Pilot Plant Search Strategy

“In keeping his heading by the stars, a pilot must remember that they move” -- Charles Lindberg

The tip of the day … Bench scale v. Pilot scale
Technology research fits into three broad categories.  They bleed into each other, but the categories are …

• Basic
• Bench scale
• Pilot scale

It is typical for an abstract to mention the phrase “bench scale” or “pilot scale” to clue the reader as to the research being described.

Take advantage of this fact.  When you are interested in seeing what’s being done at bench scale, include the phrase in your search strategy.  For example …

One result …

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Environmental Engineering Science (Online Ahead of Print: November 1, 2011)
Optimization of Thiophene Removal by an Ultrasound-Assisted Oxidative Desulfurization Process
Teng-Chien Chen, 1,2
Yun-Hwei Shen, 1
Wen-Jhy Lee, 2,3
Chih-Chung Lin, 4
Meng-Wei Wan 5
peterwan@mail.chna.edu.tw
1 Department of Resources Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
2 Resource Recycling and Management Research Center National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
3 Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
4 Department of Environmental Engineering and Science, National Ping Tung University of Science and Technology, Ping Tung, Taiwan.
5 Department of Environmental Engineering and Science, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan.
Abstract
Thiophene (T) is considered one of the most refractory organic sulfur compounds in oxidative desulfurization. This study used an ultrasound-assisted oxidative desulfurization process to optimize T oxidation on a bench scale. Four control factors, including durations of sonication, the amounts of transition metal catalyst (TMC), phase transfer agent (PTA), and hydrogen peroxide, were carefully examined. The best operation condition, evaluated by using the analysis of variance, was found at mass ratios of T: H2O2:PTA:TMC at 1:1.5:0.005:0.01 with 20 min of sonication, where almost 73.5% of T, 89.9% of benzothiophene (BT), and 100% of dibenzothiophene (DBT) were oxidized to their corresponding sulfones. Moreover, the electron density on the sulfur atom of various compounds, including T, BT, and DBT, and their methyl-substituted derivatives and oxidation rate constants were also examined. The oxidative reactivity of sulfur compounds increased with the increasing electron density on sulfur atoms. The T that is commonly considered more difficult to the oxidized is attributed to the combined effect of low electron density of the sulfur atom and low boiling temperature under mild oxidation reaction. This information is essential for the deep desulfurization process under oxidative conditions.
Source: http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/ees.2011.0123 ///////
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Conversely, if you are interested in research that is closer to actual implementation, replace “bench scale” with “pilot scale” in your search statement.  Here is one result …

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2011 International Conference on Computer Distributed Control and Intelligent Environmental Monitoring (CDCIEM), Changsha, 19-20 Feb. 2011, page(s): 1737 - 1741
Study on Flue Gas Desulfurization of Sintering in Pilot-Scale Experiment
Wu Fuzhong;   Wang Wenhao;  
Mater. & Metall. Coll., Guizhou Univ., Guiyang, China  
Abstract
The pilot-scale experiment is done to speed up the pace of industrial application. The results show that the whole set of devices runs smoothly, the process for pilot-scale experiment is reasonable, the desulfurization rate can be above 92% for long time, the rate of leaching Mn2+ can be over 80%;The product of MnSO4 can arrive the fertilizer level(GB1622-86) and feed level (GB5252-876).
source: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=5748153 ///////
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And remember, no matter what scale you are interested in, the Desulfurization Blog (http://www.desulf.blogspot.com/} will help you research it.  Tell your friends and colleagues.