What is the Laboratory for Chemical Process Engineering?

 Process engineering is the engineering science that deals with material conversion processes. Such processes are important in the chemical industry, pharmaceutical industry, but also in the building materials industry, energy production, food industry and environmental technology.

Examples of material conversion processes:

• Production of chemical products
• Spray drying of milk powder
• Extraction, cleaning and crystallisation of sugar
• Pressing tablets
• Cleaning wastewater...

Above all, process engineering plays a key role in the upcoming transformation of the materials economy. Since chemical products will have to be manufactured from renewable raw materials and energies in the future, a wealth of new processes and factories will be needed in the coming decades that can still meet the constantly growing demand for substances and materials. In this context, the interlinking of process engineering with the transport and energy sectors is becoming increasingly important, as the availability of renewable energies is variable and must therefore always be used with the greatest possible benefit. For this reason, the methods used in computer science will also be more strongly incorporated into the job profile.

In accordance with the industrial sectors listed above, there are many different areas of application in development, production, sales, plant construction, banks, insurance companies and public authorities.

Recognised as a key technology in industry, chemical engineering graduates have very good career opportunities.

In the courses, knowledge of the so-called basic operations of mechanical and thermal process engineering and the associated fundamentals are taught in a practical manner.

The objective of the course is to find out about the fundamentals of process engineering. This includes the classic basic process engineering operations and their computational recording through balances and with the help of the similarity theory.

The main focuses are the basic mechanical and thermal processes for separating, combining and processing substances. In addition, the basics of heat transfer are also studied.

A practical course accompanies lectures and exercises:

The most important chapters of the lecture and exercise material are deepened and supplemented by means of laboratory experiments.

Examples for practical experiments:

• Rectification of a two-substance mixture
• Heat transfer in the double tube heat exchanger
• Extraction
• Filtration
• Screening analysis
• Optimisation of a ball mill

Theses are carried out in the various subject areas of chemical engineering. In the process, students can work on interesting and practical projects within the framework of research and development at the university of applied sciences, or Bachelor's and Master's theses can be carried out in industrial companies, whilst being supervised by a university lecturer.