Laboratory is the core place for product development, quality control and process optimization in refining companies. A scientifically designed, reasonably laid out, properly selected laboratory can not only significantly improve work efficiency, but also effectively protect the safety of operators. This article will provide you with a detailed analysis of the key points of the refinery company laboratory furniture layout and material selection.
I. the special needs of the oil refining company laboratory
Refinery company laboratories and ordinary laboratories are different. Here, the operating environment is more complex: high-temperature experiments, high-pressure operations, strong corrosive chemicals and flammable substances appear frequently. Therefore, laboratory furniture must meet the following requirements:
- High safety: fire, explosion and chemical resistance.
- Durability: long-term withstand chemicals, heat and mechanical operations.
- Efficient: scientific layout, support the daily experimental process, to avoid cross-contamination.
II. the core principles of laboratory layout
Refining company laboratory layout is by no means a simple placement of furniture, it needs to take into account the workflow, safety regulations and space utilization.
- Follow the principle of process optimization Laboratory layout should be strictly in accordance with the “sample receipt → pretreatment → experiments → data analysis → storage” unidirectional process planning, to avoid the personnel line cross, reduce unnecessary round-trip.
- Ensure that the safety channel is unobstructed Regardless of the size of the laboratory, it is necessary to reserve a sufficiently spacious safety channel. The width of the main channel should not be less than 1.5 meters, the secondary channel should not be less than 1.2 meters, to ensure that emergency personnel can quickly evacuate and equipment handling. Safe passageways must be kept clear and no objects should be piled up.
- Implement modular partition management Adopt the idea of “modular partition”, clearly divide the laboratory into pretreatment area, analysis area, storage area and other different functional areas. The pretreatment area can focus on placing side tables, sample cabinets and washing tanks; the analysis area is arranged around the core instrument platforms and instrument tables; the storage area is classified and accessed through the reagent cabinets and hazardous chemical cabinets against the wall.
III. the key considerations for furniture selection
Refining company laboratory environment is special, often in contact with hydrocarbons, solvents, strong acids and alkalis and other substances, so the choice of furniture materials is critical.
1. Countertop materials
Lab countertops are in direct contact with chemicals, and their corrosion resistance is the primary consideration.
- Epoxy resin countertops: excellent chemical corrosion resistance, moisture, in different seasons will not occur delamination cracking. However, its texture is relatively soft, and it is not suitable for placing heavy experimental instruments.
- Ceramic plate countertop: made of kaolin, clay, etc., resistant to chemicals and high temperature, but the material cost is higher.
- PP (polypropylene) laboratory bench: designed for harsh laboratory environment, using corrosion-resistant, acid and alkali resistant, waterproof and impact resistant PP board production, green and recyclable, especially for chemical laboratories and other highly corrosive environment.
- Solid core physicochemical board: multi-layer special kraft paper as the core material, made of phenolic resin impregnation and high temperature and high pressure curing, chemical corrosion resistance, and not easy to warp and deform, easy to keep clean.
2. Cabinet and frame materials
The cabinet needs to take into account the load-bearing, durability and safety requirements.
- All-steel: high strength and durability, good load-bearing performance.
- Steel-wood structure: combines the strength of steel and the beauty of wood, but it should be noted that wood may be affected in a humid environment.
- PP material: Used with PP countertop, it can form a full PP corrosion-resistant system, especially suitable for areas with very high anti-corrosion requirements.
IV. Layout and selection of materials for each functional area
1. Laboratory operation area
This is the core area of the refinery company’s laboratory, the layout and selection of materials need to be extra careful.
- Central laboratory table: used for multi-person collaborative experiments, the table surface should be preferred corrosion-resistant epoxy resin or PP material.
- Side table: arranged against the wall for small experiments, optional steel and wood structure or all-steel structure. It should be reserved for power connection, reagent rack and sink position.
- Fume hood: it should be installed against the wall to ensure its stability and support. The exhaust port should be facing outdoors and not to the windows, doors or air conditioning outlets. The distance between the fume hoods and the supporting side table is recommended to be ≥1.2 meters to ensure smooth airflow during operation. Fume cupboard surface wind speed should be controlled within the safety range of 0.3-0.5m/s.
- Laboratory chairs: high-quality round laboratory stools with wheels, adjustable height, chemical corrosion resistance, with anti-static function.
