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CHIM-H531

Design of chemical plants

année académique
2024-2025
2025-2026

Titulaire(s) du cours

Frédéric DEBASTE (Coordonnateur) et Tom VAN ASSCHE

Crédits ECTS

5

Langue(s) d'enseignement

anglais

Contenu du cours

Design of Chemical Plant is a comprehensive course that introduces students to the principles and practices involved in designing industrial chemical facilities. It covers the integration of chemical process design with mechanical, electrical, and safety considerations. Key topics include process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), equipment sizing and selection, material and energy balances, site selection, and economic evaluation. Students learn to apply simulation tools and design standards to optimize plant layout, ensure operational safety, and meet environmental regulations. The course emphasizes project-based learning, where students develop a complete plant design from concept to feasibility analysis

Objectifs (et/ou acquis d'apprentissages spécifiques)

This course intends to give a global view of the design of chemical plant from scratch.Classical chemical engineering tools that have been studied previously in the curriculum are completed by safety analysis tools, project management approaches, design of detailed Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID) and economical aspects of a chemical plant.

Méthodes d'enseignement et activités d'apprentissages

First, insight on practical real examples of various aspects of chemical plant design such as HAZOP, P&ID, finance, planning and project execution will be given. This part includes guest lectures from lecturers with industrial background (e.g.  Billfinger, Worley, Solvay, ...). Presence to this part of the course is mandatory.

Second, students will be grouped and must prepare and teach a session or a video  (10-20 min per student) on 1 theoretical subject (e.g. P&ID, Financial aspects as CAPEX/OPEX, HAZOP, project management, PESTLE, ATEX, Pinch Technology...). Presence to the courses given by other students is mandatory.

Third, the students are regrouped. Each student of these groups (approximately 4 students per group) should have discussed a different subject in the second part of the course. Each group will have to lead a chemical plant design project based on a fictious problem using the tools discussed in the first two parts. Presence to this part is not mandatory: students should manage their working time in group to reach the objective.

Support(s) de cours

  • Université virtuelle

Contribution au profil d'enseignement

This teaching unit contributes to the following competences:

  • In-depth knowledge and understanding of integrated structural design methods in the framework of a global design strategy

  • In-depth knowledge and understanding of the advanced methods and theories to schematize and model complex problems or processes

  • Reformulate complex engineering problems in order to solve them (simplifying assumptions, reducing complexity)

  • Work in an industrial environment with attention to safety, quality assurance, communication and reporting

  • Think critically about and evaluate projects, systems and processes, particularly when based on incomplete, contradictory and/or redundant information

  • A critical attitude towards one’s own results and those of others

  • Consciousness of the ethical, social, environmental and economic context of his/her work and strives for sustainable solutions to engineering problems including safety and quality assurance aspects

  • The flexibility and adaptability to work in an international and/or intercultural context

Autres renseignements

Contacts

Frédéric Debaste (frederic.debaste@ulb.be)
Tom Van Assche (tom.van.assche@vub.be)

Campus

Plaine

Evaluation

Méthode(s) d'évaluation

  • Examen oral
  • Travail de groupe
  • Autre

Examen oral

  • Question ouverte à développement long

Travail de groupe

Autre

1. Permanent evaluation about the participation of the student to the two first parts of the course. Feedback on this note can be asked by email at the end of the course. Unallowed absences to the sessions of the first part of the course lead to a "0" note for this part of the course, one unallowed absence can be tolerated. 

2. A mark about the course (or video) given by the student during the second part of the course. Feedback will be given at the end of the day during which this course is given. Unallowed absences to the sessions of the second part of the course lead to a "0" note for this part of the course. 

3. A final evaluation of the project based on (I) an oral exam evaluation and (II) a written report. Feedback will be given orally at the end of the oral examination. Not sending the report or not showing up to the oral evaluation leads to a global note of "Absent". 

In second session, only the third part of the evalution can be passed. The 2 first elements are automatically taken from the first session.

Construction de la note (en ce compris, la pondération des notes partielles)

The final mark is composed :

  1. 5% on permanent evaluation for the participation of the student in the mandatory classes
  2. 15% on the video/course prepared
  3. 30% on the group report 
  4. 50% on the final exam

Langue(s) d'évaluation

  • anglais

Programmes