A small-scale process unit based on laboratory-scale research or findings. It is used to evaluate the feasibility and potential for full-scale process design and operation. A pilot scale experiment is a small-scale preliminary study used to check the feasibility or to improve the design of a process or piece of research. They are often carried out before committing to large-scale process construction and operation in order to avoid wasting time and money. They can also be used to determine the optimum conditions required in a full-scale process or to gain a valuable insight into a process under carefully controlled conditions.