CHEM-E1120

CHEM-E1120 Thermochemical
Processes (5 cr) 13.1. 30.4.2016
COURSE INTRODUCTION
Anja Oasmaa, PhD, VTT
Pekka Oinas, Professor
Sarwar Golam, University Lecturer

Requirements
The course requires knowledge of:

process design, reaction technology, process chemistry, mass and

energy balances, process simulation, process control, process
safety, costs and profitability estimation
The course consists of

implementing information from various sources of Internet:

process descriptions, equipment vendors, cost data and market
information
strongly recommended for senior students.

Course description
Level of the Course

Master's studies

Teaching Period

III-V

Workload

135 h in total; Lectures 23 h, Exercises 23 h, Project work 72 h, Other independent studying 17 h

Learning Outcomes

Study Material
Course Homepage
Grading Scale

After the course the student has knowledge about

1. Chemistry, process technology and thermodynamics related to thermochemical conversion processes
2. Biomass resources, properties and their availability
3. Marketing and business of bio-based thermochemical processes
4. Design of different bioprocesses
5. Utilizing engineering tools to generate material and energy balances, and engineering design data
6. Simulation of processes
7. Performing sustainability analyses with selected tools
8. Cost calculation, profitability analysis
9. Business models, feasibility and business analyses
Economy and value chain of bioprocesses
Thermodynamics of bioprocesses: wet oxidation, pyrolysis, gasification
Process design and simulation
Sustainability aspects
CAPEX and OPEX calculations
Business analysis (market, competitors, business model)
Extensive project work for selected process
Learning log
To be announced later
https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=CHEM-E1120
Fail, 1 - 5

Language of Instruction

English

Content

CHEM-E1120

COURSE STAFF

CHEM-E1120

at School of Chemical Technology

Pekka Oinas
Lecture topic

Introduction, exercises, general guidance

Responsibilities

Plant design project, course responsible

Special
knowledge

Process development and research, mass transfer, reactor technology, batch

processes, crystallization, separation technologies, multiphase systems, plant
operations, management

Previous
positions

Kemira, Kemfine, Technology Centre Ketek

UMIST (UK)
CNRS-ENSIC (Fr)
Docent (Lappeenranta)

Education

D. Sc. (Oulu University): Study on the validity of mass transfer and reaction
models in multiphase systems
Lic. Thesis (Helsinki University of Technology): The use of experimental design
methods in mass transfer calculations

CHEM-E1120

Name

at Organisation VTT

Anja Oasmaa

Lecture topic

Pyrolysis technology

Responsibilities

Lecturer on fast pyrolysis, course responsible for VTT

Special knowledge

Liquid fuel production, fast pyrolysis, direct liquefaction, hydrothermal

liquefaction
Characterisation, fuel oil analyses, standards, norms

Education

PhD, Lic.Sc. (Tech.)

CHEM-E1120

at Aalto/CHEM

Sarwar Golam
Lecture topic

CAPITAL INVESTMENTS AND PROFITABILITY ESTIMATION OF THE PROCESS

Responsibilities

Teachings of graduate and undergraduate education

Special
knowledge

Plant and process design; Sustainable process design, development and

improvement; Process safety and environmental aspects in design; EHS;
Feasibility studies; Process synthesis, optimization, modelling and
simulation; Process and product costs and profitability estimation.

Previous
positions

Teaching researcher, Helsinki University of Technology, 20 years of

teaching experience

Education

Doctor of Science in Technology

CHEM-E1120

at School of Science

Marina Biniari

Lecture topic

Market and industry analysis, customer analysis, business model

canvas

Responsibiliti
es

Business part of the course

Special
knowledge

New business development within existing companies (Corporate

Venturing)

Previous
positions

Assistant Professor of Corporate Entrepreneurship, University of

Strathclyde, UK

Education

BSc Economics
MSc Intenational Business and Marketing
PhD Corporate Entrepreneurship and Strategy

CHEM-E1120

CHEM-E1120

at VTT Technical Research Centre

of Finland

Antti Arasto

Lecture topic

Biomass resources and availability, sustainability aspects

Responsibilities

Responsible for business and offering development in bioenergy and biofuels research area including IP management,
spin-offs and solution offering

Special knowledge

Energy, bioenergy, biofuels, energy concept development, techno-economic assessments, leadership, project portfolio
management, CCS - carbon capture and storage, project and business development, offering development

Previous positions

Research Team Leader, VTT; Senior Scientist, VTT; Commissioning Engineer, ABB

Education

DSc(Tech): Energy and environmental engineering (Aalto)

CHEM-E1120

at VTT

Matti Reinikainen

Lecture topic

Gasification and synthesis gas products

Responsibilities

Project funding, demanding project work as EU-coordinator, project manager or

specialist

Special
knowledge

Heterogeneous catalysis, especially catalysis related to synthesis gas. Special

on-line analytical methods.

