Process Technology

Full course description

What is Process Technology? What is the difference between a process at laboratory scale
and a process at industrial scale? To answer these questions, we can consider a typical
mixing process as an example. The mixing process in the lab at small scale (gram) is
straightforward as we can use tools such as a magnet or spoon to mix two (bio)chemicals.
What about at the large scale (tonne)? We need special technology to mix two
(bio)chemicals at large scale. This is also true for other operations.
We need a reactor for the reaction. We might need a distillation column for separation. We
need a heat exchanger for heating and cooling. We need a pump and a compressor for
pressurisation and transfer liquids and gases. The reactor and all these unit operations
together form a process, showing the importance of proven technologies when we study a
process at the large scale.

The main aim of this course is to study the principles of the design of a reactor and the
most important individual unit operations related to biobased process technologies. In this
context, we need to study the interaction between the individual process elements. How
does a high efficient unit operation affect the other unit operation? Is there any domino
effect? Does a high efficient reactor help the unit operations? To answer these
questions, we need to look at the process as a whole. In this context, mathematical models
and process simulators play an important role to predict the phenomena in bioreactor, unit
operations, and the whole process.