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Sustainable Process Performance Indicators

Date: 2008-03-31 (12:51) - 2008-06-05 (12:51)
Subject / field of study: Chemical Engineering
Level: All
Ects points: 7.5
Location: Göteborg Sweden
Link to registration: http://www.chalmers.se/en/sections/education/study_advisors

Organiser information:

Institution / university: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Address: Chalmers University of Technology Kemivägen 10 412 96 Göteborg
Country: Sweden
Phone: +46 31-7727292, +46 31-7723001, +46 31-7722989
Contact person: Hans Theliander, Magdalena Svanström, Tobias Richards, tobias.richards@chalmers.se, Direct: +46 31-7727292, +46 31-7723001, +46 31-7722989
URL: http://www.chalmers.se/chem/EN

In this course, students will learn how to assess the viability of a process given a specific reaction path or process design. The main purpose is to provide students with process sustainability evaluation methods, based on both environmental and economic performance indicators.

Purpose
In this course, students will learn how to assess the viability of a process given a specific reaction path or process design. The main purpose is to provide students with process sustainability evaluation methods, based on both environmental and economic performance indicators.

More specifically, at the outcome of the course, students should be able to:

  • - evaluate the environmental impact of different chemicals based on their chemical structure
  • define and calculate the potential of different reaction paths based on atom efficiency
  • define and calculate the thermodynamic potential of different process designs
    - perform material, mass and energy balances for integrated process systems (in particular biorefinery systems)
  • estimate on-site emissions from a process site based on the process flowsheet
  •  estimate the environmental impact of a given process (expanded system boundary)
  • estimate the economic performance of a given process based on total production costs (including both fixed and variable costs)
  • understand the impact of environmental regulations on process economic performance, e.g. climate change mitigation policy instruments


Course content
The different parts of the course are mainly focused on evaluation methods and how they work and their limitations. Relevant performance indicators are introduced, as appropriate.

There are three levels of evaluation methods:

In the first step, Level 1, different process pathways are screened based on the environmental hazards of the compounds in the raw materials and the desired products. Methods to estimate the environmental behavior of chemicals, based on their structure, are included. This level also includes simple economic estimations, based on the actual cost of the materials.

The second level, Level II, includes different process design possibilities and focuses on material and energy balances as well as economic analyses. Important parts are estimation of wastes and emissions from the process with special emphasis on the impact of choice of process equipment for key unit operations. Methods to evaluate the thermodynamic potential of a process are described. Methods for conducting more detailed economic analyses are introduced including costs of specific equipment, and operating costs (including process utility costs).

The third level, Level III, is the most complete level of evaluation. Here, the interaction between the process and the surrounding is dealt with. The effects are investigated with respect to both environmental and economic issues. Environmental analyses are made with impact assessment and total environmental load. More advanced methods for economic analyses are introduced, including sensitivity analysis based on scenarios for future energy market parameters, future costs associated with emissions of CO2 and price sensitivity for raw materials and products.


Organization
The course consists of lectures and project works.

Examination
There will be a written examination of the course (F, 3, 4, 5, or ECTS). This will set the whole grade of the course. There will also be projects which must be approved to pass the course.

 
Pedagogical structure
This course consists of a lecture series where the theories are described and visualized with examples. Together with the lectures, projects are performed where the students develop their skill in assessing processes using different evaluation methods.

Entrance requirements: BSc in Chem eng.