Search

Pilot and demonstration plants (PDPs) play important roles in technological development. They represent bridges between basic knowledge generation and technological breakthroughs on the one hand, and industrial application and commercial adoption on the other. The objectives of this article are to synthesise and categorise existing research on PDPs, as well as to suggest an agenda for future research. We review the PDP phenomena in three literature streams: engineering and natural science research, technology and innovation management, and innovation systems. The analysis highlights clear differences in e.g. conceptions of system boundaries and what the literature streams seeks to accomplish, but also similarities such as the key ideas of using PDPs for technology scale-up and uncertainty reduction.

In the period 2009–2012 Evides conducted extensive research with an open intake UF-SWRO desalination demonstration plant in the Oosterschelde area, Netherlands. Major attention was devoted to the performance of ultrafiltration (UF) as pre-treatment. It was established that in the period from July to March, i.e. outside Spring, limited UF fouling occurred and the UF could be operated continuously without coagulation and at limited chemical consumption. However, during the period April–June, UF fouling rate (i.e. permeability decline) increased severely. This coincided with the occurrence of algal bloom, as manifested by peak levels of algal count, chlorophyll and transparent exopolymer particles (TEP, as measured by Unesco-IHE). During the algal bloom, implementation of inline coagulation by ferric chloride was required. In 2010, coagulation was conducted by dosing in the UF buffer tank. However, UF operation appeared unstable, requiring increased coagulant doses (1–4 mg Fe/L). In Spring 2011, the...

Evides Water Company is conducting extensive test work in an open intake ultrafiltration reverse osmosis (UF-RO) sea water desalination demonstration plant in the Oosterschelde area, South-Western Netherlands. Efficacy of chemically enhanced backwash (CEB) and coagulant in maintaining UF permeability were studied. It appeared that long CEB intervals (>3 – >7 d) and hence low chemical consumptions were attained for the period July–February without coagulant and at moderate flux (55 l m−2 h−1). For the period March–June, UF fouling accelerated, shortening CEB interval to 0.5 d. For 4 weeks in April–May severe UF fouling rendered operation without coagulant practically impossible. Therefore, coagulation was still required to overcome that period, whereas for the remainder of time (i.e., 90%) no benefit of coagulation became yet apparent, neither in filtrate quality, nor in UF operation. Observed UF fouling coincided with algal bloom, whereas raw water turbidity up to 50 FTU did not affect UF perform...

This paper describes the piloting process that was behind Australian Magnesium Corporation Limited decision to build a 97 000 t per annum magnesium smelter near Rockhampton in Queensland, Australia in 2001.Before the engineering design for this smelter, Australian Magnesium Corporation Ltd had completed an extensive piloting program. This involved a batch minipilot plant in 1993 which was followed by a continuous minipilot plant which operated for eight months in 1994. Finally, a 1500 t per annum demonstration plant was built and operated at Gladstone in Queensland between 1998 and 2002. The minipilot plants assessed the stability of the chemicals used in the process, the solvent losses, the crystallisation yields and also tested the viability of operations previously only tested on a laboratory scale. The demonstration plant was designed to evaluate the complete integration of the process, assess the effectiveness of the selected industrial scale equipment and materials of construction while prov...

A new advanced treatment system, which consists of biological nutrient removal process combined with reduction of excess sludge by ozonation and phosphorus recovery by crystallization and polishing-up ozonation process, was developed based on the fundamental studies and demonstrated by the demonstration plant set in AICHI EXPO 2005. Reduction of withdrawn excess sludge by 90% and phosphorus recovery by 70% were accomplished without any adverse effects on biological nutrient removal. The concentrations of SS, BOD, T-P and T-N in the effluent were less than 1.0, 3.0, 0.5 and 10 mg/L, respectively. EDCs were reduced to almost undetectable level and 2-log disinfection of Bacillus subtilis was established. The energy amount required for the operation was saved by 40% when compared with a conventional system to get the same level of water quality.

The Fusion Council of Japan has established the long-term program for the development of blanket in 1999. In the program, the solid breeder blanket was selected as the primary candidate blanket of the fusion power demonstration plant in Japan, while liquid breeder blankets and high temperature solid breeder blanket have been identified as the attractive advanced blanket. Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) is leading the development of solid breeder blankets, while, universities and National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) are developing the advanced blankets for potential options of the fusion power demonstration plant and commercial power plants. ITER blanket module testing is regarded as one of the most important milestones, by which integrity of candidate blanket design is qualified for the fusion power demonstration plant, together with material irradiation data by International Fusion Material Irradiation Facility (IFMIF). Japan is investigating the possibility of testing all types of blankets under TBWG framework with both of JAERI and universities/NIFS involvements. This paper presents a plan and strategy for the development of test blanket modules and ITER blanket module testing in Japan.

The ZEWA process converts blends of industrial waste materials and residues into hot metal and mineral products such as hydraulic binders for cement production, metallurgical powders for desulphurisation practices or materials suitable for road construction, through high temperature smelting reduction carried out in a specially designed reactor. In 11 test campaigns at a demonstration plant at Vitkovice Steelworks in the Czech Republic, the technical and economical feasibility of generating hot metal and useful mineral products from the residues of carbon steel and stainless steel production has been proven.

