The necessary knowledge for the use of a professional software to simulate chemical processes is developed, and single equipments, as well as whole processes, are designed, with particular emphasis on crude oil transformation.

The course is planned to develop the student expertise on models handling, for single equipment or whole plant process representation, with the task of verification of the process performances, parameters optimization and simulation result presentation. At the end of the course, it is expected that the student has knowledge on: - the problems related to chemical processes modelling, - the characteristics of a professional process simulator, - how to present in an effective form the results obtained using a process simulator; that he has the following capacities: - develop useful models for process simulation, - identify suitable thermodynamic methods for the description of the single steps of a chemical process, - employ a process simulator to design equipment and processes, - analyze the results obtained through process simulation; that he is able: - to present in a suitable way the results obtained through process simulation.

The course can be followed if the student has the basic knowledge of: - principles of general and organic chemistry, - operating basic principles of the equipments used in the industrial chemistry, like heat exchangers, absorption columns, distillation equipments or chemical reactors. - thermodynamic methods for property evaluation of chemical compounds and for liquid-vapour equilibrium analysis.

- Process development through process simulation. Importance of the mathematical models in for process description and analysis. Problems and drawbacks in the process simulation practice. Criteria for simplified models selection. Selection of thermodynamic methods. Methods for the presentation of the simulation results. - Design of basic equipments for chemical processes. Design and optimization of heat exchangers, absorption or adsorption columns, distillation units, liquid-liquid contactors and chemical reactors through a professional process simulator. - Design of industrial processes. Design and optimization of industrial processes with energy integration and internal recycling. Applications to petrochemical processes for polymer production. - Tutorials: oil production processes are discussed and simulated: crude oil topping, oil-water-gas separation, natural gas sweetening, natural gas dehydration, natural gas liquids production, polymerization, co-polymerization.

A specific cycle of computing practice is developed in a computer laboratory (LAIB) with the use of a process simulator for the design of specific chemical equipments and plants. Aim of the practice is to become friendly with computing software for equipment and chemical process design, with particular reference to petroleum technology and polymer production. At first, the teacher illustrates the subject of the computing work together with exposition of solutions for some reference cases. Later, under teacher tutoring, each student tackles and solves some specific design problems. At the end of the course, it is planned that grouped students front the solution of a chemical process case and present the simulation results in a written report, submitted for evaluation to the teacher.

Texts and exercises will be available on the web student site.

Modalità di esame: Prova scritta tramite l'utilizzo di vLAIB e piattaforma di ateneo;

The students are requested to solve some simple exercises requiring to use the process simulator. In particular, the students have to select the proper model to simulate the process, and, then, to design the required equipment, to determine the values of one or more parameters in order to achieve some performance requirements and, finally, to present the results in the most suitable way. The duration of the exam is 2 hours. The use of any kind of didactic material is not allowed during the exam.

Modalità di esame: Prova scritta tramite l'utilizzo di vLAIB e piattaforma di ateneo;

The students are requested to solve some simple exercises requiring to use the process simulator. In particular, the students have to select the proper model to simulate the process, and, then, to design the required equipment, to determine the values of one or more parameters in order to achieve some performance requirements and, finally, to present the results in the most suitable way. The duration of the exam is 2 hours. The use of any kind of didactic material is not allowed during the exam.