Kemiantekniikka - Chemical Engineering

Circular economy and resource efficiency are important aspect in sustainable development within the industry. The course aim is that students gain the skills needed to ensure that circular economy concepts become adopted into the design, development and operation of mainly metal production processes, during its application, end-of-life stage and recycling.Students carry out project works in groups. The topics are from industry, for example side stream processing in metal and steel producing industry, circular economy, eco-design. Different aspects are emphasized in different projects, depending on the topic.

Background. Solution chemistry of hydrometallurgical solutions. Leaching. Treatment of leach solutions by solvent extraction, ion exchange and adsorption. Metals recovery by precipitation and electrochemical methods.

Membrane processes (micro-, ultra- and nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, pervaporation, gas separation, etc.). Manufacturing membranes, membrane materials and structures, phenomena in membrane processes (fouling, concentration polarisation, etc.). Modules. Separation mechanisms. Characterisation of membranes. Applications.

Statistical data-analysis tool for critical process parameters identification using (MODDE-PRO) software: theory&practice, trouble-shooting cases, experimental plan. Week 36-37 Statistical analysis basic principles and terms related to analysis. Exercises related to subject Data regression and model evaluation, trouble-shooting example. Exercises related to subject Design of Experiments. Exercises related to subject Optimization and Model robustness. Exercises related to subject Applying statistical analysis model to explaining physico-chemical phenomena. Exercises related to subject Integration of Process simulation software (ASPEN+) and statistical analysis based correlations (MODDE). The case of water purification plant simulation. Exercises related to subject.

The projects are carried out in groups of five students. The topics are mainly from industry and the design work is done under supervision of industrial partners. The main focus is on energy transition related processes, i.e. carbon capture and utilization, hydrogen economy, and Power-to-X processes, but topics from chemical industry in general, waste treatment and processing, bioprocesses, metal processing, and circular economy, are also possible. A typical topic starts with product analysis covering a brief market survey, comparison of process alternatives, preliminary process design (process flow diagram, mass and energy balances, sizing of main equipment, lay-out, cost and profitability estimation). Different aspects are emphasized in different projects, depending on the topic.

The course covers different process intensification methods and their theoretical background. Teaching involves lectures, assignments, meetings and seminars. The main work will be carried out as a process design project assignment where students will work in teams aiming to intensify a process given by the teacher. Each team will write a report and present their results in seminar. The topics focus mainly on intensification of different Power-to-X processes, such as production of E-fuels, carbon neutral products, energy storage etc.

– Chemical and physical properties, determination of chemical components in process simulation- Property estimation methods – Chemical process material and energy balances, sizing, costing and economical evaluation – Process performance analysis, process evaluation and optimization– Chemical process synthesis, Biorefinery process synthesis: objectives and steps – Simulation strategies for Power-to-X chemicals syntheses, transitions from CO2 and H2 – Synthesis of separation sequences – Energy integration in process design.

Design methods and scale-up of fluid mixers, rheology, mixing effects in chemical reactors. Theoretical basics of CFD in chemical engineering with Power-to-X aspects and ability to solve basic mixing problems with CFD. COMSOL Multiphysics software.

Kemiantekniikan yksikköoperaatioiden, erityisesti reaktoreiden ja mallinnus ja parametrien estimointi käyttämällä MATLAB-ohjelmistoa. Kurssilla käydään lävitse muutamia yleisiä yksikköoperaatioita, mm. panosreaktorit, jatkuvatoimiset reaktorit (CSTR), putkireaktorit ja Flash-tislaus. Yksikköoperaatioista rakennetaan sekä vakiotilaiset ja aikariippuvat mallit, reaktioiden riippuvuus lämpötilasta ja reaktoreiden lämmönsiirto

The knowledge discovery is referring to the overall process of discovering useful knowledge from data. The knowledge discovery process is interactive and iterative and involves several steps starting from studying the application domain and ending to use of the information discovered. Process data analysis can be part of this process. Fundamental concepts - such as reliability of data, preprocessing (e.g., de-noising, handling missing data, and scaling strategy), data reduction, choosing methodology, validation, modelling, etc - will be addressed in tutorials, Moodle assignments, and discussions. A project work will be carried out in small groups that will define their working methodology. The course is suitable for distance learning.

