Compressor boosts penicillin fermenter prodution
15 Jan 2000
Synpac Pharmaceuticals has boosted penicillin production at its plant in Bedlington, Northumberland, with the help of an Atlas Copco HR9 centrifugal compressor. The two-stage unit, operating 24h a day, plays a vital role in the production process, providing compressed area to the fermentation tanks to promote the growth of penicillin.
The HR9 is the latest and one of the largest of three compressors supplying the fermenters. Driven at 1500rpm by a close-coupled 2MW ABB motor, it operates at a flow rate of 491m3/min, taking air at atmospheric pressure and compressing it to an outlet pressure of 2.25-2.5bar. An aftercooler reduces the air temperature from 75 C to 60 C. A 16in outlet pipe links to the 36in main header.
'Increased output from the plant and elimination of the annual shutdown meant that we had to increase our compressed air supply to run at full capacity around the clock,' says Synpac's assistant engineer Bill Hutchinson.
