Understanding Batch Chemical Processes

Batch chemical processes, so often employed in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical fields, differ significantly from standard continuous operations in the emphasis upon time as a critical factor in their synthesis and design. With this inclusive guide to batch chemical processes, the author introduces the reader to key aspects in mathematical modeling of batch processes and presents techniques to overcome the computational complexity in order to yield models that are solvable in near real-time. This book demonstrates how batch processes can be analyzed, synthesized, and designed optimally using proven mathematical formulations. The text effectively demonstrates how water and energy aspects can be incorporated within the scheduling framework that seeks to capture the essence of time. It presents real-life case studies where mathematical modeling of batch plants has been successfully applied.

Batch chemical processes, so often employed in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical fields, differ significantly from standard continuous operations in the emphasis upon time as a critical factor in their synthesis and design. With this inclusive guide to batch chemical processes, the author introduces the reader to key aspects in mathematical modeling of batch processes and presents techniques to overcome the computational complexity in order to yield models that are solvable in near real-time. This book demonstrates how batch processes can be analyzed, synthesized, and designed optimally using proven mathematical formulations. The text effectively demonstrates how water and energy aspects can be incorporated within the scheduling framework that seeks to capture the essence of time. It presents real-life case studies where mathematical modeling of batch plants has been successfully applied.

Batch processes are used to manufacture many fine organic chemicals, and as such they can be considered to underpin much of the modern chemical industry. Despite widespread use and a consequent huge contribution to wealth creation, batch processes have attracted limited attention outside the user industries. Batch chemicals processing uses a number of core techniques and technologies, such as scheduling and sequence control, agitation and batch filtration. The combination of these technologies with often complex chemistry, the multi-purpose nature of much of this type of plant, the distinctive safety and environmental issues, and a fast moving commercial environment makes the development of a successful batch process a considerable challenge for the chemist or engineer. The literature on the topics covered in this book is fragmented and often not easily accessible, so this handbook has been written to address this problem and to bring together design and process analysis methods in the core areas of batch process design. By combining the science and pragmatism required in the development of successful batch processes this new book provides answers to real problems in an accessible and concise way. Written by an international team of authors drawn from industry, consulting and academe, this book is an essential part of the library of any chemist, technologist or engineer working on the development of new or existing batch processes.

“Batch Chemical Process Integration: Analysis, Synthesis and Optimization” is an excellent source of information on state-of-the-art mathematical and graphical techniques for analysis, synthesis and optimization of batch chemical plants. It covers recent techniques in batch process integration with a particular focus on the capabilities of the mathematical techniques. There is a section on graphical techniques as well as performance comparison between graphical and mathematical techniques. Prior to delving into the intricacies of wastewater minimisation and heat integration in batch processes, the book introduces the reader to the basics of scheduling which is aimed at capturing the essence of time. A chapter on the synthesis of batch plants to highlight the importance of time in design of batch plants is also presented through a real-life case study. The book is targeted at undergraduates and postgraduate students, researchers in batch process integration, practising engineers and technical managers.

Batch chemical processing has in the past decade enjoyed a return to respectability as a valuable, effective, and often preferred mode of process operation. This book provides the first comprehensive and authoritative coverage that reviews the state of the art development in the field of batch chemical systems engineering, applications in various chemical industries, current practice in different parts of the world, and future technical challenges. Developments in enabling computing technologies such as simulation, mathematical programming, knowledge based systems, and prognosis of how these developments would impact future progress in the batch domain are covered. Design issues for complex unit processes and batch plants as well as operational issues such as control and scheduling are also addressed.

Reduced time to market, lower production costs, and improved flexibility are critical success factors for batch processes. Their ability to handle variations in feedstock and product specifications has made them key to the operation of multipurpose facilities, and therefore quite popular in the specialty chemical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and

Batch reaction systems pose unique challenges to process safety managers because they do not operate in a steady state. The sequence of processing steps, and frequent start-ups and shutdowns, increase the possibility of human errors and equipment failures. And, since batch plants are often designed for shared use, frequent modification of piping and layout may occur, resulting in complex "management of change" issues. This book identifies the singular concerns of batch reaction systems—including potential sources of unsafe conditions—and provides a "how-to" guide for the practicing engineer in dealing with them by applying appropriate practices to prevent accidents.