gas velocities up to 10 m/s can be utilized.
Agitation station
Our group possesses two mechanically agitated tanks for measurement of mass-transfer characteristics, i.e. kLa, of the agitated fermentors.
The DN600 stainless-steel tank, divided into three sections, can be equipped with up to three impellers on a common shaft. The sampling points placed along the tank enable to measure mass-transfer rates in each individual section. The apparatus enables to measure kLa using dynamic pressure method, ungassed and gassed power input to the impeller and gas hold-up in the tank.
The DN290 PMMA tank can be also equipped with up to three impellers. It serves for the study of the scale-up capabilities of the mass-transfer characteristics measured in laboratory-scale vessels and for the study of the influence of the solid particles on the mass-transfer characteristics.
Ejector unit
The upwards-pumping gas-liquid ejector unit with DN 300 bubbled column has been build in our laboratory. The ejector can be equipped with nozzles up to 15 mm of ID and various geometry. The geometry of the ejector unit (length of the mixing tube from 0 to 0.4 m, length and the angle of the diffuser) can be easily modified. The setup enables measurement of the hydraulic and mass-transfer characteristics of the ejector with constant back pressure and various pressures in the suction chamber.
Other equipment and devices
FT-NIR Spectrometer Nicolet Antaris MX with high sensitivity, high stability matched InGaAs detector and fibre-optic probes
FLIR-T630sc thermo camera resolution 640×480 pixels, the sensitivity of 0.03 K, thermal resolution of 1.2 MPx
Fischer Labodest VLE 602 The apparatus for VLE data measurement:
- – liquid and vapour composition
- – boiling
- – system pressure from 0.15 to 4 bar
Atago RX digital refractometer quick and precise measurement of the refractive index ranging from 1.32700 to 1.58000