Simulation and Optimization in Process Engineering : The Benefit of Mathematical Methods in Applications of the Chemical Industry

Simulation and Optimization in Process Engineering: The Benefit of Mathematical Methods in Applications of the Process Industry brings together examples where the successful transfer of progress made in mathematical simulation and optimization has led to innovations in an industrial context that created substantial benefit. Containing introductory accounts on scientific progress in the most relevant topics of process engineering (substance properties, simulation, optimization, optimal control and real time optimization), the examples included illustrate how such scientific progress has been transferred to innovations that delivered a measurable impact, covering details of the methods used, and more.

With each chapter bringing together expertise from academia and industry, this book is the first of its kind, providing demonstratable insights.

• Recent mathematical methods are transformed into industrially relevant innovations.
• Covers recent progress in mathematical simulation and optimization in a process engineering context with chapters written by experts from both academia and industry
• Provides insight into challenges in industry aiming for a digitized world.

Michael Bortz studied Physics in Dortmund and Grenoble. He received his Ph.D. in many particle physics at Dortmund University in 2003. After that, he worked as a PostDoc at universities in Wuppertal, Canberra (Australian National University), Oxford, and Kaiserslautern. In 2009 he joined the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics in Kaiserslautern, where he is now leading the department for optimization of technical processes. His research interests are in modeling, simulating, and optimizing processes in different application domains, including medical therapy planning, mechanical, and chemical engineering. He has realized numerous projects with cooperation partners from the chemical industry, leveraging the benefit of interactive decision support. Since 2021, he is associate professor at the Technical University Kaiserslautern.

Norbert Asprion studied mechanical engineering at University of Kaiserslautern, Germany and received his Ph.D. (Supervisor Prof. G. Maurer) in the field of thermodynamics of hydrogen-bonding solutions from Kaiserslautern University in 1996. Since then, he has been with BASF SE in Ludwigshafen. After several positions in process development and six years in technical marketing, he is now product manager for “Computational Engineering Solutions” in the department “Digitalization in Research & Development.” His research interest is focused on process modeling, simulation, and optimization to support decision making in process development. He is a Research Fellow at BASF, a member of the EFCE CAPE working party and the COLaN management board.