Global Patent Index - EP 1656595 A1

EP 1656595 A1 20060517 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUSLY CONTROLLING A CRYSTALLISATION PROCESS IN A REACTION MEDIUM

Title (en)

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUSLY CONTROLLING A CRYSTALLISATION PROCESS IN A REACTION MEDIUM

Title (de)

VERFAHREN UND EINRICHTUNG ZUR KONTINUIERLICHEN STEUERUNG EINES KRISTALLISIERUNGSPROZESSES IN EINEM REAKTIONSMEDIUM

Title (fr)

PROCEDE ET DISPOSITIF POUR LE PILOTAGE EN CONTINU D UN PROCE SSUS DE CRISTALLISATION DANS UN MILIEU REACTIONNEL

Publication

EP 1656595 A1 20060517 (FR)

Application

EP 04786313 A 20040816

Priority

  • FR 2004002145 W 20040816
  • FR 0310048 A 20030820

Abstract (en)

[origin: FR2859033A1] Successive images of crystals in the medium are made with an observation system placed as close to the reaction medium as possible. The images are treated (8) to deduce certain characteristics of the crystals and are returned in the form of electronic signals to control operational parameter(s) of the reaction medium, thus keeping the characteristics of the crystals in a preset range. The images are returned as a function of the results obtained and comparison with previously defined values, in the form of electronic signals to control one or more operational parameters of the reaction medium. The reaction medium is in a chemical reactor or heat exchanger with scraped internal surfaces. The observation system includes an endoscope (3) of oblong shape, and/or a binocular microscope tube and/or a camera (7). A transparent window is placed between the observation system and the reaction medium. The observation zone is lit by luminous light from a flash (5), synchronized with a camera taking pictures. The frequency of recording images is less than 20 per minute, preferably less than 10 per minute. The camera is digital. The measurements done on the images of the crystals concern their equivalent diameter and/or their Feret diameter and/or their perimeter and/or their surface and/or the roughness of their perimeter and/or their number. The recording of images; sending the images to be treated by a specific logic chip; transmitting the resulting signals to means of control and operating the means of control are done by at least one programmed automatic device. The whole measurement cycle is less than 1 hour, preferably less than 10 minutes, more preferably less than 2 minutes. An independent claim is included for a device in which the above process can be carried out, with an observation system (3); a light source (5), a camera (7); an image treatment system (8); means of comparing the measured characteristics with preset values and transforming the results into instructions for control of the crystallisation process, and a device for controlling crystallization.

IPC 1-7

G05B 19/418

IPC 8 full level

C30B 7/00 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP)

C30B 7/00 (2013.01)

Citation (search report)

See references of WO 2005019953A1

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

DOCDB simple family (publication)

FR 2859033 A1 20050225; FR 2859033 B1 20060303; EP 1656595 A1 20060517; WO 2005019953 A1 20050303

DOCDB simple family (application)

FR 0310048 A 20030820; EP 04786313 A 20040816; FR 2004002145 W 20040816