Pryme N.V. - Update on the Status of the Commissioning of Pryme’s First Plant and its Impact on the
Timing of Start-Up
Rotterdam, 27 October 2023
As reported earlier, Pryme completed the mechanical construction of its first plant, Pryme One, in midSeptember. Since then, the Pryme team has been performing final commissioning of the various components
of the installation. Both extruders have been successfully hot-commissioned, and the quench column has
been filled with starter fluid following a successful testing process. Hot commissioning of the high-throughput
electrically heated reactor was initiated on October 16th, culminating with the final hot-commissioning step
of the empty reactor at a temperature of six hundred degrees Celsius.
As is common when commissioning brand-new technology and production setups, certain activities were
completed smoothly, while some led to additional work and attention. Although we were very satisfied with
the reactor’s capability to reach ring temperatures above six hundred degrees Celsius, we also identified an
issue that needs resolution. During the blank test run, we experienced excess temperatures related to the
insulation of the electric connections due to their proximity to the heating elements. Consequently, we need
to modify the five hundred connection points with the assistance of our technology partner.
We estimate that this will be completed within the next 4-6 weeks. This means that our expected timing for
the production of the first oil is now delayed until mid-January 2024.
During our hot commissioning process, two other issues were identified and addressed.
The testing of the extruder's melted plastic output led to recalculating the pressure specifications of the melt
pipes connecting the extruders to the reactor. Both pipes are now undergoing re-certification for higher
pressure operation and will be tested once the reactor is available. It's important to note that this is not a
critical issue. We can still operate the installation by directly feeding cold waste into the reactor, albeit at a
reduced capacity, if the melt-pipe’s final testing and validation lead to the requirement for modifications.
Consequently, we do not anticipate additional delays due to melt pipe testing and validation. Due to technical
issues, the testing and validation of the melt-pipe can only take place after the reactor issue has been
resolved.
When heated up to temperatures above six hundred degrees Celsius, the reactor expands by around nine
centimetres horizontally and four centimetres vertically. We observed slight discrepancies between actual
and calculated expansions. This required adjustments to the connections between the reactor and the exit
gas lines, which have now been resolved.
Except for the aforementioned issues, no serious problems have been encountered during the hot
commissioning process. The blank testing of the reactor, achieving ring temperatures of six hundred degrees
Celsius, confirms our capability to deliver precision in heat control and attain higher core temperatures than
existing thermal heating technology. The Pryme team remains highly motivated and is relentless in their pursuit
of the first pyrolysis oil and beyond.
More information about the progress of the plant construction and commissioning will be provided in Pryme’s
Q3 report, which will be published on November 2nd, 2023 |
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