PROCESS (19-20)

Guiding readers through all steps of the complex process, this book covers the most diverse aspects of chemicals production, including those not or insufficiently covered in natural science courses. These comprise economic feasibility, patenting and licensing, demands on the location and the problem of waste disposal. Throughout, the author does not rely on simple references to other literature but instead reiterates many facts and places them in context, as well as succinctly explaining formulas, thus removing the need to look up items in secondary reference works. As such, the book is suitable for both newcomers as well as those already working in the field. Those working in R&D as well as plant managers will learn how to avoid pitfalls, resulting in higher safety. A common basis and indispensable ready reference for engineers and chemists.

The use of real or near real time measurement of chemical production process parameters as the basis for achieving control or optimisation of a manufacturing process has wide application in the petrochemical, food and chemical industries. Process analytical chemistry (PAC), or process analytical technology (PAT) as it has recently been called, is now being deployed in the pharmaceutical industry, where it is seen as a technology that can help companies to improve their conformity with manufacturing compliance regulations. The objective of this book is to provide a starting point for implementing process analytical chemistry tools in process monitoring applications or as part of a total quality management system. Written from the perspective of the spectroscopist required to implant PAT tools in a process environment, attention is focussed on measurements that are made “in process” at-line or off-line, providing data on product during manufacture. With chapters covering the key spectroscopic tools, their applications in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries and basic chemometrics, the novice can quickly develop a sound understanding of the most practical technologies and applications. Implementation strategies are fully covered and address some of the critical issues that need to be tackled when setting up a PAT project – including choosing a project with a sound business justification in the first place.

This book surveys methods, problems, and tools used in process control engineering. Its scope has been purposely made broad in order to permit an overall view of this subject. This book is intended both for interested nonspecialists who wish to become acquainted with the discipline of process control engineering and for process control engineers, who should find it helpful in identifying individual tasks and organizing them into a coherent whole. A central concern of this treatment is to arrive at a consistent and comprehensive way of thinking about process control engineering and to show how the several specialities can be organically fitted into this total view.

Inspired by the leading authority in the field, the Centre for Process Systems Engineering at Imperial College London, this book includes theoretical developments, algorithms, methodologies and tools in process systems engineering and applications from the chemical, energy, molecular, biomedical and other areas. It spans a whole range of length scales seen in manufacturing industries, from molecular and nanoscale phenomena to enterprise-wide optimization and control. As such, this will appeal to a broad readership, since the topic applies not only to all technical processes but also due to the interdisciplinary expertise required to solve the challenge. The ultimate reference work for years to come.

This practical how-to-do book deals with the design of sustainable chemical processes by means of systematic methods aided by computer simulation. Ample case studies illustrate generic creative issues, as well as the efficient use of simulation techniques, with each one standing for an important issue taken from practice. The didactic approach guides readers from basic knowledge to mastering complex flow-sheets, starting with chemistry and thermodynamics, via process synthesis, efficient use of energy and waste minimization, right up to plant-wide control and process dynamics. The simulation results are compared with flow-sheets and performance indices of actual industrial licensed processes, while the complete input data for all the case studies is also provided, allowing readers to reproduce the results with their own simulators. For everyone interested in the design of innovative chemical processes.

This book provides an overview of the main methods and results in the formal study of the human decision-making process, as defined in a relatively wide sense. A key aim of the approach contained here is to try to break down barriers between various disciplines encompassed by this field, including psychology, economics and computer science. All these approaches have contributed to progress in this very important and much-studied topic in the past, but none have proved sufficient so far to define a complete understanding of the highly complex processes and outcomes. This book provides the reader with state-of-the-art coverage of the field, essentially forming a roadmap to the field of decision analysis. The first part of the book is devoted to basic concepts and techniques for representing and solving decision problems, ranging from operational research to artificial intelligence. Later chapters provide an extensive overview of the decision-making process under conditions of risk and uncertainty. Finally, there are chapters covering various approaches to multi-criteria decision-making. Each chapter is written by experts in the topic concerned, and contains an extensive bibliography for further reading and reference.

Combining the knowledge involved in process engineering and process modeling, this is the first book to cover all modeling methods applicable to process intensification. Both the editors and authors are renowned experts from industry and academia in the various fields of process modeling and integrated chemical processes. Following an introduction to the topic, the book goes on to look at equipment and operational methods, monolithic catalysis, HEX, micro- and reverse flow reactors, catalytic and reactive distillation, the simulated-moving bed and vibration bubble column as well as ultrasound and ultrasonic reactors. A final chapter is devoted to processes under supercritical conditions. In its treatment of hot topics of multidisciplinary interest, this book is of great value to researchers and engineers alike.

Micro process engineering is approaching both academia and industry. With the provision of micro devices, systems and whole plants by commercial suppliers, one main barrier for using these units has been eliminated. This book focuses on processes and their plants rather than on devices: what is 'before', 'behind' and 'around' micro device fabrication – and gives a comprehensive and detailed overview on the micro-reactor plants and three topic-class applications which are mixing, fuel processing, and catalyst screening. Thus, the book reflects the current level of development from 'micro-reactor design' to 'micro-reactor process design'.

Micro process engineering is approaching both academia and industry. With the provision of micro devices and systems by commercial suppliers, one main barrier for using these units has been eliminated. More and more they become familiar, thereby being one facet of the upheaval in chemical industry. This book focuses on processes rather than on devices: what is 'before' and 'behind' micro device fabrication. A comprehensive and detailed overview is given on: – A multi-faceted, hierarchic analysis of chemical micro process technology – Modelling and simulation of micro reactors – Liquid- and liquid/liquid-phase reactions – Gas/liquid reactions – Gas-phase reactions (heterogeneous catalysis)

Offering a different approach to other textbooks in the area, this book is a comprehensive introduction to the subject divided in three broad parts. The first part deals with building physical models, the second part with developing empirical models and the final part discusses developing process control solutions. Theory is discussed where needed to ensure students have a full understanding of key techniques that are used to solve a modeling problem. Hallmark Features: Includes worked out examples of processes where the theory learned early on in the text can be applied. Uses MATLAB simulation examples of all processes and modeling techniques- further information on MATLAB can be obtained from www.mathworks.com Includes supplementary website to include further references, worked examples and figures from the book This book is structured and aimed at upper level undergraduate students within chemical engineering and other engineering disciplines looking for a comprehensive introduction to the subject. It is also of use to practitioners of process control where the integrated approach of physical and empirical modeling is particularly valuable.