Professional Doctorate in Engineering (PDEng) Programme Energy and Process Technology at the University of Twente

The Professional Doctorate in Engineering (PDEng) programme Energy and Process Technology is very interesting for you. The PDEng programme is a 2-year post-MSc technological programme with a focus on technological design. This programme at the University of Twente contains an educational part that will be followed at the University, and a design project that will be carried out in cooperation with the Alucha company in Arnhem (www.alucha.com).
Alucha applies industrial pyrolysis to waste streams by developing solutions that recycle complex wastes (containing organic and non-organic components) back into its constituents. They realised a world 1st solution that recycles complex laminate plastic waste inside ‘tetrabrik' drink cartons back into aluminium and oil. Now they are developing a new solution to recycle paper sludge into minerals and fuels. The educational programme will have an in-depth and broadening character with ample attention for professional development and will be partly tailored to the design project. In collaboration with Alucha, high level, creative and new designs for complex issues will be aimed at.

Project description
At its workshop in Arnhem, Alucha is currently developing a 100 kg/h mobile container unit to treat and recycle paper sludge. Paper sludge is the largest waste stream in the paper industry. The waste stream is produced by the water treatment plants in paper mills. Currently there is no sustainable solution to treat this waste stream. With the new advanced pyrolysis technology, they aim to recycle the minerals (such as Kaolin, CalciumCarbonate) in the paper sludge (about 50% of the stream). The other 50% consist of paper fibers that will be converted into bio-oil.

The PDEng project will consist of modelling and optimizing the pyrolysis processfor further upscaling. The patent pending reactor has now been designed for 100 kg/h capacity. The project consists of developing a CFD model for the reactor. The results from operational tests with the pilot plant during 2017 can be used to verify and validate this CFD model. The PDEng trainee can participate in these tests together with the Alucha team. Based on this validation, the reactor can be further designed, improved and finally upscaled to 1000 kg/h. Next to reactor design, the optimization of the energy efficiency of the pyrolysis process will be part of the project.

Activities
CFD modelling of the reactor
Aspen/Unisim process simulation
Participation in field tests with existing 100kg/h pilot plant
Validation of model with test results pilot plant
Design and improvements of pyrolysis reactor for industrial plant (1000 kg/h)
Design and improvements of energy efficiency of process for industrial plant (1000 kg/h)
Optional: LCA analysis of process

Deadline Application: 15-02-2017

Further details:
Professional Doctorate in Engineering (PDEng) Programme Energy and Process Technology at the University of Twente