Professor Kokossis holds responsibility for three modules in the five-year Diploma undergraduate course, all related to IPSEN research activities. A number of undergraduate dissertations are carried out every year under the supervision of the IPSEN team. Modules taught are:
Clean Industries and Life Cycle Thinking (7th Semester, 3 ECTS)
The module presents technologies to develop clean industies as well as methods to monitor and improve their sustainability. Part I addresses the use of process integration in reducing waste and in selecting waste treatment technologies. System balances and the Water Pinch concept. Process integration for maximum re-use. Regeneration and re-cycle. Characteristics of effluent treatment. Review of primary and secondary processes. Targeting and design of distributed effuent treatment systems. Retrofit and cost trade-offs with multiple treatment processes. Part II introduces the concept of life cycle thinking. Concept evolution in time (sustainable consumption and production, the precautionary principle). Measuring sustainability (SEEBalance and IChemE metrics). LCA systems methodology. System boundaries, inventory analysis and impact assessment. Allocation procedures and substitution. Mid-point and endpoint assessment methods (CML-2, Eco-Indicator 99). Lectures are combined with working sessions in the class. The module invites work in two projects that involve teamwork and presentations. Computer labs familiarize with publicly available and commercial software in integration (Water) and LCA (CcalC, SimaPro).
Computational Methods of Analysis and Design (8th Semester, 3 ECTS)
This module presents the use of systems and computational methods in the design, synthesis and flowsheeting of chemical processes. Part I – Process modelling and flowsheeting. Classification of flowsheeting technologies. Sequential modular, simultaneous and equation-oriented approaches. Review of basic numerical methods. Precedence order, system decomposition and partitioning. Steward’s method, tearing and popular methods in successive substitution algortihms. Part II – Optimization and synthesis. Basic concepts in constrained, unconstrained and mixed-integer optimization. Superstructure optimization. Synthesis of utility systems. Synthesis of Heat Exchanger Networks. Synthesis of distillation systems. Selection and integration of chemical paths. Syntesis of chemical reactors. Process Operability and flexibilty. The module is assessed by assignments and project work. Computer labs are separately devoted to flowsheeting and synthesis. Using Aspen Plus, computer labs familiarize with basic and advanced functions in flowsheeting. Using GAMS as a platform, simple synthesis problems are explained to familiarize students with optimization and to prepare them for the assignments.
Chemical Process Design and Plant Analysis (9th Semester, 6 ECTS)
Introduction to Chemical Process Design. Process Synthesis and Analysis. Design hierarchy (onion diagram), perfomance criteria (economical, environmental, health and safety, flexibility) and process integration. Engineering Economics (costing and project evaluation). Selection of chemistries and chemical reactors. Selection of separation processes. Trade-offs in the integration of reaction and separation. Analysis of trade-offs, allocation of recycles and analysis of purge streams. Review of basic safety principles. Plant Integration and Analysis. Basic principles of Pinch Analysis and targeting. Design and development of HEN networks for maximum enegy recovery. Trade-offs between cost and energy integration (Supertargets). Design and selection of process utilities. Cogeneration and design of CHP systems. Integration of simple and complex distillation. Integration of other separations. Data extraction. Total Site Analysis. Lectures are combined with working sessions in the class. The module invites work in a large design project that involves teamwork, presentations, a final report and examinations. Computer labs are devoted to flowsheeting software (Aspen Plus, SuperPro, gProms), Process Integration software (PIL), and basic tools in LCA.