A pilot plant refers to a pre-commercial production system that is used in the production industry for various reasons. This system is used to produce a product on a small scale before full-scale production can be started. This is usually necessary when employing new production technology. With this system, it is possible to learn more about the new production system before it can be deployed on a large scale in the real world. This makes pilot plants vital in production.
The learning period allows for the collection of important data. The data collected can then be used to design full-scale production systems and products on a commercial scale. The plants are also used to help in identifying further research objectives. Also, they help to offer support to investors in making investment decisions. Investors usually want to be sure that they are making the right investment decision and these systems help them in making that decision.
The plants also help in building public support. It is easier to study how people react to a product when it is in low scale production. Public feedback can help determine if the new technology is favored or not therefore a decision on whether to move to large scale production can be made.
Typically, a pilot plant will be smaller in size as compared to a full-scale production plant. However, the size also ranges depending on the kind of production under consideration. Besides being small in size, these facilities also present a high level of flexibility. That means that they can be changed more easily to suit different situations.
These facilities are so simple to construct and they can be built in a laboratory. Simple equipment such as stock lab equipment can be used for construction. In cases where these facilities a state of the art or a complicated facility is needed then one will need an engineer. Hiring an engineer has always proven to be very expensive. The materials used for construction are also very hard to produce since they are special and hard to produce.
In managing the risk, such plants pay a significant role. Firms are able to mitigate the dangers that come with creating big process plants. However much these facilities are vital, firms do not often used them in all states. An example is a firm that is yearning to enlarge what they produce. Such firm may prefer to continue creating a process plant directly instead of having a pilot system.
The need for these facilities is also reducing gradually due to the development of more advanced process simulation on computer systems. More advanced process simulation increases the confidence of process designers, which in essence reduces the need for pilot systems. However, it is still possible to use both pilot systems as well as process simulation.
Designing these systems can be a very complex process. It takes a lot of engineering and knowledge to produce a plant that achieves optimal results. Companies invest huge amounts of money to achieve success with these facilities.
The learning period allows for the collection of important data. The data collected can then be used to design full-scale production systems and products on a commercial scale. The plants are also used to help in identifying further research objectives. Also, they help to offer support to investors in making investment decisions. Investors usually want to be sure that they are making the right investment decision and these systems help them in making that decision.
The plants also help in building public support. It is easier to study how people react to a product when it is in low scale production. Public feedback can help determine if the new technology is favored or not therefore a decision on whether to move to large scale production can be made.
Typically, a pilot plant will be smaller in size as compared to a full-scale production plant. However, the size also ranges depending on the kind of production under consideration. Besides being small in size, these facilities also present a high level of flexibility. That means that they can be changed more easily to suit different situations.
These facilities are so simple to construct and they can be built in a laboratory. Simple equipment such as stock lab equipment can be used for construction. In cases where these facilities a state of the art or a complicated facility is needed then one will need an engineer. Hiring an engineer has always proven to be very expensive. The materials used for construction are also very hard to produce since they are special and hard to produce.
In managing the risk, such plants pay a significant role. Firms are able to mitigate the dangers that come with creating big process plants. However much these facilities are vital, firms do not often used them in all states. An example is a firm that is yearning to enlarge what they produce. Such firm may prefer to continue creating a process plant directly instead of having a pilot system.
The need for these facilities is also reducing gradually due to the development of more advanced process simulation on computer systems. More advanced process simulation increases the confidence of process designers, which in essence reduces the need for pilot systems. However, it is still possible to use both pilot systems as well as process simulation.
Designing these systems can be a very complex process. It takes a lot of engineering and knowledge to produce a plant that achieves optimal results. Companies invest huge amounts of money to achieve success with these facilities.
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