Course content

The Specialization course consists of two modules of 3.75 sp to make a total of 7.5 sp. The electable modules are:

- Reactor modelling (3.75 sp): We intend to improve the students’ basic knowledge of transport phenomena for mass, heat and momentum to make them capable of developing realistic models for different types of chemical reactors. The coupling between thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, heat- and mass transport processes and fluid flow will be discussed. The subject includes an introduction to numerical methods that are used to solve reactor models in which details in the description of flow phenomena are especially important.

- Gas cleaning (3.75 sp): Hydraulic calculations of plate and packed columns. Calculation and modelling of mass transfer rates and column heights for both physical and chemical systems. Processes for the removal CO2 and H2S and drying of natural gas will be treated as well as removal of CO2, HF and SO2 from exhaust gas. An overall assessment of climate challenges will be discussed in light of international agreements. Other pollutants like NOx and VOC will be discussed. Purification processes for SO2 from industry and exhaust gases. Gas purification with membranes– fundamental mechanisms and material technology.

- Membrane separation (3.75 sp): : The course will give introduction to basic material technology and membrane separation of liquid and gas streams. Specific topics are transport mechanisms, the material properties, how the membranes are produced, types of modules and applications both for gases and liquids, Phenomena like concentration polarization and fouling will also be discussed and how to reduce these effects. Characterization of the membrane materials.

- Crystallization and particle design (3.75 sp): General crystallization theory: Thermodynamic considerations for definition of supersaturation. Lattice structure and polymorphism. Nucleation, crystal growth mechanisms and agglomeration. Introduction to the population balance. Experimental techniques to determine particle size distributions and crystal morphology. Experimnetal strategies to determine nucleation and growth rate kinetics and mechanisms. Special condiations related to the production of nanoparticles and material development by biomineralization.

- Absorption (3,75 sp): General modeling of packed beds based on a continuous description, plug flow and axial dispersion. Mass transfer models for combined diffusion and reaction including enhancement factor calculations. Description of the various rate regimes, slow, fast and instantaneous. Hydraulics of packed beds, calculation of pressure drop, liquid hold-up and physical mass transfer. Project work with Matlab modeling of an absorber including discretization methods for solution.

Learning outcome

At the end of the course the students should:
- Specialization in crystallization theory and characterization techniques to dimension crystallizers and analyze industrial applications for separation performance, removal of impurities by precipitation and scaling on process equipment as well as to understand the conditions that govern the size and shape of nanoparticles and the mechanism involved in biomineralization.
- After fulfillment of this course the students should be able to evaluate which type of membrane materials are best suited for separation of various gases and liquids in processes.
- After fulfilment of this course the students should be able to design a process for the most relevant gas cleaning techniques based on a combination of preliminary hydraulics calculations and final dimensioning by means of relevant data for mass transfer, thermodynamics and kinetics.
- The students should be able to develop models for different types of chemical reactors, solve the resulting set of equations, analyze data, and calculate the performance of laboratory- and industrial scale reactors.
- Collecting understanding and assessing peer-reviewed literature.
- Report writing and presentation techniques.

Learning methods and activities

The modules are given as lectures, seminars, problem sessions, group- or individual studies.

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Basic knowledge in Chemical Process Technology.

Course materials

Given at course start.

Credit reductions