ON THE MINLP APPROACH FOR OPTIMAL DESIGN OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SYSTEMS (I) A GLOBAL OPTIMIZATION METHOD FOR NONCONVEX MINLP PROBLEMS

An algorithm for global optimization of a class of nonconvex MINLP problems is devel-oped and presented in this paper.By partitioning the variables,dual representation of the primal ofsubproblems and outer-approximation strategy are used to develop a representative relaxed iterativeproblem.Then the original MINLP problem is replaced by a series of subproblems and relaxediterative problems.By exploiting the particular form of the nonconvex MINLP problem,the feasibleregion of this problem is explicitly included in the representative problem,thus the inconvenienceencountered with the GBD method can be avoided.The proposed method is illustrated andinterpreted geometrically with an example problem.     

A paradigm-based evolution of chemical engineering

A short presentation of chemical engineering evolution,as guided by its paradigms,is exposed.The first paradigm–unit operations–has emerged as a necessity of systematization due to the explosion of chemical industrial applications at the end of 19th century.The birth in the late 1950s of the second paradigm–transport phenomena–was the consequence of the need for a deep,scienti fic knowledge of the phenomena that explain what happens inside of unit operations.In the second part of 20th century,the importance of chemical product properties and qualities has become essentially in the market fights.Accordingly,it was required with additional and even new fundamental approaches,and product engineering was recognized as the third paradigm.Nowadays chemical industry,as a huge materials and energy consumer,and with a strong ecological impact,couldn't remain outside of sustainability requirements.The basics of the fourth paradigm–sustainable chemical engineering–are now formulated.     

通过化工产品工程开发可持续的技术来控制斑纹蚌种群

The zebra mussel is an important aquatic pest that causes great damage to freshwater-dependent industries, due to biofouling. The main goal of the project discussed here is to develop improved solutions to control this species. Three approaches have been explored in an attempt to design innovative application strategies for existing biocides： （i） encapsulation of toxins; （ii） combination of toxins; （iii） investigation of the seasonal variation of the species＇ tolerance to toxins. In this paper, the principles behind these approaches and the major results on each topic are presented. The benefits of adopting a chemical product engineering approach in conducting this project are also discussed.     

Scoping biology-inspired chemical engineering

Biology is a rich source of great ideas that can inspire us to find successful ways to solve the challenging problems in engineering practices including those in the chemical industry. Bio-inspired chemical engineering(Bio Ch E)may be recognized as a significant branch of chemical engineering. It may consist of, but not limited to, the following three aspects: 1) Chemical engineering principles and unit operations in biological systems; 2) Process engineering principles for producing existing or developing new chemical products through living ‘devices';and 3) Chemical engineering processes and equipment that are designed and constructed through mimicking(does not have to reproduce one hundred percent) the biological systems including their physical–chemical and mechanical structures to deliver uniquely beneficial performances. This may also include the bio-inspired sensors for process monitoring. In this paper, the above aspects are defined and discussed which establishes the scope of BioChE.     

Similarity Solution in Chemical Engineering Guided by Dimensional Analysis

Similarity solution is a classical topic in chemical engineering,frequently encountered in analysis of flow and transport phenomena in semi-infinite domains.In this article,dimensional analysis is applied to resolve systematically the conditions for the existence of similarity solutions and formulate a basic procedure to get such solutions.With several classic examples,the method for finding the suitable combination of independent variables from original ones is demonstrated,so that the original partial differential equation can be transformed into a simpler ordinary differential equation,through which the desired similarity solution is finally achieved.In-depth analysis of one-dimensional diffusion/reaction problems by dimensional analysis results in some new insights.The elaboration is significant for deep insight of similarity solution and its application in chemical engineering.     

