Batch to Continuous

Home » Industries & Applications » Batch to Continuous

Industrial Tomography Systems Batch To Continuous Applications

Process engineers often consider moving high volume batch process (typically in a vessel) to be run on a continuous basis, typically in a pipe or series of small connected reactors.

This fundamental change in reaction conditions can lead to significant increases in production capacity, but involves a significant change to many aspects of process design and unforeseen challenges (and hopefully benefits!).

A first step towards the change is a need to characterise unit process steps. Process tomography sensors can provide quantitative and qualitative measurements on the dynamics and volume based effects of batch based processes. These data can be used as primary information on the process or exported to other analysis tools (such as Matlab, Excel or specialist process modelling packages).

Sensors can be retro-fitted as probes (often instead of existing baffles) or purpose built sensors / vessels can be used. A key benefit of the robustness of tomography sensors (where ERT is the appropriate technique) is that they are usually able to operate under reaction conditions by using chemically resistant sensors and ATEX certified where required.

Once unit processes have been characterised and continuous process developed, it is necessary to validate process conditions. In this case tomography sensors can also help to determine effectiveness of in-line mixing and other performance characteristics.

Once a process is effectively transferred, tomography can be used to continuously monitor its performance or be kept in reserve to provide information should reaction conditions change.

Case Study

Hydrotransport: Hydraulic Conveying of Slurries

The use of ITS sensors to monitor the solids concentration and distribution of materials in slurry flow against conventional MRI techniques.

Our Products

Research & Education Package

A standard package for teaching and general laboratory work and tailored solutions for more complex experimental conditions...

EIT with the ITS v5r

v5r (Electrical Resistance Tomog...

The v5r is the newest instrument from ITS which combines a wide operating envelope and high speed operation....

ITS p2+ for electrical resistance tomography

P2+ (Electrical Resistance Tomog...

The p2+ is the primary electrical resistance tomography instrument used throughout the world for more than 12 years...

ERT Vessel Sensors

Electrical resistance tomography sensors for mixing and reaction monitoring applications...

ERT Probe Sensors from ITS

ERT Probe Sensors

ERT probes are particularly suited to retrofitting in existing vessels and reactors to study interfaces and overall mixing performance...

ERT Pipe Sensors

Electrical resistance tomography sensors for flow based applications...

ECT Pipe Sensors

ECT pipeline section with integral electrode sensor array for characterisation of flowing materials such as air, oil and powders...

Advanced Algorithms from ITS

Advanced Algorithms

Off-line advanced algorithms can provide more accurate tomograms using iterative reconstruction methods...

Tomography Data Analysis Software

Toolsuite

The Tomography Toolsuite is the standard interface for ITS instrumentation allowing users to review ECT and ERT data sets...