The course will introduce the most important processing technologies that enable the implementation of circular economy, such as recycling and recovery as well as separation and purification technologies. The approach of the course is mainly solution based and thus aims to show practical examples on the utilization of different technologies in solving different kind of challenges in circular economy. A special emphasis is laid on topical themes, such as recycling and upgrading of plastic, electric, packaging and textile waste as well as on the production of biofuels. The course will also introduce the concept of ecodesign as a tool to manage the complex value chains in circular economy.

Course will be divided in two parts: Part I: Solution Chemistry (2 cr): Ideal, ideally dilute, and real solutions. The Debye-Hückel theory for electrolyte solutions. Pitzer equations for real electrolyte solutions. Equilibrium in electrolyte solutions. (1. period) Part II: Fundamentals of Electrochemistry (3 cr): Conductivity and capacitance. Electrolysis cells and galvanic cells. Potential differences across Liquid junctions. Basics of electrochemical analysis. Electrochemical energy storage: Batteries and fuel cells. Electrodes and electrode reactions. Electrode kinetics: Current-voltage characteristics of charge-transfer reactions. Reaction order. Two laboratory works included (can be conducted remotely with help of videos) (2. period) Student can conduct only Part I or both parts.

This course includes the use of scientific databases to find research results and knowledge including critical source assessment. The students will make individual or group workshops on selected research topics where they find knowledge of what is known today. They will learn to search the knowledge gap to propose research objectives, to identify promising scientific methods, and to plan for research. Students will learn to process the results to check the reliability of their results and their research hypothesis. Finally, the course will help to present the research results in presentation, thesis, or peer reviewed scientific journals. 

In the course it is told how to work safely in laboratory and which risks you should notice. In addition the chemical handling chain is explained and material safety data sheets are read. Different personal protection equipment are shown and how to choose them. The action in emergency and exceptional situations are handled as well as the roles and responsibilities of personnel in organization are discussed.

During the course the student will learn about the relevant instructions affecting his/her studies and how to generate a personal study plan. The student will familiarize him/herself with the relevant staff of his/her degree programme and with the services provided by e.g. the Library, Study Services and Career Services.

The thesis is a research or design project. Students must demonstrate the ability to complete the project independently and following a plan. A report is prepared following the LUT instructions for the Master's thesis.

Most of industrial sectors are facing a new era that requires companies to transform their operations, create new business models and foster a digital culture. In this context, the industry is facing a changing talent landscape, necessitating of new skillsets in their workforce. Companies need to ensure that their staffs are properly constituted to support this transformation process. During the course, entrepreneurship skills as well as innovative thinking for engineers will be trained using the examples from raw material sector. Case studies will bring the understanding of skills and competences of the future workforce and current trends of the industrial revolution.

Kurssilla käydään läpi: Biojalostamoiden merkitys yhteiskunnalle ja elinkeinoelämälle, sekä esimerkkejä erillaisita biojalostaloista Suomessa ja ulkomailla -Yleisimmät raaka-aineet Suomessa ja ulkomailla, sisältäen myös yleiset sivutuotteet mm. metsäteollisuudesta -Eri kuitutuotteiden valmistusprosessit, mm. perinteinen sellu sekä tekstiilikuidut - Hemisellullosa ligniini ja hiilutuoteiden valmistusprosessit - Biopolttoaineiden valmistusprosessit ja muutamien kemikaakaalien valmistusprosessit  

Aineiden vaaralliset ominaisuudet ja materiaalivalintojen pääperiaatteet. Prosessiturvallisuus, turvallisuustoimenpiteet ja riskin käsite. Prosessien vaarojen arviointimenetelmät. Työturvallisuuden perusteet prosessityössä. Toiveissa saada kurssille vierailijaluento Henkilökohtaisessa harjoitystyössä opiskelija tutustuu tarkemmin vaarojen arviointiin.

Prosessisimuloinnin käyttö ja perusteet. Prosessin simulointikaavio. Steady-state –simulointi. Simulointiohjelmiston rakenne ja käyttö. Kemian prosessien aine- ja energiataseiden laskenta käyttäen kaupallista kemian alan simulaattoria (Aspen Plus).