The Falcon filtration robot assistant from Cambridge Reactor Design collects all the data needed to deliver understanding of filtration and washing processes by combining machine vision with robotics.
Isolation of solids is a major bottleneck in many production processes; however, the unit operations involved are not always thoroughly investigated during process development.
The Falcon was designed in conjunction with scientists at Glaxosmithkline to automate the studies required to fully explore filtration and washing operations, offering both the capability and the capacity needed to deliver process understanding.
Filtration studies can be performed to provide information on cake resistance, cake compressibility and liquor viscosity in order to optimise the isolation procedure, predict processing times on scale-up and aid equipment selection.
Washing studies generate additional process understanding by identifying effective and efficient wash regimes for removal of impurities while minimising product loss and solvent usage.
Optimisation of the final wash solvent composition can reduce the impact on the drying process.
The combined outcome of these studies is improved processes, better scheduling and minimised bottlenecks.
On-board machine vision is used in a variety ways within the system.
As well as capturing images of key procedures and generating information on rate of change, the data gathered is used for critical real-time decision making, whereby the next steps in the process are determined via automated feedback loops.
Equally suited to facilitating process optimisation, generating process understanding or troubleshooting, Falcon gives the capability and capacity to gain insight into the parameters affecting filtration and washing.
