Description

This pilot plant is a skid-mounted, modular unit designed for the flexible and safe production of low- to mid-molecular-weight polyesters at pilot scale. With a typical capacity of approximately 50 kg per batch, the unit provides an industrially representative platform for process development, optimization, and scale-up. Fully assembled and tested prior to delivery, the skid-mounted design minimizes on-site installation time and ensures rapid project deployment. The process is based on a multi step batch operation. In the first step, a base ester is produced in a loop reactor through controlled esterification of acids and glycols. Efficient heat transfer and mixing are ensured by a circulating loop equipped with pumps, heat exchangers, and a separator vessel. Reaction water is continuously removed using an integrated distillation column, driving the reaction to completion and enabling alcohol recovery and recycle for improved efficiency 
In further steps, the base ester is converted into polyester by gradually reducing pressure and adjusting operating conditions to initiate polymerization. The process allows precise control of molecular weight, supported by online analytical tools that define the reaction endpoint. Multiple hot oil circuits provide accurate temperature control across the reactor, piping, and distillation systems, ensuring stable and reproducible operation.