Comparison of different simulators for energy optimization of processes

IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) est un acteur majeur de la recherche et de la formation dans les domaines de l’énergie, du transport et de l’environnement. De la recherche à l’industrie, l’innovation technologique est au cœur de son action, articulée autour de quatre priorités stratégiques : Mobilité Durable, Energies Nouvelles, Climat / Environnement / Economie circulaire et Hydrocarbures Responsables.

Dans le cadre de la mission d’intérêt général confiée par les pouvoirs publics, IFPEN concentre ses efforts sur :

• l’apport de solutions aux défis sociétaux de l’énergie et du climat, en favorisant la transition vers une mobilité durable et l’émergence d’un mix énergétique plus diversifié ;
• la création de richesse et d’emplois, en soutenant l’activité économique française et européenne et la compétitivité des filières industrielles associées.

Partie intégrante d’IFPEN, l’école d’ingénieurs IFP School prépare les générations futures à relever ces défis.

Comparison of different simulators for energy optimization of processes

The increasing demand for plastic material poses two major challenges: the impacts associated with plastic production and waste and the massive use of fossil resources.

Improving the end-of-life management of plastic objects is therefore a major challenge that relies on the 3 levers specific to a circular economy: "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle".

Plastic recycling makes it possible to limit the use of fossil resources to produce plastic while making the most of the waste generated. It is therefore a lever to be used to meet these two challenges.

Today, most recycled plastic comes from mechanical recycling, a technique that is mastered but which nevertheless has limitations in its implementation. IFPEN is committed to the development of advanced recycling processes (physical or chemical) to eliminate additives and impurities to return to a quality equivalent to virgin material.

Commercial process simulators allow the design and development of process schemes. More recently, these simulators have integrated many functionalities allowing the performance of technical and economic studies, the assessment of environmental sustainability and the optimization of the processes studied. Thus, it appears necessary to be able to evaluate these different tools for process optimization by applying them to the plastic recycling processes.

The aim of this internship is:

• To understand the current plastic recycling processes developed at IFPEN and to study the existing developed schemes using at least two commercial process simulators (Aspen, Pro II).
• To perform the energy optimization of the studied processes using different tools available on the market and with IFPEN tools.
• To compare the different optimization tools.
• To evaluate the impact of the energy optimization on the economics of the optimized process

Required profile

Chemical Engineer; Process Design; Process Simulation

Additional information

Duration of the internship: 5 – 6 months
Workplace: IFP Energies Nouvelles – Lyon, Rond-point de l'échangeur de Solaize, 69360 Solaize
Transport: Public transport / Personal vehicle
Paid internship: 1080€/month