Previous
positions

29 years at VTT in various positions in catalysis, piloting, pyrolysis and

gasification

Education

D. Sc. (Industrial Chemistry), Helsinki University of Technology

CHEM-E1120

at VTT

Ilkka Hiltunen

Photo
Lecture topic

Bioruukki visit - practical lectures of pyrolysis and gasification

Responsibilities

Gasification team leader and site manager Bioruukki pilot plants.

Responsible for gasification and pyrolysis experimental work in Bioruukki.

Special knowledge

Gasification R&D: biomass to synthesis gas, small scale biomass CHP

Experimental work: design, engineering and operation of bench and pilot scale prosess devolopment units
Prosess development in industrial demonstration projects

Previous positions

Gasification research scientist at VTT

Diploma worker at VTT

Education

Chemical engineer (M. Sc, TKK, 2007)

Major: Industrial chemistry
Minor: Chemical engineering

CHEM-E1120

Muhammad Nasrullah

at Aalto University

Lecture topic

Calculation the maximum potential for bio-oil by pyrolysis, for aliphatic acid
by acid hydrolysis

Responsibilities

Lectures, exercixes :CAPEX/OPEX calculations

Special
knowledge

Solid recovered fuel (SRF) production from waste

Previous
positions

Research Scientist at VTT

Education

Ph.D./D.Sc.

CHEM-E1120

at VTT

Eija Alakangas

Photo
Lecture topic
Responsibilities

International projects on bioenergy

Special knowledge

Biomass properties and standardisation

Biomass energy markets and policies

Previous positions

Wilh. Schauman Oy, energy specialist

Education

M.Sc. 1981 LUT

Information specialist, Helsinki University of Technology 1984

CHEM-E1120

at VTT

Katri Behm

Photo
Lecture topic

LCA and footprint analysis

Responsibilities

LCA and carbon footprint calculations and reporting, other sustainability-related research
Customer, national and EU-projects

Special knowledge

LCA, carbon footprint calculations

Previous positions

Research Engineer at KCL

Education

M.Sc. (Tech.) from HUT, (2006) Department of Forest Products Technology

CHEM-E1120

at Aalto University

Karhan zdenkci

Photo
Lecture topic

Thermal decomposition of biomass

Responsibilities

Assisting some exercises and giving one lecture: Partial wet oxidation and supercritical water gasification

Special knowledge
Supercritical water gasification, partial wet oxidation, process design, process modelling, process control, aqueous
thermodynamics

Previous positions

Researcher in Plant Design Research Group (November 2012-current)

Research assistant in Process Control and Automation Research Group, Aalto University (June 2010-October 2012)

Education

B. Sc. In Chemical Engineering from Izmir Institute of Technology (Turkey)

M. Sc. In Process Systems Engineering from Aalto University

Lectures and exercises

Week

Date

Time

We 13.1.2016

8:15-10:00

Fr 15.1.2016

13:15-15:00

Ke3

Arasto

Topic
Introduction to course. Course objectives. Internet search:
Check Finnish biomass resources
Biomass resources and availability, sustainability aspects

Tu 19.1.2016

8:15-10:00 (Lync)

Ke3

Alakangas

Classification and and properties of biomass and biofuels

Tu 19.1.2016

14:15-16:00

CC 2

Golam/Nasrullah

Calculate the max. potential for bio-oil by pyrolysis, for

alifatcc acid by acid hydrolysis

We 20.1.2016

8:15-10:00

Ke3

Biniari

Lecture-h Exercise-h
1

2
2

LH/EH

Lecturer

Ke3, CC1 Oinas/Oasmaa

Business approach, economy of bioprocesses

Haarla

Fr 22.1.2016

13:15-15:00

Ke3

Tu 26.1.2016

8:15-10:00

Tu 26.1.2016
We 27.1.2016
Fr 29.1.2016
Fr 29.1.2016

14:15-16:00
8:15-10:00
13:15-15:00

Tu 2.2.2016

08:15-10:00

Tu 2.2.2016

14:15-16:00

We 3.2.2016

08:15-10:00

Fr 5.2.2016
Tu 9.2.2016
Tu 9.2.2016

13:15-15:00
08:15-10:00
12:15.16:00

We 10.2.2016

8:15-10:00

Fr 12.2.2016

14:15-16:00

2
2
2

2
2
2
2

Spare
Market and competitor analysis and brief introduction to
the process of business feasibility

Ke3

Biniari

CC2
Ke3
CC 2

Jskelinen/Oinas
Melin
Oinas/Golam

Exercise using Orbis - Formic acid business

Thermodynamics of bioprocesses - Basics
Material and energy balances
Report I

Ke3

Oasmaa

Pyrolysis

CC 2

Golam/Melin

Simulation exercise I

Ke3

Reinikainen

Gasification

CC 2
Ke3
CC 2

Melin/Golam/zdencki
Hohenthal
Melin/Golam/zdencki

Ke3

zdencki

CC 3

Hohenthal

Simulation exercise 2 - pyrolysis

LCA and footprint analysis
Simulation exercise 3 - gasification
Thermodynamics of bioprocesses - Wet oxidation and
supercritical gasification
LCA with Sulca-software

