Processing unit and use of a plurality of processing units

Abstract

Processing unit for assisting and/or performing a processing basic operation for a chemical reaction, with an operating unit for preparing a contribution for the processing basic operation and a frame for accommodating the operating units, the frame having an extension d.sub.L in the longitudinal direction which corresponds substantially to an integral multiple Z.sub.L of an integral portion N.sub.L of an extension L.sub.L, in the longitudinal direction of an interior of a standard transport container, in accordance with DIN ISO 668, and/or the frame having an extension d.sub.Q in the transverse direction with corresponds substantially to an integral multiple Z.sub.Q of an integral portion N.sub.Q of an extension L.sub.Q in the transverse direction of an interior of a standard transport container, in particular in accordance with DIN ISO 668, wherein different processing units can be stored in a pool for different processing basic operations and be assembled in modular and flexible manner in the standard transport container for the synthesis of a given chemical product.

Claims

1. A processing unit for supporting and/or carrying out a process engineering unit operation for a chemical reaction, having an operating unit (24) for providing a contribution to the process engineering unit operation a frame (22) for accommodating the operating unit (24), and, a wastewater conduit (38) having at least two tube flanges provided within the frame (22) below the operating unit (24); wherein the wastewater conduit (38) is optionally connected to the operating unit; wherein the frame (22) has an extension d.sub.L in the longitudinal direction which corresponds substantially to an integral multiple Z.sub.L of an integral portion N.sub.L of an extension L.sub.L in the longitudinal direction of an interior of a standard transport container (10), as specified in DIN ISO 668, and/or the frame (22) has an extension d.sub.Q in the transverse direction which corresponds substantially to an integral multiple Z.sub.Q of an integral portion N.sub.Q of an extension L.sub.Q in the transverse direction of an interior of a standard transport container (10), as specified in DIN ISO 668.

2. The processing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame (22) has a height d.sub.H which corresponds substantially to an integral multiple Z.sub.H of the integral portion N.sub.L of the extension L.sub.L in the longitudinal direction or of the integral portion N.sub.Q of the extension L.sub.Q in the transverse direction of the interior of the standard transport container (10).

3. The processing unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the minimal extension d.sub.min of the frame (22) in the longitudinal direction and/or in the transverse direction for a total extension L of the interior of the standard transport container (10) in the longitudinal direction and/or in the transverse direction and an integral division N, taking into account a clearance S is determined according to d.sub.min=(L(N+1)S/N, wherein 1 mmS50 mm.

4. The processing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the minimal extension d.sub.L,min of the frame (22) in the longitudinal direction corresponds substantially to the minimal extension d.sub.Q,min of the frame (22) in the transverse direction, wherein the minimal height d.sub.H,min of the frame (22) corresponds substantially to the minimal extension d.sub.L,min of the frame (22) in the longitudinal direction and/or the minimal extension d.sub.Q,min of the frame (22) in the transverse direction.

5. The processing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one conveying unit (42) that is connected to the operating unit (24) or is unconnected to the operating unit (24) is provided for material transport from and/or to an adjacent processing unit (12).

6. The processing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame (22) is connected to a base (26), wherein the base (26) is positioned via feet (32) spaced apart from the substrate for fastening to a substrate.

7. The processing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein measuring appliances (30) that are connected to the operating unit (24) are provided beneath the operating unit (24) for operation of the operating unit (24).

8. The processing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein an interface module (34) that is connected to the operating unit (24) is provided above the operating unit (24) for the accommodation of material and/or energy and/or information.

9. A production system for carrying out a chemical reaction comprising a plurality of processing units (12) as claimed in claim 1 that are connected to one another directly or indirectly in a shared standard transport container (10), as specified in DIN ISO 668.

10. The production system as claimed in claim 9 wherein at least one of the wastewater conduits is connected to at least one of the plurality of processing units.

11. The production system as claimed in claim 10 wherein at least one of the wastewater conduits is connected to at least two of the plurality of processing units.

12. The processing unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wastewater conduit (38) is connected to the operating unit.

13. The processing unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wastewater conduit (38) is not connected to the operating unit.

14. The processing unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame (22) has an extension d.sub.L in the longitudinal direction which corresponds substantially to an integral multiple Z.sub.L of an integral portion N.sub.L of an extension L.sub.L in the longitudinal direction of an interior of a standard transport container (10), as specified in DIN ISO 668.

15. The processing unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame (22) has an extension d.sub.Q in the transverse direction which corresponds substantially to an integral multiple Z.sub.Q of an integral portion N.sub.Q of an extension L.sub.Q in the transverse direction of an interior of a standard transport container (10), as specified in DIN ISO 668.

16. The processing unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein the clearance S ranges between 2 mmS30 mm.

17. The processing unit as claimed in claim 16 wherein the clearance S ranges between 3 mmS20 mm.

18. The processing unit as claimed in claim 17 wherein the clearance S ranges between 4 mmS15 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1: shows a schematic perspective conceptual view of a standard transport container,

(2) FIG. 2: shows a schematic perspective conceptual view of the standard transport container of FIG. 1 having different conceptionally shown processing units,

(3) FIG. 3: shows a schematic perspective view of one example of a processing unit for the standard transport container of FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 4: shows a schematic perspective view of a lower region of a processing unit for the standard transport container of FIG. 1, and

(5) FIG. 5: shows a schematic perspective view of a support region of a processing unit for the standard transport container of FIG. 1.

