Flurin Haenseler

ETHZ

June 28, 2011, 11:00, Room GC A3 30 (click here for the map)

Modeling and optimization in Process Engineering

As a Process Engineering student, I am highly interested in methodologies for improving the operation of a technical process. Such techniques typically involve the design of a process model, detailed simulations as well as the development of control systems leading to optimum plant operation. Many times the skills and techniques used by process engineers overlap those applied and developed in operations research. In this seminar, I would like to talk about a chemical transport process I was involved during an internship and about a model on which I am currently working in the framework of my Master thesis. The goal of the former project was to optimize an industrial plant with respect to several criteria by employing a purely statistical analysis; the aim of my current work is to analyze a micro reaction using a physical (non-parametric) model and subsequently to optimize the reaction yield. I will keep my focus on the philosophy of process engineering which can be appreciated without an engineering background.

Bio

Flurin H�nseler is a MSc candidate in Process Engineering at ETH Z�rich, from which he holds a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering. He is currently conducting his Master thesis at MIT's Department of Chemical Engineering, for which he receives financial support from the Ernest Solvay Foundation. He has been a member of the Swiss Study Foundation since 2008; during his studies he concentrated on modeling and optimization of both technical and non-technical systems.