Lectures can be downloaded from MyCourses

Lectures and exercises

Week

Date

Time

Tu 23.2.2016

08:15-12:00

Fr 26.2.2016

13:15-15:00

Lecture-h Exercise-h
2

LH/EH

2
2

Lecturer
Hiltunen/Lindfors

CC 3

Biniari

Fr 26.2.2016
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

Topic
Bioruukki visit - practical lectures of pyrolysis and
gasification
Conducting a business feasibility study for the project
Report II

Tu 1.3.2016

08:15-10:00

Fr 4.3.2016
Tu 8.3.2016
Fr 11.3.2016
Tu 15.3.2016
Fr 18.3.2016
Tu 22.3.2016
Th 24.3.2016
Tu 29.3.2016
Fr 1.4.2016

13:15-15:00
08:15-10:00
13:15-15:00
08:15-10:00
13:15-15:00
08:15-10:00

2
2

Ke3

Golam

Cost calculation and plant performance index

CC 3
Ke3

Golam/Nasrullah

CAPEX/OPEX calculation
Spare
Spare
Spare
Spare
Spare
Report III
Spare
Spare

Ke3
Ke3

08:15-10:00
13:15-15:00

Ke3

Fr 22.4.2016

Report IV

We 27.4.2016

Seminar
TOGETHER

23

23

Lectures can be downloaded from MyCourses

School of Chemical Technology

KE 3

CC 1-3

CHEM-E1120 Thermochemical Processes

Time schedule 2016

Time schedule

January
wk

Mo

Tu

We

Th

Fr

Sa

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

25

26

27

21

22

23

24

28

29 R1

30

31

10

11

12

13

14

Bioruukki visit

15

22

16

17

18

19 R2

20

21

23

24

25

26

27

28

Appraisal week
Report II
2nd project meeting

29

53

Su
1st lecture

Report I

February

March
10

10

11

12

13

11

14

15

16

17

18 R3

19

20

12

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

13

28

29

30

31

1st project meeting

Report III
3rd project meeting
Last lecture

April
14

10

15

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

16

18

19

20

21

22 R4

23

24

17

25

26

27

28

29

30

18

19

10

11

12

13

14

15

20

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

21

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

22

30

31

wk

Mo

Tu

We

Th

Fr

Sa

Su

Report IV
4th project meeting
Seminar

May

Steps

Hour estimation form

Assumed
Total

Project design
Feasibility study
Process alternatives
Block diagrams
Comparison of alternatives
Selection of the process
Report I
Material & energy balance
Process flow diagram
Process description
Dimensioning
Equipment list
Report II
Investment cost estimation
Operating cost estimation
Cash flow analysis
Profitability
Report III
Five forces analysis
Business model canvas
Business feasibility analysis
Proposed business model
Report IV
Seminar presentation
Total project

Hours used
AA

BB

CC

DD

EE

Total

Reports

Content

Selection of the case studied

Technical and commercial objectives of the project

Process alternatives:
Literature search for suitable process
concepts
Block diagrams
Comparison of other process alternatives
Selection of the process

Specification of raw materials and products

Gross mass and energy balances

Process design and description

Process flow diagram (PFD)

Dimensioning the main process equipment

Equipment list (main equipment)

Sustainability and safety evaluation of the process

(LCA)

Investment cost of the process

Operating cost of the process

Manufacturing cost of the product production cost

Assessment of techno-economic feasibility /

profitability

Development of a business model that captures the

commercial value of the project

Market and business study

o Market and Commercial potential
o Competition situation
o Value proposition
o Customer segmentation
o Resource requirements
o Economic viability
Assessment of business feasibility

Report
I - Preliminary Planning

II - Process Design and Sustainability

Assessment

III - Cost Assessment

IV Market and Business Model

Learning log
- records the reflections about what you are learning and how you use the knowledge
- reveals your perceptions (and misperceptions) of the information
- reveals how they are reacting to the way the learning process proceeds.
Contents

How you reacted to the lecture/exercise/assignment;

What kind of questions popped into your head;

How you related to the information presented and what things you agreed or disagreed with from the
material presented; The new knowledge that you gained

Questions
Am I actually demonstrating analysis, synthesis, interpretation, and insight?
What are the connections I am making, what are the insights, what new idea(s), concept(s) do I now have?
Why is this new knowledge/skill useful?
How does this relate to my own experience?
How might I do things differently in the future now that I have this new knowledge?
What have I actually learned?
Do I really believe what I am writing?

Example logs

Business model canvas