Preparation and characterization of neodymium hydroxide powder via the hydration method

The preparation of Nd(OH)₃ powder by the direct hydration method using Nd₂O₃ as a raw material was studied, and the effects of stirring mode, H₂O and Nd₂O₃ molar ratio, stirring rate, and reaction time on temperature change and conversion rate in a hydration system were analyzed. The reasonable process conditions for the direct hydration of Nd(OH)₃ by Nd₂O₃ were then determined. Process, morphology, and structure were considered in the preparation of neodymium hydroxide powder, and its composition was investigated by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, laser particle size analysis, thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis, and chemical analysis. It has been proved that the process is simple and feasible, in line with the concept of modern green chemistry, and the products also meet the market requirements.     

Cell-free synthetic biology in the new era of enzyme engineering

With the gradual rise of enzyme engineering, it has played an essential role in synthetic biology, medicine, and biomanufacturing. However, due to the limitation of the cell membrane, the complexity of cellular metabolism, the difficulty of controlling the reaction environment, and the toxicity of some metabolic products in traditional in vivo enzyme engineering, it is usually problematic to express functional enzymes and produce a high yield of synthesized compounds. Recently, cell-free synthetic biology methods for enzyme engineering have been proposed as alternative strategies. This cell-free method has no limitation of the cell membrane and no need to maintain cell viability, and each biosynthetic pathway is highly flexible. This property makes cell-free approaches suitable for the production of valuable products such as functional enzymes and chemicals that are difficult to synthesize. This article aims to discuss the latest advances in cell-free enzyme engineering, assess the trend of this developing topical filed, and analyze its prospects.     

Exploring novel cell cryoprotectants based on neutral amino acids

Cryoprotectants play a key role in cell cryopreservation because they can reduce cryoinjuries to cells associated with ice formation. To meet the clinical requirements of cryopreserved cells, cryoprotectants should be biocompatible, highly efficient and easily removable from cryopreserved cells. However, integration of these properties into one cryoprotectant still remains challenging. Herein, three biocompatible neutral amino acids, including β-alanine, γ-aminobutyric acid and ε-aminocaproic acid, are first reported to have the potential as such ideal cryoprotectants. The results demonstrate that they can inhibit ice formation and reduce osmotic stress to provide extracellular and intracellular protection, thereby ensuring high cryopreservation efficiency for both anuclear and nucleated cells. More importantly, due to the remarkable osmotic regulation ability, the neutral amino acids can be rapidly removed from cryopreserved cells via a one-step method without causing observable damage to cells, superior to the current state-of-the-art cryoprotectants—dimethyl sulfoxide and glycerol. This work provides a new perspective to develop novel cryoprotectants, which may have dramatic impacts on solvent-free cryopreservation technology to support the cell-based applications, such as cell therapy and tissue engineering, etc.     

Microscale and Nanoscale Process Systems Engineering: Challenge and Progress

This is an overview of the development of process systems engineering (PSE) in a smaller world. Two different spatio-temporal scopes are identified for microscale and nanoscale process systems. The features and challenges for each scale are reviewed, and different methodologies used by them discussed. Comparison of these two new areas with traditional process systems engineering is described. If microscale PSE could be considered as an extension of traditional PSE, nanoscale PSE should be accepted as a new discipline which has looser connection with the extant core of chemical engineering. Since "molecular factories" is the next frontier of processing scale, nanoscale PSE will be the new theory to handle the design, simulation and operation of those active processing systems.     

化学工程专业学位硕士研究生产学融合协同培养模式探讨

分析了专业学位研究生培养过程中的问题,提出了"产学融合协同培养"专业硕士培养模式,建立了"化学工程专业硕士研究生‘产学融合协同培养’基地",从选题原则、协同指导、共享成果三个方面论述了基地运行方法,并进行了案例分析。结果表明,专业硕士研究生"产学融合协同培养"模式切实可行。     

