Unlike previous decades where the improvement of chemical processes was driven by in-depth knowledge in unit operations, the next decade of innovation will focus more on tailormade end-to-end process value chains. Facing the current challenge to reach carbon emission reduction without compromising in productivity and competitiveness it is essential to identify new and perhaps unusual process routes.

In this lecture new approaches will be discussed how to achieve net carbon zero, by identifying the overall optimum of a value chain and bringing each single process step into a more holistic view. Beside the energy and raw material consumption new variables come into play, like the type of energy used, portion of recycled materials, heat integration and carbon minimization which leads to a very complex multi-objective task. New strategies beyond classical process engineering approaches have to be developed. To address such multilevel complexity efficiently and to answer the core questions as, how different scientific and technical disciplines should collaborate, and how to implement alternative resources and advanced technologies into the existing value chains more efficiently, we need to understand the interaction and missing knowledge links on different levels.

The Green Process Value Chain will be introduced by means of several examples from chemical industry and beyond. Modern digital tools e.g. based on Artificial Intelligence will be discussed and in student exercises elaborated how they can contribute to deliver advanced sustainable solutions.

Weiterlesen