2024-2025 / CHIM9301-1

Project management and engineering methods in the industry

Duration

20h Th, 15h Pr, 1d FW

Number of credits

 Master MSc. in Chemical and Materials Science Engineering, professional focus in Chemical Engineering4 crédits 

Lecturer

Grégoire Léonard

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course is made of contributions by industrial speakers having a demonstrated experience in the management of industrial projects in the field of chemical and process engineering. The contributors are at different career levels ranging from young project engineer to former top manager. They will present to students the reality of the industrial world through concrete examples of previous projects. They will detail each steps, from the idea to the commercialization, going through the R&D phase, the pilot unit...
In particular, following topics will be considered: development of a new process with pilot unit, management of the intellectual property (patents, licenses...), feasibility studies, engineering and FEED study, contracts and win-win negotiation, importance of safety aspects (QRA, HAZOP exercise, Ex(d), Lay out...), construction and commissioning of the unit...
Beyond the project management point, more technical aspects will also be considered, among which the transition from a simple flowsheet to a complete Process and instrumentation diagram (P&ID), as well as engineering and equipment considerations: piping, valves, control valves, types of heat exchangers, minimum elevation, torch, cooling systems... The design and sizing of units, the evaluation of alternatives will also be discussed under the angle of projects coming from the industrial world.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of the course, the student

- will have understood the sequence of an industrial project and all interactions between stakeholders (and specific English terminology) and to weigh and anticipate risks related to a new project;

- will be able to appreciate and defend the interests of a pilot unit to provide all the elements required by the industrial project; 

- will be able to identify and manage the risk/benefit concept for an industrial project 

- will be able to identify points in a win-win negotiation; 

- will be abler through the example developed to criticize a process (pros and cons-), to challenge licensors in order to make the right technology choice considering HIS/HER own priorities; 

- will be able to participate in the development of a lay-out based on the course concepts (including risk assessment and multiple barriers) and to know the VIP to apply and especially their link to business; 

- Will be able to calculate profitability (NPV, POT, ...) and to challenge the inputs of the calculation;

- Will be able to assess the robustness of the basic chemistry of the process in terms of sustainable development and industrial feasibility, to challenge the scientists about the synthesis possibly offering new tests; 

This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.2, III.1, V.1, V.2, VI.1, VII.1, VII.6 of the MSc in chemical and material science engineering.

 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basics of chemical engineering (transport phenomena, chemical thermodynamics, physical unit operation design, catalysis, process modelling ...) are required. All these skills can be acquired within the Master in Chemical Engineering and Materials science, at the University of Liège. Students from other master programmes willing to attend the class may contact G. Léonard for admission to the class.

 

 

 

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

10 half days of classes (theory + exercises)  will be given by industrial contributors, coming from different companies and having a demonstrated experience in the management of industrial projects.

2 days will be spent on visiting industries in relation with the projects discussed in the classes.




 

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

Face-to-face seminars (5 to 6 full days) combining theory, case studies and practical exercies. Visits of industrial sites (2 days).  
 
 

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Materials available on eCampus.

Any session :

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

- Remote

written exam ( open-ended questions )

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred in-person


Additional information:

Written examination in January. Questions requiring short answers will be asked for each part of the course. Links with the industrial sites visits will be asked. Participation to site visits is mandatory. The student that did not attend the visits will not be admitted to present the exam.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

The course takes place on Fridays, all day, from November until December (exact dates on Celcat).

Course is organised only if a minimum number of students (6-7) attends it. This course is also open to PhD students.



 

 

Contacts

Prof. Grégoire LEONARD, g.leonard@uliege.be

Dpt of Chemical Engineering
PEPs - Products, Environment, Processes

 

Association of one or more MOOCs