Laboratory for Automation and Measurement

In the framework of the CeSaR project at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology undergraduate and graduate students improve their practical and soft skills using advanced software to simulate, optimize and control industrial processes through adapted laboratory exercises. In our laboratories student can widen their knowledge of process modeling and control, as well as they are introduced to the techniques of process analytical technology (PAT).

During May practical courses with the application of interactive real-time process simulators for Siemens Croatia employees were held at our department. Participants acquired knowledge of advanced process control, process diagnostics and optimization, as well as process measurements, equipment’s and unit operations. During the courses, real-life examples of industrial processes were interactively analyzed using advanced software packages for real-time process simulations ( PiControl Solutions and ChemCad software package).

On April 4 th & 5 th our team visited Siemens Living Lab and usePAT in Vienna. Team of PAT experts in Siemens Living Lab introduced us with their concepts and system for PAT tools integration.  We presented the CrystAPC project and proposed further possibilities for integrating our research within SIPAT platform. UsePAT is a startup that develops and produces ultrasonic devices for the improvement of in-line process monitoring techniques. We had a tour of the lab and got to see their technology in use.

Recently we have finished construction and startup of our advanced crystallization laboratory .  With the support of Blazemetrics company and laboratory equipment suppliers, we installed the state-of-the-art process microscope for research and development of crystallization processes. Installed Blaze 900 is a laser microscope with integrated Raman optics specialized for particle signal measurement.  The device will speed up process development and monitoring by giving accurate data on Raman spectrum of particles, crystal shape and crystal size distribution in real time.

We presented our research at the International Conference XIV Meeting of Young Chemical Engineers held in Zagreb on February 24 th and 25 th . J. Sacher presented research Improvement of granulometric properties of crystals by constant supersaturation feedback control (PDF). We also presented the posters: Comparison of linear calibration models for predicting glycine concentration (PDF); Fouling deposition monitoring using neural network models with estimated unmeasured process variables in crude oil pre-heat heat exchangers ( PDF ).

We participated on Croatian Meeting of Chemists and Chemical Engineers held from October 5 th to 8 th with  three poster presentations: Development of the calibration model for real-time measurement of glycine concentration in glycine-water system using ANN ( PDF ); Influence of antisolvent addition on crystallization kinetics and granulometric properties of fosamprenavir calcium ( PDF ); Fouling detection in industrial heat exchanger using recurrent LSTM neural network model .

Srečko Herceg, master of mech. eng., successfully defended his doctoral thesis Development of soft sensors for advanced control of isomerization process . Models were developed for the continual estimation key product quality indicators in a refinery isomerization process using machine learning methods. Evaluation of the developed models and their implementation in the process control system showed their reliability in estimating of the component contents. The soft sensors will serve primarily as a replacement during the process analyzers’ failure and service periods, as well as it will be a part of advanced control of isomerization process. PDF

On September 29 th we visited Rockwool Adriatic factory specialised in production of stone wool, fire, heat and sound insulation for use in buildings and industry. After introductory presentations we followed with a tour of the production line. A large number of different products and many control loops employed in factory requires good process understanding and coordination. Our visit initiated a collaboration between the Faculty and Rockwool Adriatic and we accordingly look forward to future cooperation and projects. PDF

A cooperation agreement was signed with the KNOW-Center from Graz, Austria. The collaboration began with a Erasmus remote internship of two of our students on big data project. We look forward for further cooperation in scientific and professional projects in data-driven business and artificial intelligence application.

In cooperation with experts from Teva TAPI R&D in Zagreb, we have designed and implemented a process control system and software solution that enables continuous monitoring and control of flow chemistry reactors in real time. The system consists of hardware equipment, devices and a software application for process monitoring and control using a graphical interface with which optimal working conditions are maintained.