Chapter 16
Modeling, Simulation and Optimization
of Process Chains
Michele Spinola, Alexander Keimer, Doris Segets, Lukas Pflug,
and Günter Leugering
Abstract Processes in the field of chemical engineering do not consist of one single step, but typically a high number of strongly interconnected unit operations
linked with recycling streams. This inherent complexity further exacerbates when
distributed particle properties, i.e., dispersity, must be considered, noteworthy being
the case whenever particulate products are in focus. Out of all five possible dimensions of dispersity (size, shape, composition, surface and structure) particle size most
often determines the efficiency of particulate products. Thus, its optimization is key
to reach tailored handling and end product properties. In this work, a model-based
optimization tool for particle synthesis was elaborated which is often the first step
M. Spinola
Department of Mathematics, Applied Analysis (Alexander von Humboldt-Professorship),
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Cauerstraße 11, 91058 Erlangen,
Germany
e-mail: michele.spinola@fau.de
A. Keimer
UC Berkeley, Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS), 109 McLaughlin Hall, Berkeley, CA
94720, USA
e-mail: keimer@berkeley.edu
D. Segets
Process Technology for Electrochemical Functional Materials, Institute for Combustion and Gas
Dynamics-Reactive Fluids (IVG-RF), and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE),
Carl-Benz-Straße 199, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
e-mail: doris.segets@uni-due.de
L. Pflug
Central Institute for Scientific Computing, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
(FAU), Martensstraße 5a, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
e-mail: lukas.pflug@fau.de
Department of Mathematics, Chair of Applied Mathematics (Continuous Optimization),
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Cauerstraße 11, 91058 Erlangen,
Germany
G. Leugering (B)
Department of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics 2, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität
Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Cauerstraße 11, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
e-mail: guenter.leugering@fau.de
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
S. Heinrich (ed.), Dynamic Flowsheet Simulation of Solids Processes,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45168-4_16
549
Modeling, Simulation and Optimization
of Process Chains
Michele Spinola, Alexander Keimer, Doris Segets, Lukas Pflug,
and Günter Leugering
Abstract Processes in the field of chemical engineering do not consist of one single step, but typically a high number of strongly interconnected unit operations
linked with recycling streams. This inherent complexity further exacerbates when
distributed particle properties, i.e., dispersity, must be considered, noteworthy being
the case whenever particulate products are in focus. Out of all five possible dimensions of dispersity (size, shape, composition, surface and structure) particle size most
often determines the efficiency of particulate products. Thus, its optimization is key
to reach tailored handling and end product properties. In this work, a model-based
optimization tool for particle synthesis was elaborated which is often the first step
M. Spinola
Department of Mathematics, Applied Analysis (Alexander von Humboldt-Professorship),
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Cauerstraße 11, 91058 Erlangen,
Germany
e-mail: michele.spinola@fau.de
A. Keimer
UC Berkeley, Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS), 109 McLaughlin Hall, Berkeley, CA
94720, USA
e-mail: keimer@berkeley.edu
D. Segets
Process Technology for Electrochemical Functional Materials, Institute for Combustion and Gas
Dynamics-Reactive Fluids (IVG-RF), and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE),
Carl-Benz-Straße 199, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
e-mail: doris.segets@uni-due.de
L. Pflug
Central Institute for Scientific Computing, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
(FAU), Martensstraße 5a, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
e-mail: lukas.pflug@fau.de
Department of Mathematics, Chair of Applied Mathematics (Continuous Optimization),
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Cauerstraße 11, 91058 Erlangen,
Germany
G. Leugering (B)
Department of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics 2, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität
Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Cauerstraße 11, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
e-mail: guenter.leugering@fau.de
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
S. Heinrich (ed.), Dynamic Flowsheet Simulation of Solids Processes,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45168-4_16
549