JP3248207B2 - Small capacity multipurpose batch plant - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a so-called multipurpose batch plant, in particular to a small-capacity multipurpose batch plant for producing small quantities of high-purity or extremely polluting products.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A batch process plant is used as a facility for producing fine chemicals and the like having a relatively small production volume and high added value by using the same apparatus under different conditions according to purposes. Have been devised, and some of them have already been put to practical use.

[0003] As a representative example of a known batch plant, a "batch for batch production" disclosed in JP-A-62-144745 is known.
And a "moving tank apparatus" disclosed in JP-A-2-198628. In each of these methods, instead of transferring raw materials to be processed from container to container, containers are moved from equipment to equipment to perform sequential processing.

For example, in the manufacturing process in the field of fine chemicals, a reaction is involved and a complicated reaction is often repeated many times. The reaction temperature ranges from minus several tens degrees to 300 and several tens degrees Celsius, and strict control is required. Furthermore, it is not necessary to heat and cool the same container. Common problems in such a case include the following.

Heat source cooling source Problem 1 Steam Refrigerant + water Heating at 300 ° C. or more requires steam at a pressure of 100 kg or more, which cannot be tolerated by a conventional jacket. It is inevitable that the refrigerant is mixed into the steam. 2 Heat medium Heat medium The heat medium contaminates the environment with the desorption of pipes. 3 Electric cooling coil Electric heat easily falls into local heating. In addition, if a cooling coil is provided, the coil will become an obstacle during electric heating, making it unsuitable.

When a temperature change is large in a jacketed container, a strong thermal stress is applied to a welded portion. Even if it is absorbed by an expansion bellow, there is a limit. If a crack is formed between the container body and the jacket, the heat medium contaminates the inside of the container.

[0007] Even if the container withstands such problems, in the case of a system in which the container is moved, it is necessary to attach and detach a utility pipe every time heating and cooling are repeated in the same equipment. In addition to this work, the liquid in the jacket must be blown, so that a large amount of labor is required.

Although the container moving method is based on the idea of avoiding contamination by not transferring the contents between containers, this advantage cannot be enjoyed in the following cases. In other words, when the lower layer of the liquid after the reaction is separated and used only in the next reaction step, it must be transferred to another container, and there is a risk of contamination by piping. Increase. Also,
When a liquid obtained by the reaction or dissolution is used as a dropping liquid in another container, gravity cannot be used as long as those containers are at the same level, and a pump and piping must be used. When the containers are arranged in two layers, upper and lower, gravity can be dropped from top to bottom, but not in the opposite direction.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a solution to the above-mentioned problems faced by the technology of a multipurpose batch plant, in which heating and cooling are facilitated, especially in a small-volume plant. It is an object of the present invention to provide a plant which minimizes the problems associated with the thermal stress of a jacketed container and minimizes contamination by not passing piping when transferring contents.

[0010]

The small-capacity multipurpose batch plant of the present invention has an overall configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which is a combination of a multi-level stage and movable containers. The system uses gravity to transfer raw materials, reactants, and products. Further, as shown in other figures, the structure of the details is a batch plant for controlling a chemical reaction by heating or cooling and / or performing a step of causing a physical change. Stage (11, 1
2,. . ) And a vessel (2) with a plurality of heating or cooling means, each stage having a horizontal vessel within the same stage and / or an upper and lower stage. Provide a stacker crane that can be transferred vertically between them, or provide a carriage that can be transferred horizontally in the same stage, and divide it into two or more as a means of heating or cooling the container. A jacket (4) is provided, which is capable of being attached and detached by opening and closing the container.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed structure centering on the relationship between the container and the jacket. This figure shows that the container (2) carried by the stacker crane (3A) or the carrier truck has a stage (2). (11) placed on top, showing where the jacket consisting of the halved components (4A, 4B) is closed and in contact. In the figure, reference numerals (5) and (6) denote condensers and receivers provided in the plant, respectively, and (7) denotes a shuttle container for carrying raw materials or products.

The mechanism for opening and closing the jacket (4) includes:
For example, there is a type in which a combination of a wire (8A) and a pulley (8B) as shown in FIG. 4 is driven by a motor (8C). Of course, other opening and closing mechanisms, such as hydraulic cylinders, can also be employed.

The two halves of the jacket are moved on the rails (9) by rollers (44), approaching and leaving, as shown in FIGS. The rail (9) is shown in FIG.
As shown in the above, it is preferable to provide it at a position slightly lower than the stage surface of the plant.

As shown in FIG. 8, a good heat conductor having a slight buffering function, for example, a metal net (42) or a woven fabric is provided on the inner surface of the jacket in contact with the outside of the container. A good heat conductor adhesive (43) (for example, commercially available under the trade name "Thermocement") may be attached to the jacket surface (41). This allows
When the container is grasped by closing the halved jacket, heat is exchanged well without excessively tightening the container with the jacket or forming a gap between the two.

