WP8 Open Access Backbone Facility
WP8 will demonstrate the effectiveness of the F³ Factory concept by operating demonstration processes on an open access F³ Factory Backbone Facility (INVITE) at Chempark, Leverkusen. A handbook of standards, guidelines and protocols for the development of F³ Factory processes and the construction of F³ Factory Process Equipment Assemblies and Containers will be published to facilitate the wider uptake of F³ Factory processes and plant.
INVITE backbone facility to shorten innovation lead times
F³ Factory is an important large scale demonstrator project. Processes developed in the proposed standardized infrastructure will be demonstrated in a common large scale backbone facility.
This facility will be provided by INVITE - a 50/50 joint venture company established in 2010 between the Technical University of Dortmund and Bayer Technology Services.
Initially, INVITE will provide the infrastructure for demonstrating the new F³ Factory production concept across seven industrial case studies. It will also take the F³ Factory vision beyond the project duration by providing an open research center for developing and demonstrating future manufacturing technologies.
The backbone facility will allow three different process equipment containers (PECs) to be developed, tested and operated in parallel. Additional facilities include laboratory space, offices and a lecture room.
Joint research/demonstration facility will speed up innovation
The INVITE facility will also carry out publicly funded projects and contract research as well as its own research. It will be open to the public and supported by events and lectures. TU Dortmund will also use INVITE to run new courses as part of their education programme for engineers.
This combination of a joint research/demonstration facility for industry and academia - with access to a full industrial infrastructure - will help shorten innovation periods significantly.
The F³ Factory “Plug-and-Produce” concept
Process Equipment Assembly (PEA) - the smallest modular element, a PEA wraps process equipment items associated with one or more process tasks.
Process Equipment Containers (PEC) - this is the superstructure that holds one or more docked PEAs in position and provides them with required services.
Backbone Plant - is equipped with standardized connections to enable one or more docked PECs to interface with:
- Piping for utilities
- Electricity supply
- Accurate infrastructure
- Global process control
Process equipment (either intensified or traditional) will be supplied with standardized connections that can be easily mounted into PEA’s and/or PEC’s as required. The plant services and ancillary equipment will be modularized and standardized by suppliers according to ranges of operating conditions.
The flexible, rapid mounting and dismounting of PEAs and PECs enabled by these standard interfaces should offer:
- a higher capital utilisation rate for the backbone facilities
- a higher return on capital investment
