"This section is under construction...
Heriot Watt University quote here..."

Dr Graeme White

CPACT related research Interests @
the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences: Heriot-Watt University

Chemical Engineering Research Themes
Research activities in Chemical Engineering are organised round six thematic areas.

Life Science Engineering: Life science engineering is an increasingly important subject area, which covers fundamental bio-processing research activities and broader issues associated with sustainable development. includes the design and operation of bioreactors, fermentation strategies, metabolic engineering, pollution abatement technology, environmental impact assessment and life cycle analysis. A substantial number of experimental projects currently in progress fall into four categories: biological waste treatment; specialised fermentations; low carbon technologies; environmental impact assessment and auditing. Projects also focus on development of bio-electric systems, biofuel cells and bioprocess intensification strategies.

Molecular and Interface Engineering: The remit of this area of research is to carry out fundamental studies to support the development and production of high value-added materials, via a dual track approach involving modelling and multi-scale experimentation (2 to 250 litre). The molecular-scale processes underlying the formation, physical properties and processing characteristics of speciality materials are investigated specifically via computer modelling involving molecular and dynamic modelling. Larger scale operations are modelled via single and multiphase computational fluid dynamics. Supporting experiments on lab scale and pilot scale processing equipment are supported via a range of instruments including Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA), Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), UltraSonic particle Sizing (USS) and NIR and optical FBRM. Typical examples of projects in this area includes; moisture migration in pharmaceutical end-processing; the rationalisation of scale formation/inhibition mechanisms with a view to enhancing their specificity and performance within petroleum engineering; and the effect of scale-up on solid production by crystallisation.

Multiphase Process Engineering: Research interests have focused on the science and technological applications of oscillatory baffled reactor (OBR) engineering in multiphase flows. The objectives of the research are to understand and control droplet/particle/bubble/floc/crystal/cell formation both experimentally and theoretically, and to apply such know-how to the production and prediction of particulate of controlled specifications in OBRs. Pioneering research in bead polymerisation, particle flocculation, crystallisation and bio-processing have been carried out in OBRs, ranging from a bench (50mm in diameter) to pilot (400mm in diameter) scale, and from batch to continuous (25m in length) operations. There are also a number of model analytic instruments available for characterisation, for example, Image Analyzer, Coulter Sizers, high speed Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV), Laser Induced Florescence, High Speed Video Cameras and Gas Chromatography.

Offshore Oil and Gas Processing: Building on our expertise into improving the separation of gas, oil and water for floating production systems, this research theme has continued to utilise large scale pilot plant facilities to study typical processing operations which are affected by imposed sea motion, specifically contacting columns where misdistribution of liquid and gas due to tilt or motion affects column performance. Substantial chemical processing operations will be carried out on floating platforms to recover ‘stranded gas’ which cannot be economically transported as gas. A further novel large scale experimental rig has been developed to study the influence of marine motion on the very large heat exchangers used in conversion of gas to LNG, the most rapidly expanding and most environmentally friendly fossil fuel.

Particle Technology: Areas of interest under this theme includes development of technology to determine the size and shape characterisation of particles at high concentration, using radiation absorption (light or ultrasound) to avoid disrupting the production process. Novel data analysis methods are being investigated including Genetic Algorithms, Evolutionary Programming and Neural Networks. Typical processes being studied include granulation, cohesion and coating in dispersed phase devices such as fluidised and spouted beds. The research group is active in experimental and numerical modelling of macro-, meso- and micro-scale aspects of particle behaviour in key particle processes. Research continues into dynamic modelling and simulation of fluidised bioreactor systems, discrete element and continuum modelling of fluidised bed systems, flow instabilities in fluidised beds and interparticle forces.

Catalytic Reaction Engineering: Catalysis occupies a pivotal position in physical and biological science. Heterogeneous catalysis as a coherent research topic is unified by theories of chemical structure and reactivity, kinetics and transport phenomena. On-going research activities span six distinct projects: Kinetic Modelling of Three Phase Catalytic Systems, Growth of Highly Ordered Carbon, Environmental Catalysis Catalytic Transformation of Waste Polymers into Fuel Oil, Enantioselective Catalysis, Development of New Catalyst Systems. Other research themes deal with materials (synthetic and biological) development for water treatment and the development/application of surface science techniques to characterize solid metal catalysts.