Tackling the future of plant operation – Public Workshop of ProPAT and CONSENS projects

Selected representatives from the different sectors of the process industry and automation experts discussed the current opportunities, new technologies, and future challenges of integrated process control. Different aspects that are relevant for optimal process operation were covered: online data-analytics, monitoring applications, data management, novel sensor technologies, data-driven and rigorous process modelling, process control, and many more.

The workshop was organized by the two European funded research projects CONSENS and PROPAT. The agenda and presentations can be found below:

Welcome address

Prof. Dr. Kurt Wagemann, Executive Director, DECHEMA e. V.

Overview on the workshop – organizational details, Moderator: Keith Simons

Key note

• “Towards Sustainable Process Industries: The Role of Control and Optimization”,  Klaus Sommer, Bayer AG, Germany – President of A.SPIRE,

Overview on the CONSENS and ProPAT projects

• Manuel Pereira Remelhe, Bayer AG, Germany – Coordinator CONSENS
• Pau Puigdollers, IRIS, Spain – Coordinator ProPAT

Integrated automation and monitoring in industrial case studies

• Case study 1: “Continuous intensified synthesis of organic compounds in a modular plant –online reactor monitoring and closed-loop control”, Manuel Pereira Remelhe, Bayer AG, Germany
• Case study 2: “Continuous on-line process control of polyester resins manufacturing”, Christos Mantzaridis, Megara Resins, Greece

Coffee break

• Case study 3: “Continuous formulation of complex fluids – closed-loop rheology control”, Francesc Corominas, Procter & Gamble, Belgium
• Case study 4: “Mineral and metallic powders milling process control with ProPAT technologies”, Theofilos Zampetakis, Grecian Magnesite, Greece

Parallel workshop sessions

• Process modelling and simulation
• Data and tool Integration
• Rheology, fouling and particle size sensors
• Process Control
• Process and asset monitoring
• Chemical composition sensors

The industrial partners of CONSENS and PROPAT include many multi-national and national companies from the sectors of consumer goods, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, mining, nanomaterials, and polymers as well as numerous research institutes and universities from all over Europe. Our joint goal is to advance the operation of process plants by introducing new technologies in sensing, online data-analytics and control in an integrated way. More information on CONSENS and PROPAT can be found on the respective websites (www.consens-spire.eu, www.pro-pat.eu).

The CONSENS and ProPAT projects received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the grant agreements N^o 636942 and N^o 637232. The  statements above only reflect the author’s view. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.