Page 22 - CW E-Magazine (Oct-Nov-2023)

Flow Chemistry

While these numbers seem signifi- clude novel compact designs, generat- While a few Indian industries ex-
cant, and many large investments are ing highly configurable skids. ist in this domain, the sensitivity of
due, it is necessary to aim for the fol- sensors and the sensors that have a
lowing as the country marches into the In general, there is a huge import wider ability for different composi-
era of continuous manufacturing. It is dependence on the equipment and com- tions need to be improved signifi-
utmost necessary to: ponents used in flow chemistry space. cantly.
* Have clean processes & clean It is absolutely necessary to fill that * Online moisture detectors: In many
plants (as the next generation of ex- gap and make all instruments that are processes we need to monitor mois-
isting industries would prefer that digitally communicable and compatible ture forming in the reaction or
way and has more sense of sustain- with the latest technologies. A few spe- moisture-free solvents; here also we
ability); cific requirements include: have to depend on foreign manufac-
* Smaller footprint; * Precision pumping systems: The turers.
* Green synthesis; laboratory scale high pressure * Filters and filtration media: We do
* Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), as piston pumps are very expensive not have sufficient manufactures to
well as No Discharge Plants (NDP); import-dependent items (over few supply filtration media in the form
* Energy efficient processes; hundred pumps every year). These of sheet and cartridges of the re-
* Processes from renewable chemi- cannot be avoided due to their abil- quired pore size. Even the options
cals (biomanufacturing); ity to withstand pressure, precision for continuous filtration are limited.
* Solvent-free processes; dosing, durability and consistency
* Implementation of augmented plat- for long period operation and digi- This is only a limited list that hasn’t
forms; and tally controlled even for remote op- yet looked into the in-line flow meters,
* Have highly trained people for next erations from some distance away. sensors, non-contact measurement sys-
generation technologies. At this moment, this space is almost tems and the plethora of process ana-
open and it is urgently needed for lytical tools.
Opportunities developing made-in-India piston
The field of CFS has been evolving pumps. While a few industries exist Virtual space
in India over last decade and is expected in the manufacturing and supply of Another major opportunity exists in
to reach a peak in 8-10 years. However, diaphragm pumps, gear pumps and the development and implementation
in general, for our chemical industry syringe pumps, yet the import de- of augmented platforms that can help
to move significantly into continuous pendence only for the sake of qual- develop digital twins using AI & ML. A
manufacturing space, it is absolutely ity is little on higher side. few innovative industries and start-ups
essential to have all the necessary back- * Flow control and measurement sys- are already in this domain; however,
bone infrastructure, which itself opens tems: While developing continuous the opportunity space is huge in terms
a huge opportunity for the peripheral system the main hurdle is again of hardware (sensors and control pan-
industry. Broadly, the opportunities in flow control and measurement. For els), as well as soft tools.
the domain of CFS can be categorized: feeding specific volume of gas and
as (i) opportunities in physical space; sometime saturated gases the need Chemical space
(ii) chemical production space; and (iii) of mass flow controllers cannot The import dependence related un-
augmented space. be avoided. These are of different certainty as well as outlook of the world
types: thermal, Coriolis, ultrasonic, at large towards the Indian chemi-
Physical space magnetic, etc. We have to depend cal industry as a reliable and robust
In the physical space, which means on foreign countries for these type source of intermediates, has brought
the physical infrastructure, opportuni- of equipment, and replacements can an altogether new opportunity. While
ties are in (i) Process equipment (reac- cause significant delays in opera- most of these are in the domains such
tors, static mixers, compact separation tions. as fluorochemicals, organometallic
devices, etc.); (ii) Back-bone infra- * Toxic gas detectors and sensors: compounds, agrochemical intermedi-
structure (viz., dosing systems, pumps, Working with toxic chemicals and ates, niche polymeric materials etc.,
MFCs, peripheral equipment, trans- gases we always need sensors that there is a huge scope for getting into
mitters for temperature, pressure, pH, indicates threshold limit of the gas new molecules & materials that are low
etc., utility systems, microwaves, BPR, escaping the atmosphere and give volume and high value. Many of these
etc.); (iii) modular plants/skids that in- alarm if it is beyond the safe limit. use advanced technologies and need

18 Chemical Weekly October / November 2023