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Plant and Process Technology
Modeling and simulation of chemical processes, equipment design, thermodynamic property data
The Institute of Plant and Process Design is a research center in the area of plant and process
engineering with a strong focus on thermal separation processes like distillation, rectification,
absorption and desorption, heat exchange and membrane processes. The research is organized
in the three focus areas of process design, equipment design methods, modelling as well as
thermodynamic property data. Thereby, modern experimental methods along with state of the art
mathematical software tools like dynamic simulation and computational fluid dynamics are widely
used in the research activities.
Process Design
Energy intensive chemical production processes like
alumina production and air separation can contribute to
stabilize fluctuating electric energy grids and markets.
However, chemical production processes are presently
not designed for dynamic operation modes with rapid
load and process changes. Therefore, it is necessary to
demonstrate which process and equipment modifications
are required in order to operate processes like air separa-
tion under severe dynamic conditions. Within the SynErgie
Picture of a typical air separation plant (provided by Linde AG)
consortium of the long term BMBF project Kopernikus
the energy intensive process for air separation units (ASU)
was selected as a fast track example. As a target air
separation plants will be enabled to contribute to stabilize
fluctuating electric energy grids and markets which will be
required when renewable energy sources such as wind
and solar power will lead in the long term to fluctuating
energy supply.