AVT-Process Systems Engineering

The Chair of Process Systems Engineering (AVT.PT) was founded in 1992 as a result of a joint initiative of the RWTH Aachen University and Bayer AG, Leverkusen. Since then, it has been directed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt. As a branch of process engineering, process systems engineering deals with the holistic development, operation, analysis and improvement of production processes.

 

The design and operation of chemical processes often results in different, sometimes contradicting criteria such as cost, flexibility and safety. This objective demands a comprehensive design approach, instead of the identification of individual optima for each criterion. These methods allow for the computer-aided simulation and optimization of processes.

AVT.PT's research covers a wide range of topics of process systems engineering, combining methods from classical engineering, mathematics and informatics. The focus is on the development of methods for mathematical modelling, conceptual process design, process operations and control and on the connection between experiments and modelling.

Besides fundamental research, the practical implementation and testing of the methods, developed in various projects, is of great importance. To this end, experimental work is being carried out within research cooperation programs with industrial and university partners. Ongoing research projects at the Chair of Process Systems Engineering can be divided into three areas:

• Model-based experimental analysis: Development of a methodology for model-based design and analysis of experiments for the modelling of kinetic phenomena in multiphase and reactive systems

• Process synthesis: Development of conceptual methods for model-based analysis, synthesis and optimization of (integrated) reaction and separation processes

• Optimization-based process control and operations: Methods, algorithms and applications for model-predictive control, monitoring and real time optimization of batch and continuous processes.

Processing of biomass, the treatment of fresh and waste water as well as design energy-efficient methods for processes are the major focus in applications. The application range over various time and length scales, like the identification of heat transfer models for boiling, the determination of promising reaction pathways for the conversion of biomass and the design of entire chemical processes using optimization methods are considered.

The MEXA-Tool: Software for the efficient Model-based EXperimental Analysis of kinetic phenomena .

Innovative Synthesis in Continuous-Flow Processes for Sustainable Chemical Production.

DyOS - As optimal as possible, but especially in time.