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From Bench to Production
We follow a systematic staged approach that minimises your risks and
delivers rapid process implementation. Below are details usually associated
with each stage.
Concept
Don't be afraid to talk to us...we are dealing with concepts all the
time and have enough implementation experience to recognise winners.
| Advantages |
All novel ideas come to us via mental concepts. |
| Details |
In a matter of a few minutes we can broadly determine your concepts;
a) Technical feasibility,
b) Capital estimate.
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Feasibility(stage I)
Look before you leap...we have done hundreds of feasibility studies
and know the key engineering parameters required and where their values
should lie.
| Advantages |
Clear go/no go point. |
| Details |
Within 1 or 2 weeks work, we can quanitify your key engineering
parameters and the likely-hood of project success. A series of trials
are undertaken that can determine;
a) Energy requirements,
b) Optimum frequency,
c) Applicator concept,
d) Process advantages,
e) Time/temperature profiles,
f) Capital requirements.
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Prototype - Pilot(stage II)
Steady as you go...there is a big gap between a successful feasibility
study and a successful industrial application. Use our equipment to
pilot your process, we have many microwave generators and high throughput
applicators to enable process fine tuning prior to full scale implementation.
| Advantages |
Financial risk is reduced and a thorough process understanding gained
before jumping in. |
| Details |
Large scale trials aways highlight the important process issues.
A series of high power trials are undertaken that usually result
in a firming of engineering designs such as;
a) Materials handling
b) Microwave applicator
c) Control system
d) Risk analysis
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Implementation(stage III)
Ready to leap...although by this time all the uncertainities have been
dealt with during stage II and the job is now to build and commission
your process machine
| Advantages |
These will include some of the following;
1. Reduced energy usage
2. Volumetric heating
3. Instantaneous control
4. Selective heating
5. Easily obtainable high temperatures
6. Clean energy transfer
7. Drive chemical reactions
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| Details |
AMT will give you a fixed price for the plant design, construction
and commissioning. |
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Insight
Going from concept to production requires the jumping of some
major and minor hurdles. Once the major hurdles, such as economics,
material loss tangent and value adding via trials are dealt
with, the system prototype can be given consideration.
The minor challenges in scale-up are usually
material based and primarily involve issues that are not directly
microwave engineering related. Its these minor challenges that
can be the most difficult to pin down.
The directly relatable microwave issues can be isolated and
solutions usually found. Some of these are, a frequency change
resulting in, unexpected penetration depths and new loss mechanisms,
higher electric field densities and uneven heating, final applicator
design and impedance matching. These issues are seldom given
appropriate consideration by the applied researcher. Thought
should however be given early on to these issues, to ensure
research progresses in a direction that can realise a practical
outcome.
Temperature measurement is sometimes an
issue that requires a practical solution.
The economics should be understood from
the word go and a few simple rules will ensure that projects
proceed knowing that only achievable technical challenges lie
ahead.
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