GOAL

Scale and automate the existing THC Remediation process while maintaining high-quality product output for commercial use.

Approach

Our goal to scale and automate the manual THC remediation process for commercial sale involves planning our three-step engineering process: discovery, design, and fabrication.

Discovery

Our team worked with SC Botanicals to gain a full understanding of their system – from raw material to final product. This gives us a comprehensive idea of not only how THC remediation works but gives us an overview of what SC is looking for in their new machine. Our engineers analyzed each stage of SC Botanicals’ existing system to understand where we could implement automation and scaling. We take our discoveries and build a system flow map that outlines our vision for the automated system. As we move through this process, we ensure each step from the original system is carefully translated when determining the automated and scaled solutions.

Design & Development

Our system flow map gives us an operational visual of how the functioning components will interact with one and other throughout the process. This translates well to a P&ID and an early wiring diagram, to further elucidate what components are needed. Our engineers research the materials that fulfill the automation concepts and scaled features and apply those selections to a 3D rendered system. The 3D system gives us our first visual of how the final system will look and feel. Our team meets regularly to review this design and discuss how adjustments to the design will impact the end-user and the functionality of the system.

Fabrication

Having sourced all components and build materials – like an engineering mise en place – we start welding, tooling, and assembling based on the digital version of the design. This build began with welding the frame together, giving us the skeleton for our prototype. Our engineers mounted each major component of the remediation system: the control panel, vacuums, and reactor. This build features a 150L reactor to increase the output of the system, which requires us to use stronger and larger vacuums and piping to move material throughout the system. With each of the major components fixed in position, we move on to connection assembly with piping and wiring. The piping connects each of the major components to transfer processing material from each stage of the cycle. The wiring moves data to and from the control panel to autonomously manage, control, and log system data. Once we have secure hardware and functioning software connections, we completed the design with a sheath around the reactor to insulate the heating system.

Testing

The testing phase is for the safety, user flow, and functionality of the fabricated system. We check that everything functions as it should – heating, pressure readouts, and data logging. Since this product is going to an end-user, we have to ensure that our sensors and safety alerts are reporting precise data to eliminate any system faults. Once we check off the safety boxes, we plug the system in, load up the material, hit start, and let the automation run its course.

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