OVERVIEW

The course provides tools and methods for the definition of dynamic models of the most common chemical reactors, analysis of the dynamic behaviour  during all phases of operation and control strategies.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course provides tools and methods for the modeling of the dynamic behavior and control of chemical reactors, with particular reference to safe start-up and shut-down. The course provides tools and methods for the acquisition, processing and extracting information from time series process data.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attendance and active participation in the proposed training activities (lectures, numerical exercises and simulation) and individual study will allow the student to:

• define operating conditions for continuous and batch chemical reactors and evaluate the possible operation problems;
• analyze process data and / or operating databases and  extract information for identifying faults or management issues;
• design of filling and thermal start-ups, operation and shut-down of chemical reactors;
• design pilot-scale experimental campaigns or simulation campaigns (with different types of models) for the study of the dynamics of chemical reactors and for reactors scale-up;
• design the main regulation systems on chemical reactors.

TEACHING METHODS

The course provides lectures (with the help of slides provided by the teacher), numerical exercises and laboratory activity using simulation tools and sw.

Theoretical contents (30 hours) alternate exercises (20 hours, including numerical exercises and dynamic simulation) aimed at encouraging the learning and discussion of specific critical design situations involving the analysis of the dynamic behaviour of chemical reactors.

Transversal competences as autonomy of judgment will be acquired during the development of the proposed project, to be carried out in a group with the use of commercial software;  communication skills will be acquired during the oral examination (presentation of the project work).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Main contents:

• Deterministic, black-box, mechanistic, stochastic dynamic models.
• Estimation of characteristic times of process equipment.
• Study of stability, steady states, oscillations and nonlinear dynamics of reactions and chemical reactors.
• Thermal runaway, parametric sensitivity, adjustment and control of chemical reactors, adaptive control, dynamics of start-up and shut-down, on-line fault diagnosis.
• Early warning criteria.
• Methods for process data analysis, gross errors detection and filters.
• Group activities on analysis of process data and dynamic simulation of controlled reactors (Matlab, Simulink).

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Course handouts and slides supplied by the teacher (full bibliography is also contained)

Said S. E. H. el-Nashaie, Shadia S. el-Shishini, "Dynamic Modelling, Bifurcation and Chaotic Behaviour of Gas-Solid Catalytic Reactors", Gordon & Breach Publishers, 1996, ISBN 2-88449-078-7.

Roffel B., Betlem B., "Process Dynamics and Control", Wiley, 2006, ISBN-10: 0-470-01663-9.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

RENZO DI FELICE (President)

OMBRETTA PALADINO (President)

ELISABETTA ARATO

BARBARA BOSIO

LESSONS

LESSONS START

February 2019

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

 Written exercise (carried out in group, on reactors design and simulation or on process data analysis) and oral examination (arguments of the theoretical lessons and discussion of the written exercise).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Written exercise: a real problem about a pilot or lab-scale reactor (with some experimental data) is posed  and must be solved in team.

It is used to evaluate the ability of the students to design pilot-scale experimental campaigns or simulation campaigns (with different types of models) for the study of the dynamics of chemical reactors.

Oral examination:questions about theory and definitions.

It is used to evaluate the ability of the student to discriminate between different dynamic models, to evaluate stability, to know main controllers properties, to know the principal design crieria to prevent runaway and for safe start-up and shut-down of chemical reactors.

and questions about the written exercise.

It is used to evaluate the contribute of each student inside the team work and about the application of theory.

Exam schedule