Isomer was engaged to perform a front end engineering study to evaluate a deficient vacuum system at an existing ag-based thermoforming facility. The existing system was susceptible to pressure swings and uneven flow distribution across the header network which resulted in lost thermoforming production. Isomer developed a CFD model of the existing system to quantify the baseline operating conditions and identify the likely root cause of system deficiencies. After comparing modeled conditions with the minimum design values, the team developed and modeled multiple retrofit concepts intended to improve flow distribution to thermoforming machines and stabilize pressure within the header. Isomer delivered a comprehensive summary report complete with indicative capital costs of each retrofit concept to serve as basis for future facility improvement projects.
