Hi mooter-
Here's what happens when you try to fire up the real production line:
The process of making this product is very solvent intensive. many of these solvents are hydrocarbons and thus flammable. going back in history, this is what bit this company the first time. A boom boom making the product. This time around, the safety of the line is a big factor and systems are installed to protect the process from exploding again. The best way I can explain this is to say picture gasoline being whipped around in a long enclosed chamber at high temperatures with lots of static sparks...well, that's called the combusiton triangle. Get all three ingredients mixed at the right levels and kaboom!
In addition, solvent vapors cannot be simply vented tot he atmosphere. That's an environmental no no. So, this time around, the boys and girls at VLNC are taking a much more prudent approach to safety and the environment. When the production lines are finished they will be tested DRY, no solvents and then debugged. When the engineers feel they have completed this task, they will be ready to go WET. That's where I beleive we are now. THIS WEEK is when we are supposed to throw the "gasoline" into the line and see how we go. If the safety systems are in place, there shouldn't be a problem.
I've seen this type of application hundreds and hundreds of times in the past. When you make paint, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, flammable solvents are frequently used. I feel very strongly that the system being installed is sound, but we don't run the production lines (although some of us on this thread wish we could).
When I hear how it goes (if it indeed goes this week), i'll be updating the team...even my deepest critics who think that what I am posting is BS. No biggie...can't blame them, they don't know me.
Your posts are excellent. Thank you.
HC |
