Moving to Modular

FIGURE 1. This modular system comprising three reactions steps and nine distillation steps — a complete chemical production process — was designed and constructed off-site in a controlled environment as modules[/caption] If the word “modular” brings to mind a trailer office parked on site, it’s time to revisit modular systems. Today’s modular system go well beyond office space and tool sheds, and can contain almost anything from a skid-mounted filtration system to a cleanroom laboratory to a petroleum refinery, which is built elsewhere and delivered as a complete unit to a site, where it is then erected. And, large modular process systems, especially, are impressive feats of engineering. For example, according to Brian Loftus, contracts manager at Koch Modular Process Systems (Paramus, N.J.; www.modularprocess.com), which designs, plans and builds large-scale modular mass-transfer systems, a typical modular process system of this type includes all of the process equipment, such as columns, reactors, heat exchangers and pumps, mounted within a structural steel frame. After the process equipment is installed within its frame in the shop, the piping components, field instrumentation and electrical wiring are completed. Items…