Pilot Plant » Capabilities

Our equipment and proven engineering expertise guarantee results

Pilot Plant

Whether you want to pilot a new process or improve an existing one, our pilot plant will be custom-configured to test the process with your proprietary application.

For every test, we conduct thorough pre-test planning. Our engineers work closely with you to develop a testing protocol. During all testing, our state-of-the-art control system ensures the process is accurately controlled and fully documented.

We begin with bench-scale feasibility tests to determine if our equipment is right for your process. We then move up to pilot-scale testing to collect data for design, scale-up, operation, and integration into your process.

Depending on your specific application, we will build a single or multi-step process which may include our Rototherm®, Evaporator/Stripper™, or a distillation column with packing or Dualflo® trays. We can even set up high-vacuum distillation with thin/wiped film evaporation and stripping in a single process.

We can perform reactions, both batch and continuous, and concurrently test the appropriate post-reaction unit operations to produce the finished product. Our pilot plant can also accommodate additional upstream or downstream unit operations like centrifuges, coalescers, belt coolers, pelletizers, extruders, etc.

When testing is complete, you will leave the pilot plant with a fully optimized process, product samples, documentation, and actual first-hand experience.

Pilot plant capabilities

  • Process throughputs from 10 to 500 lb/hr, depending on the specific process
  • Hot water, steam and hot oil available as heat transfer medium, up to 650 °F
  • Chilling capabilities down to 30 °F
  • Vacuum capabilities to 0.1 mm Hg absolute
  • 7 functioning VFD’s for precise motor control of pumps and other process equipment
  • 80 and 60 gallon agitated feed tanks/reactors, capable of mixing solutions of differing rheologies
  • Various pumps including progressive cavity, gear, diaphragm, centrifugal and peristaltic for handling a wide range of fluid types
  • Opto 22 control system with direct and cascade controlling capabilities
  • Real-time Data acquisition and logging of over 50 process variables in a single setup
  • Karl Fisher Titrator, moisture analyzer, precision balances, fume hood and common laboratory glassware onsite for use during pilot trials
  • Laboratory space available for onsite analytical testing, including gases and connections for GC and HPLC instruments
  • Relationships with local laboratories for off-site analytical testing
Pilot plant process equipment

The Artisan pilot plant facilities offer a range of proprietary equipment including:

  • Artisan Rototherm® horizontally agitated thin-film evaporators: stainless steel units with ¼, ½, 1, and 2 square feet of heat transfer area.
  • Artisan Evaporator/Stripper™: 2” inside tube diameter, 13-tray stainless steel modules that can be combined to as many as 52 disc & tube trays.
  • Artisan Dualflo® tray column: 4” diameter glass column with up to 15 trays
  • Packed Columns: 4” to 6” diameter stainless steel columns with up to 12 feet of packing. A variety of structured packing is available for up to 40 theoretical stages.