Purdue University School of Chemical Engineering Graduate seminar series Prof. Shinji Hasebe Department of Chemical Engineering Kyoto University, Japan "Process Systems Engineering for Realizing Micro Chemical Plants" November 12, 2013 9:00-10:15 a.m. FRNY G140 Reception at 8:30 a.m. in Henson Atrium Abstract: The production of high value-added products requires the precise control of temperature, flow pattern and residence time. It is difficult for conventional plants to satisfy these requirements. Many researchers have discussed the availability of the micro-systems for production. However, to realize the micro chemical plants, the contribution of PSE is essential. In this lecture, the design and control problems of micro chemical plants are discussed from the viewpoint of process systems engineering. One of the dominant characteristics of the design problem of micro devices is that the shape of the device should be included in the design variables in addition to the volume of the device. Three types of systematic shape design methods will be explained using case studies. Because of the difference of the characteristic size, micro chemical plants require different instrumentation and control systems from conventional chemical plants. Some control systems, which are suitable for the micro chemical plants are demonstrated. In real micro chemical plants, the blockage of the channels is the crucial problem for long stable operation. In the presentation, the latest blockage detection system for parallelized micro process is explained. Bio: Professor Hasebe received his B.E., M.E. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering from Kyoto University in 1976, 1978 and 1984. He became an assistant professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Kyoto University in 1981. After the experience of lecturer and associate professor, he is a full professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering since 2003. He is Vice Chairman of the Committee for International Academic Exchange of the Graduate School of Engineering at Kyoto University since April 2010, and organized the NEDO national project named "Development of Microspace and Nanospace Reaction Environment Technology for Functional Materials" as project leader. His research areas are design and operation of micro chemical plants, supply chain management, synthesis of environmentally benign processes and the synthesis of separation processes.