(6) An interior of the standard transport container 10 of the 1C type as specified in DIN ISO 668 shown in FIG. 1 has, in the longitudinal direction, an extension of L.sub.L=5867 mm, in the transverse direction an extension L.sub.Q=2300 mm, and a height of L.sub.H=2197 mm. The extension L.sub.L is subdivided in the longitudinal direction into N.sub.L=10 substantially equally-sized notional logical units, in such a manner that for each logical unit a section in the longitudinal direction of substantially d.sub.L,min=570 mm results. The extension L.sub.Q in the transverse direction is subdivided into N.sub.Q=4 substantially equally-sized notional logical units, in such a manner that for each logical unit a section in the transverse direction of likewise substantially d.sub.Q,min=570 mm results. As shown in FIG. 2, in the interior of the standard transport container 10, a plurality of processing units 12 can be arranged, which are oriented according to the notional stepwise increment of the standard transport container 10. This means that each of the processing units 12 provided has, in the longitudinal direction, an extension of d.sub.L, and in the transverse direction, an extension of d.sub.Q, which in each case is substantially an integral multiple of d.sub.L,min, or d.sub.Q,min, respectively. For the processing unit 12, in addition, a minimal height of d.sub.H,min=570 mm is preset, in such a manner that the smallest processing unit 12 has the height of a cube having an edge length of 570 mm. The dimensions of larger processing unit 12 used substantially correspond to an integral multiple of this cube.

(7) By selecting the minimum height for the processing unit 12 of d.sub.H,min=570 mm, for the processing unit 12, a maximum height can be provided which can be a multiple of d.sub.H,min by the factor Z.sub.H32 3, in order still to fit into the interior of the standard transport container 10. As a result, there remains, in the exemplary embodiment shown, an upper region having a height of 460 mm. This region is large enough in order to provide there a supply grid 14 which, at virtually any desired position within the standard transport container 10, can supply the respective processing unit 12 overhead with material, energy and/or information. The upper region is particularly free from parts of the processing unit 12. However, it is possible that the supply grid 14 leaves sufficient volume free in the upper region that a processing unit 12 can protrude into the volume of the upper region left free. The supply grid extends, in particular, over a volume at an end face 16 of the standard transport container 10 which corresponds to the predetermined stepwise increment, or can have an extension deviating therefrom in the longitudinal direction. At this end face 16 of the standard transport container 10, a multicoupling 18 connected to the supply grid can be provided, via which the standard transport container 10 can be docked to a docking station 20. The docking station 20 can in turn be connected to a backbone structure with which material, energy and/or information can be exchanged via the multicoupling 18 and the docking station 20. In particular, the standard transport container 10 can be supplied thereby with sufficient material, energy and/or information to carry out a chemical reaction using the processing unit 12 provided in the standard transport container 10. The products and/or residues and wastes can be optionally fed after the chemical reaction has been carried out, via the multicoupling 18 and/or to the multicoupling 18, to separate connections and the docking station 20 of the backbone structure. In particular, it is possible to carry out the chemical reaction within the standard transport container 10 autonomously, that is to say the standard transport container 10 can be positioned separately from the docking station 20 when the chemical reaction, in particular a chemical batch reaction and/or a continuous reaction, is carried out.

(8) The processing unit 12 shown in FIG. 3 has a frame 22 which limits the extension of the processing unit 12 in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction. An operating unit 24 is inserted into the frame 22, which operating unit 24 is configured, for example, as a reactor or stirred tank. Below the operating unit 24, there is provided, between the operating unit 24 and a base 26 connected to the frame 22, a support region 28 in which support apparatuses, for example measuring instruments 30 for monitoring and/or controlling operating parameters of the operating unit 24 are arranged. Feet 32 are connected to the base 26 and/or to the frame 22, via which feet the frame 22 and thereby the processing unit 12 can be fixed in the standard transport container 10. Above the operating unit 24 is provided an interface module 34, via which the operating unit 24 can be connected to the supply grid 14. In particular, the interface module 34 contains the controller and process-control technology provided for operating the operating unit 24, wherein, in particular, information on the status of the operating unit 24 can be transmitted via the interface module to the supply grid 14, in order to permit access to this information for further processing units 12. A mass transfer between the operating unit 24 and the supply grid 14 can proceed, for example, via piping 36 that can be connected to one another.

(9) As shown in FIG. 4, in the support region 28, in particular a wastewater conduit 38 can be provided which need not necessarily be connected to the operating unit 24 of the processing unit 12 shown. The wastewater conduit 38 can have at two or more points a tube flange 40, via which the wastewater conduit 38 can be connected to a corresponding wastewater conduit 38 of an adjacent processing unit 12. This permits wastewater, product, or other materials to be transported from a processing unit 12 via wastewater conduits 38 connected to one another through a plurality of processing units 12 to an intended site. As shown in FIG. 5, for this purpose, the processing unit 12, in particular a plurality of, or even all of the processing units provided in the standard transport container 10, have a conveying unit 42, for example a pump. The conveying unit 42 can compensate in particular for pressure drops occurring temporarily in the wastewater conduit 38. In addition, in the support region 28, a support unit can be provided in the form of a filter appliance 44, for example in order to free a product from undesired solid particles.