Mathematical modeling in chemical engineering: From lab-scale to field studies

In this work we discuss four different problems where mathematical modeling gives us insight into system behavior. Most chemical plants are characterized by an upstream reactor coupled to a downstream separator unit via a recycle stream. The steady state behavior of a representative system is analyzed for the maximum number of steady states which are admissible Different flow regimes in single and two phase-flows are discussed with a view to understanding mixing phenomena in micro-fluidics. In single phase flows Deans vortices cause mixing while in two phase slugs the mixing is caused by internal circulations. Bubble column reactors are heterogeneous systems characterized by turbulent flows. Flow fields are measured experimentally using PIV and these can be validated using computational fluid dynamics. In the context of Air Quality monitoring, field data are analyzed using statistical methods. This is used to predict source contributions to air quality levels in a region and to evaluate different control options. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.