化学产品工程再认识

化学产品工程作为化学工程学科的一个新方向或化学工程学科的新范式已提出很多年,但学术界对其学科内涵理解不一。本文对化学产品工程的学科内涵进行了分析和探讨,认为其核心是通过过程和设备对产品的纳微结构和复杂大分子结构进行调控;化学产品工程仍隶属过程工程,是面向高附加值产品、实现产品结构可控、定向、高效制备的过程工程。通过与传统的以满足市场需求和提高生产效率为目标的过程开发和放大的化学工程研究类比,提出了化学产品工程的主要研究内容,并讨论了其研究的方法论问题,以推动相关的基础研究工作。     

《化工设计》课程的教学探讨

化工设计是化学工程与工艺专业的专业必修课。文章结合教学实践对化工设计课程教学中存在的不足进行了总结，并提出了注重培养工程观念、相关课程以设计为主线、加强计算机的应用训练和加强化工设计的实践训练四点建议。     

加强能源化学工程研究

能源产业是国民经济的支柱产业，能源科学技术水平强烈地制约着一个国家的经济发展与社会进步。从一次能源到次级能源转化的大多数过程实质上是工业化学过程。从发展能源技术的需要出发，进行高水平的化学工程研究，不仅加速新能源技术的开发具有十分重要的意义，而且也是化学工程作为一门独立学科自身发展的推动力。     

通用化学品-精细化学品-专用化学品:产业和技术导向的跨世纪转型

随着产业转型、市场竞争、以及技术革命的发展,精细化学品、专用化学品和医药健康化学品正在逐渐替代通用化学品成为化工研究开发的一个重要趋势。本文论述介绍了化学产品工程的新概念,以及关键技术、应用和研究进展。     

R. Byron Bird: The integration of transport phenomena into chemical engineering

This article, as is this issue of the AIChE Journal, is a tribute to R. Byron Bird, who has had a profound impact on the discipline of chemical engineering, playing a dominant role in the chemical engineering science paradigm shift that occurred around 1960. His textbook, Transport Phenomena, with Warren Stewart and Edwin Lightfoot, fundamentally changed the way chemical engineers are taught fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and mass transfer. By showing the interconnections among molecular, microscopic, and macroscopic treatments of these three transport processes, as well as the underlying similarities among the three transport processes, he has enabled chemical engineers to contribute to many new areas. In his research he has focused on polymeric fluids – their rheology and fluid mechanics – again spanning molecular to macroscopic problems. Bird is also known throughout the profession as a superb teacher and lecturer. He is gifted in languages and music, and he has a great love of the outdoors. In this article, I try to highlight some of Bird's history and accomplishments in these many areas. His influence is clear in the papers that follow. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 1219–1224, 2014     

改进化工原理实验的教学方法保证教学质量

化工原理实验是我校化工专业及相关专业必修的一门基础实验课程,为了使学生真正地学好这门实验课程,文章结合本校的实际情况,也参考了其他高校的教学方法,提出了一些可行的合理化建议,同时也总结了我校几年来的一些实践经验。     

化学制药工艺学课程更新配套教学方法的设计与评价

化学制药工艺学是一门与生产实践结合性强的专业课程。随着制药工程学科的发展和内容的更新,要求配套新的教学方法。本文结合新技术、新方法,充分利用多媒体教学设备、 Internet、各种仿真和工程计算软件辅助教学,以项目设计课题为导向,培养学生独立解决问题的能力,并开展新教学方法的设计和评价。结果表明该教学方法效果好,学生创新设计能力显著提高,可为化学制药工艺学创新教育提供借鉴。     

化学产品工程的理论和技术

随着市场竞争的加剧，以产品需求为导向开发满足最终使用性能的化学品成为化学工程研究发展的一个重要趋势。本文介绍了化学产品工程概念的产生和发展，论述了分子产品工程、配方产品工程、柔性制造过程等化学产品工程各个子领域的关键技术、应用和研究进展。     

化学工程:过去、现在与未来

介绍了化学工程学科的发展历程，阐述了学科的技术进展，并对未来的发展作出展望。