Laboratory for Automation and Measurement

The Croatian Society of Chemical Engineers and Technologists, in partnership with the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, conducts STEM workshops titled "Knowledge + Creativity = STEM Inspiration". Through this project, we promote STEM fields with interactive educational workshops and promotional activities. Our laboratory participates in this initiative with the workshops "The World of Infrared Thermography" and "Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning".

On 4 November 2025, Assoc. Prof. Željka Ujević Andrijić participated in the Croatian Symposium on Artificial Intelligence with a lecture entitled Application of Machine Learning in Chemical Engineering. The Symposium was organized by the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts. She addressed methodological and practical aspects of applying machine learning methods in chemical engineering, with particular focus on data preprocessing and ANN architectures. Through selected examples, the lecture highlighted applications of machine learning in process monitoring, soft sensor development, predictive maintenance, and quality control.

Members of our team have published a scientific paper in the journal Sensors entitled Data-Driven Fouling Detection in Refinery Preheat Train Heat Exchangers Using Neural Networks and Gradient Boosting. The paper presents machine learning–based models that address a key challenge related to energy efficiency and operational reliability under dynamic operating conditions. This publication supports ongoing research on intelligent sensors, data-driven diagnostics and the application of AI in industrial practice. Link: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/16/4936

We participated in the ECCE Congress, 8–10 September 2025, with two poster presentations Machine learning models for fouling detection in industrial heat exchangers and Modelling of the green hydrogen production process by anion exchange membrane water electrolysis.

he main objective of this project, which began on 30 June 2025, is to develop a prototype system and test its performance for advanced crystallisation process control, using a modified reactor design and the direct nucleation control method. The standard crystalliser will be upgraded with a newly designed unit for external crystal dissolution. System development includes active monitoring of the crystallisation process by microscopy, image processing with machine learning, and real-time process control. The proposed solution enables improved crystallisation control with low investment. In-line measurement and real-time process control are essential. The process state is continuously monitored and adjusted as necessary using process analytical technology (PAT), resulting in higher product quality and reduced production costs.

The first Chemistry Teachers' Conference was held on 30 June 2025 at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology. Our doctoral student, Marko Sejdić, delivered his first invited lecture on hydrogen as an energy source. Thirty-eight chemistry teachers attended the invited lectures with great interest.

We began our cooperation with Dechra/Genera by conducting a series of training sessions for the company's engineers, covering the fundamentals of process control, measurements, diagnostics, and optimisation of chemical processes. The sessions took place both at the Dechra/Genera site and at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology. During our training programme from April to July, we had engaging discussion addressing real production problems.

Students from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering Technology visited the Rijeka Oil Refinery facilities on June 6 as part of the Measurement and Automatic Process Control course. During the well-organized visit, we toured the plants, laboratories, and control room, gaining valuable insight into the challenges of working in complex refinery operations.

Hrvoje Dorić, a doctoral student and until recently an assistant in our department, has defended his eagerly awaited doctoral dissertation on the topic "Batch Crystallisation Advanced Process Control". In his research, he developed a method for real-time monitoring of particle size distribution in the batch crystallisation process. This application is expected to improve batch crystallisation process control and achieve optimal particle size distribution. We are proud that Hrvoje now runs his own consulting company, based on the knowledge gained during our collaboration.

At the Open day of the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology we took part in the workshops: Application of Infrared Thermography and Production of Green Hydrogen . In the workshops, we showed how hydrogen is produced by electrolysis, what applications there are and what challenges need to be overcome during production. We also demonstrated the principle of non-contact temperature measurement with an infrared camera using examples from industry.