Chemical Engineering
MH11ES.GC
Written exam with documents and calculators
This training aims to present the steps to follow to control the operation of a process of transformation of the material with or without chemical reactions.
A chemical process consists of a reactor in which the chemical reactions take place, and downstream of the devices (distillation, extraction, etc.) intended to separate and / or purify the products obtained. Depending on the application sought, we operate with a continuous or discontinuous process .
In the face of this complexity, the first step is to understand the transfer processes at the local scale: the mechanics of moving fluids, the energy transfer and in particular the heat transfer (conduction, convection and radiation) and finally the transfer of matter in mono-phasic and bi-phasic media.
To optimize these transfer processes, very often coupled, steady state or transient software are made available to students in TP. To simulate the operation of the process, the equation of processes is necessary and the resolution of the equation system is possible thanks to the computer. Thus, if the use of mathematics is a means and not an end, the mathematical tool is unavoidable. It must be understood and mastered so that these programs are not black boxes. The course and TD sessions are devoted to understanding the concepts involved. This approach is complemented by experimental teaching in the laboratory on pilots which allows to compare theory and practice.
All this information is recorded in 2 books recently published by the teachers and made available to each student.
This knowledge and know-how is very useful and essential to understand the operation of a process in research, development or production in an academic or industrial environment.
At the end of this training the student understands that the access to the economic balance of a process or to the optimization of a manufacturing unit it is necessary to know the balance material and energy. The student then has the skills to adapt to economic constraints (produce added value, respect the environment, seek energy efficiency …)
The adjustment of the parameters of a process, often dependent, is not empirical but the result of a rigorous scientific analysis. Under these conditions the process is adaptable to economic constraints.
Thus the thermodynamic analysis of transfers and phase equilibria informs about what is possible. Kinetic analysis and balance sheets make it possible to check if the choice is reasonable. This gives access to the cost of operation
Finally, the data obtained make it possible to calculate the sizing of the units (reactors, distillation, L-L extraction, absorption, etc.) to quantify the investment.