The Department of Chemical Engineering welcomes you to a seminar by Dr. Jesse Zhu, who will be speaking about process integration & intensification developing new industrial applications from traditional chemical engineering processes.
Abstract
Chemical Engineering processes can be made more intensive through Process Intensification and more efficient through Process Integration. While both concepts are not new, a combination of the two have not been paid enough attention, although Process Integration and Process Intensification (PIPI) can often leads to excellent process designs. Fluidization (either gas-solid or liquid-solid) provides very efficient heat and mass transfers, given the intimate contact between the fluid phase and the particulate solid phase, and thus intensification. And the combination of multiple fluidized beds allows more processes to be completed in one system, given the easy transportation of fluid and particles among the multiple units, and thus integration. The concept of PIPI is first introduced using the well established Fluid Catalytic Cracking process and the benefits of PIPI is then demonstrated following the development history of the new liquid-solid circulating fluidized bed for applications in biological processes. In the circulating fluidized bed system, process integration lies in the combination of two columns (the riser and the downer units), which operate separately and simultaneously; while process intensification is embodied in the improved mass and heat transfer efficiency in each unit because particles are rigorously in contact among and collide with each other when fluidized. The unique PIPI feature contributes to successful developments of several bio-processes.
Biographical Sketch
Dr. Jesse Zhu is a Distinguished University Professor and Canada Research Chair in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Western University. He received his Bachelor Degree from Tsinghua University in 1982 and his PhD from the University of British Columbia in 1988. After working several years at Shell Central Laboratory in Amsterdam, he decided to return to academics. At Western University, he established the Particle Technology Research Centre in 1999 and developed a very successful Research Chair Program in Particle Technology Applications, through which he has trained over 250 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, including 30+ professors world-wide and Fellows of Canadian Academy of Engineering. With 500+ journal publications and 50+ patents, he has worked on a very wide range of R&D projects, many from the industry. In addition to fundamental research, he is particularly active in technology development and transfer, with several inventions commercialized or being commercialized.
Dr. Zhu is a Fellow of Royal Society of Canada and Canadian Academy of Engineering. He has also received many awards including the highest career (R.S.Jane) award from the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering, the highest Particle Technology (Elsevier) Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the highest research award (Hellmuth) from Western University, and two major medals from Engineering Institute of Canada and Professional Engineers of Ontario.