2. Equipment area
Large instruments and equipment require special placement environment.
- Anti-vibration measures: Vibration-sensitive instruments (e.g., balances, spectrometers) should be placed on a stable experimental bench, away from the source of vibration. A separate anti-vibration structure should be adopted for the overhead platform, etc. The flatness error of the platform should be ≤0.5mm/m.
- Heat dissipation space: large instruments and equipment should be surrounded by enough space for heat dissipation.
- Specialized power supply: precision instruments need to be equipped with UPS power supply and independent grounding to reduce the impact of line clutter and voltage fluctuations.
3. Storage area
Reasonable storage area design is an important guarantee of laboratory safety.
- Categorized storage: According to the nature and use of the items, the storage cabinets are categorized and placed in zones. Hazardous chemical cabinets need to have fire and explosion-proof design, equipped with double-lock management system and corrosion-resistant trays.
- Convenience and safety: The height of the storage cabinet should be moderate, so that it is easy to access the items. Heavier items should be placed on the bottom to prevent the danger of dumping. Commonly used reagent storage cabinets should be placed near the lab workbenches for easy access.
4. Auxiliary function area
- Wash area: the integrated design of “side table + basin + faucet + waste liquid bucket” can be adopted to shorten the operation chain of washing and waste liquid treatment. Laboratory-specific PPR pipes (acid and alkali corrosion resistance) should be used, and the installation of water storage bends to prevent odors.
- Office area: it should be physically separated from the experimental area, equipped with independent air conditioning and soundproof glass to avoid the influence of the experimental environment on the office staff.
V. to enhance the details of security considerations
Safety is the primary principle of refinery laboratory design, the following details should not be ignored:
- Emergency facilities: every 25 square meters should be set up at least 1 eyewash, channel configuration emergency sprinkler. The distance between safety exits should not exceed 20 meters. These facilities should be placed in an obvious and easily accessible location.
- Ventilation system: the material of air duct should be made of pp (high-density polypropylene raw material), and the distance between the exhaust port and the entrance of fresh air should be more than 20 meters to avoid the return of exhaust gas.
- Explosion-proof design: chemical laboratories need to set up gas leakage alarm devices and explosion-proof electrical equipment. Explosion-proof laboratory cabinet surface resistance value should be controlled at 10⁶-10⁹Ω, to prevent electrostatic sparks cause danger.
VI. enhance the efficiency of the layout skills
Reasonable layout can significantly improve the efficiency of the experimental work, studies have shown that the highest can be enhanced by more than 30%.
- Shorten the line of motion: the frequent use of related equipment in accordance with the operating order of neighboring arrangements, such as microscopes and sample preparation table placed close to reduce the distance and time of personnel movement.
- Adaptation of space: Long and narrow laboratories should adopt the combination of a single side table and a central table; square space can be formed through the L-shaped side table corner operation area to improve space utilization. The window area can be prioritized to arrange the operating table that needs natural light.
- Humanized design: Convenient configurations are embedded in the furniture layout, such as reserving reagent racks, power sockets and data interfaces on the side table; the central table is equipped with movable drawer cabinets and hanging cabinets, which can be used to access frequently used tools nearby.
- Color and marking system: Differentiated countertop colors are used to differentiate different functional areas, combined with a clear marking system to enhance spatial recognition and reduce the probability of misuse.
VII. environmental protection and sustainability requirements
Modern refining company laboratory design is increasingly focusing on environmental protection and sustainability.
- Environmentally friendly materials: furniture panels should meet the E1 level environmental requirements, formaldehyde emissions ≤ 0.124mg/m³, to avoid the inhalation of harmful gases by laboratory personnel.
- Easy to clean design: furniture should be easy to clean and disinfect, the countertop is best without splicing gaps or depressions, cabinet internal corners to do rounded corners, to avoid stains residue.
- Future expansion: 10%-15% space should be reserved for future equipment upgrades during planning, and 20% redundancy should be reserved for strong and weak power line casing to adapt to the future development of the laboratory.
Conclusion
Furniture layout and material selection for laboratories in oil refining companies is a systematic project that requires comprehensive consideration of safety, efficiency, compliance and future expandability. Through scientific planning of experimental processes, selection of suitable corrosion-resistant materials, rational partition layout and equipping with necessary safety facilities, a safe and efficient experimental environment can be constructed.
