Industrial processes for the production of base chemicals

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

Contribution of the course to the program objectives

Referring to the LOs of the KIMA diploma, the following LOs are aimed at:

• Axe 1: 1.1, 1.2;
• Axe 2: 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5;
• Axe 3: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3;
• Axe 4: 4.1, 4.2, 4.4;
• Axe 5: 5.3, 5.5, 5.6;
• Axe 6: 6.1, 6.2, 6.3.

Specific learning outcomes of the course

Disciplinary learning outcomes

At the end of this course the student will be able to:

- Give an overview of the (petro)chemical industry, the most important processes and their interactions.

- Give the typical refining schemes and the processes involved.

- Provide an overview of the various unit operations used in the chemical processes:

• Types of unit operation (reaction, separation, heat exchange, ¿)
• Technology (ies) used for the different unit operations

- Make or interpret a flow-sheet incorporating different unit operations.

- Calculate mass/species balances and energy balances for chemical processes taking into account the different unit operations

- Model and design chemical reactors

• Well-mixed, in batch or continuous operation
• Plug flow

- Take a variety of measures to increase the energy efficiency and to reduce the environmental impact of a chemical process.

- For the following production processes:

• Steam cracking : ethylene, propylene, butadiene
• Steam reforming : syngas and hydrogen, ammonia, methanol
• Catalytic reforming : benzene,toluene, xylene,gasoline
• Catalytic cracking: gasoline
• Sulfuric acid
• Nitric acid
• Maleic anhydride

- Describe in detail:

• the process flow sheet (species and heat) and the interaction with other processes,
• the process safety,
• the feedstock and product requirements,
• the process conditions,
• the chemistry and reaction thermodynamics and kinetics,
• the catalyst if used,
• the reactor types used and their design, i.e. the appropriate reactor model(s),
• the measures taken to increase the energy efficiency and to reduce the environmental impact

Transverse learning outcomes

At the end of this course the student will be able to:

• Study independently the different aspects of a chemical process.
• Present and explain the different aspects of a chemical process to a professional audience, in writing and orally.
• Look up and use scientific and technical information from various sources, including reference text books and the web.
• To use a corpus of scientific and technical knowledge, allowing to solve given problems in the discipline studied.
• To analyze, organize and develop an engineering approach for process development responding to specific needs or a given problem, the analysis of a given physical phenomenon or a system.
• To contribute, as a team member, to the realization of a project with a given discipline or multiple disciplines according to a well described approach.
• To efficiently communicate by writing and presentation, in English or French, the results of a well-defined project.
• To show a rigorous behavior and critical thinking in carrying out scientific or technical tasks with respect for ethical issues.