Bottleneck (chemistry)

In chemistry , biotechnology and process engineering, a bottleneck is the capacity-limiting point in a process chain.

Production systems in chemistry and biotechnology usually consist of a sequence or a network of individual systems (examples: storage tank, pump , reaction vessel , heat exchanger , filter , dryer , filling and packaging system) for the production of a chemical . The production capacity ( kg · h ⁻¹ ) of such a company is limited by the fully utilized maximum capacity of a single system. This individual system is the bottleneck of the entire company, i.e. the capacity-limiting individual system of the entire production system. If this bottleneck is eliminated through an investment, i.e. if the production capacity of the individual system is increased through a conversion or replacement, the production capacity of the entire company increases at the same time. Subsequently, another individual system is often the bottleneck of the company.

The English term debottlenecking is used to remove a bottleneck in a production plant.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Understanding and changing complex biological systems , Chemie Ingenieur Technik 79 ( 2007 ) 1269–1274, DOI: 10.1002 / cite.200790093 .