For transporting the container (2), a carrier (3B) can be used in the same stage as shown in FIG. However, in order to attach the container to the jacket (4), a means for inserting the container is required.

[0016]

The operation of the multipurpose batch plant is performed, for example, as follows.

Raw material metering (Initial raw material) The container is transported by a stacker crane to a raw material measuring section (not shown), where necessary raw materials are measured and charged. The container charged with the raw material is transported again on a predetermined jacket for heating or cooling by a socker crane, placed on a stage, and closed with the jacket to make contact with the container. Alternatively, transport the shuttle container to the weighing section with a stacker crane,
It is also possible to charge the raw material, carry it again with a stacker crane, and put the raw material into a container installed at a predetermined position via a shuttle container.

(Additional raw material) In the case where the raw material is further added after the first raw material is processed, or in the case where an additive or an auxiliary is added during the processing, it is advisable to use the above-mentioned shuttle container. . FIG. 3 shows that powder and liquid can be supplied. A significant change in the reaction conditions after the addition of the additive or auxiliary agent, for example, a change from heating to cooling, can be easily achieved only by changing the flow path of the heat medium.

A heat medium or a cooling medium is introduced into the reaction jacket, and the reaction proceeds with stirring.

Liquid Transfer When the contents of one container are transferred to another container due to a process involving separation or dripping of the liquid after completion of the reaction, the container is transported by a stacker crane and transported to the side of the target container. , And connect both to carry out the transfer. The same applies when the liquid is conveyed to a process such as centrifugation.

After the cleaning, the reaction container and the shuttle container are transported to a cleaning section (not shown), where they are cleaned and prepared for the next use.

[0022]

According to the small-capacity multipurpose batch plant of the present invention, the following advantages are obtained because the processing vessel and the heating / cooling jacket are separately provided.

B) It is not necessary to attach and detach the utility pipe every time heating and cooling. B) The optimal heat medium and refrigerant can be selected and used, and the working environment is not impaired. C) The problem of thermal stress on the welded part is basically solved, and there is no fear that the heat medium or the refrigerant is mixed in the process flow in the container. D) Due to the advantages of b) and c) above, the temperature range of heating or cooling can be widened.

Since the structure is a multi-stage stage type and the containers are arranged therein, by using a stacker crane, the containers can be transported to any desired position in the upper, lower, left and right directions. The most suitable use and transfer pattern of the container can be selected, and the operation rate of the container can be increased. Further, within the same stage, a carrier can be used to effectively utilize the space of the equipment. Even in the case of performing a process including a liquid separation operation and a dropping operation using a plurality of reactors, it is not necessary to use a pipe for connection between the containers, so that contamination can be suppressed to a minimum.

In the use of this batch plant, even if there is a demand for increased production, if the heating and cooling capacity does not become rate-limiting, the capacity can be increased only by adding a container, so that it is economical. is there. In general, it is often necessary to increase the heating / cooling capacity of only one of them, and it is relatively easy to add a jacket because any stage of the structure can be vacant.

The small-capacity multipurpose batch plant of the present invention having such advantages has a small handling amount (several tens to 2,000 liters in container capacity) and is a high-value-added fine chemical product which extremely dislikes contamination. Most suitable for production. Representatively, medicines and agricultural chemicals, surfactants, plastic plasticizers, additives, engineering plastics, pigments, fragrances,
It is useful in a wide range of fields such as cosmetics and foods.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view conceptually showing the overall configuration of a small-capacity multipurpose batch plant of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a combination of a container and a jacket in a batch plant of the present invention together with related components.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual plan view showing an example of a jacket opening / closing mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing rails and rollers for opening and closing the jacket.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the same object as in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view as viewed from the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing the lining of the inner surface of the jacket.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state where containers are loaded on a transport trolley and transferred in the batch plant of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Structure 11, 12 Stage 2 Container 3A Stacker crane 3B Carriage 4 (4A + 4B) Jacket 7 Shuttle container

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A batch plant for performing a step of controlling a chemical reaction by heating or cooling and / or causing a physical change, wherein the plant has a structure having a plurality of stages and a plurality of heating or cooling. A container provided with the means of (a), (b), in each stage, the container is disposed horizontally in the stage, and / or
A transport means capable of vertically transferring between the upper and lower stages is provided, and a jacket capable of being divided into two or more and capable of attaching and detaching the container by opening and closing is provided as a means for heating or cooling the container. A small-capacity multipurpose batch plant characterized by: 2. Stacker crane capable of transferring containers horizontally in the same stage and / or vertically between upper and lower stages.
Batch plant. 3. The batch plant according to claim 1, further comprising a carrier cart capable of transferring containers horizontally in the same stage. 4. The batch plant according to claim 1, wherein a good heat conductor having a buffering function is inserted into a contact surface of the jacket with the container.