Drying of forestry biomass in a rotary dryer has been performed. The raw material used was Erica Arborea belonging to the ever-green, broad leaves ecosystem which covers Central Greece and other Mediterranean countries. The study was part of a project concerning a Greek biomass pyrolysis demonstration plant where drying of biomass is very important in the contribution to the global energy balance and product yields of pyrolysis. The study includes two parts. First, the experimental part concerns the influence of air flowrate, temperature, rotation speed and inclination of a laboratory rotary dryer to biomass residence time and biomass outlet moisture content. The second part concerns the development of a mathematical model for biomass drying in a rotary dryer. Experimental measurements in a rotary dryer were compared to the data from the model, in order to check the validity of the model.

The ACTF installed in the 71-MW PFBC demonstration plant at Wakamatsu Power Station of Electric Power Development Co., Ltd (EPDC) is the first demonstration scale ceramic filter system for high-tem...

The PRENFLO pressurised entrained—flow gasification process is now close to commercial application. A demonstration plant was operated in Furstenhausen, Germany for more than 10 000 hours and const...

The PRENFLO coal gasification process and experience from the Furstenhausen demonstration plant in Germany are described. The PRENFLO process, a further development of the Koppers-Totzek process, is based on the entrained-flow principle with dry fuel dust feeding. Experience from the two demonstration plants in Hamburg and Furstenhausen supplied the main data for the first commercial-size PRENFLO plant for Elcogas, S.A., in Puertollano, Spain. With a net electrical output of 300 MW the Puertollano plant is the world's highest capacity combined-cycle power plant based on coal. In particular, some results from the 1992 test programme in the Furstenhausen plant are presented.

An electrodialysis (ED) desalination system powered by photovoltaic (PV) cells was developed. The 25 kW PV-ED demonstration plant was accomplished in March 1986 and has been actually operating since June 1986. By evaluation of the long term actual operating data, we confirmed the reliability of this system and the ED method is one of the solutions for utilizing varying DC-power of PV-cells. We developed the Partially Desalinated Water (PDW) storing system for sea water desalination by solar energy and its concept will be expanded to another technology. Next stage, we have been developing the 65 kW PV-ED system for brackish water desalination system. This plant was constructed in March 1990 and has been operating since July 1990.

In 1989, a coal-to-gasoline pilot plant was installed and operated successfully in China, and a dry desulfurization process was used in this plant. This paper presents an overview of the dry deaulfurization process. It includes design and operation of the process, and a description of ST801, T305 adsorbents and TGH COS hydrolysis catalyst. In addition, the desulfurization process used in a planned demonstration plant scheduled for completion in 1991 is presented.

The fuel rod modeling codes IAMBUS and COMETHE were used in the analysis and interpretation of postirradiation examination results of mixed-oxide fuel pins. These codes were developed in the framework of the SNR-300 research and development (R and D) program at Interatom and Belgonucleaire, respectively. SNR-300 is a liquid-metal fast breeder reactor demonstration plant designed and presently constructed in consortial cooperation by Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. RAPSODIE I, the two-bundle irradiation experiment, was irradiated in the French test FBR RAPSODIE FORTISSIMO and is one of the key irradiation experiments within the SNR-300 R and D program. The comparison of code predictions with postirradiation examination results concentrates on clad diameter expansions, clad total axial elongations, fuel differential and total axial elongations, fuel restructuring, and fission gas release. Fuel rod modeling was considered in the light of benchmarking of the codes, and there was consideration of fuel rod design for operation at low and high burnup.

Prior to construction, the modular steam generator of the French 250-MW(e) fast breeder demonstration plant (Phenix) was submitted to a number of tests carried out on scale-one module mockups. The ...

Designand construction specifications of a 3 mgd (12, 187 m3/day) demonstration plant to treat water by ozonation followed by diatomaceous earth (DE) filtration at New York City's Jerome Park Reservoir are described. The primary treatment objectives are to maintain a treated water quality of turbidity below 0.2 NTU, color below 3 color units, and iron and manganese below 0.3 mg/L. Three process trains will be employed, each operating at a maximum of 1 mgd (3,786 m3/day), to test variousmodificationsof theozone/DE process. The demonstration plant is scheduled to operate approximately one year, beginning in April 1986, to provide data for a full-scale plant to be constructed later in the decade.

Biomethanation of algae is an elegant way to convert solar energy into a chemical fuel, i.e. methane. The microbiological process of methanogenesis is leading to a reliable technology. Favorable running conditions were elicited by experiments at the laboratory scale. The process is being developed at the 1-m/sup 3/ scale at Lamezia (Italy). From these experiments, conceptual parameters for a full-scale demonstration plant are calculated.

The benchmark experiments, performed in a plutonium-fueled critical assembly (ZPR-6 Assembly 7) in support of the fast reactor demonstration plant program, were used, in conjunction with a statisti...

The current concept for the Westinghouse LMFBR steam generator is of the single-tube once-through type and incorporates both the evaporator and superheater in a common containment.Selection of a si...

Summary A description is given of a series of studies undertaken at the Department of Agriculture's Poultry Demonstration Plant to evolve an optimum test procedure for the nutritional value of commercial poultry feeds. It shows how a logical sequence of small trials, each designed on information obtained in the preceding one, can economically provide the estimates of means and variances required in setting up a suitable test procedure which will have its probability of error below a given level. The programme has been completed for chick feeds, and the preliminary work for a test on feeds for adult birds is also described.