Integrated Project M1
Each year, our Master 1 students dedicated 10 ECTS (one sixth of their year) to an integrated project describing an industrial process that they analyse, model and optimise. This project has two objectives:
1. To complete their technical training by integrating the subjects seen in the traditional courses (design of reactor and separation equipment, catalysis, thermodynamic modelling, energy integration and optimisation, bibliographical research, cost analysis, life cycle concepts, etc.);
2. Strengthen their non-technical skills by working in large groups (10 students), project management and effective communication of results.
As a culmination of the year, the results of the projects are summarised in a scientific paper and presented to the Chemical Engineering Department and a panel of industrial experts.
2024-2025
13 students are working on the integrated project in collaboration with Inovyn. The aim of the project is to design and optimise a process for producing vinyl chloride (VCM), the monomer on which PVC is based.
The students have to carry out several tasks to design the process. Initially, they will concentrate on designing the various unit operations, such as reactors and distillation columns, on the basis of a thermodynamic study of the system. They will then integrate each stage into a single process and optimise its energy performance, while studying its environmental impact using a life cycle analysis.
The project includes technical work based on the knowledge acquired by the students in various courses, as well as the development of non-technical skills such as writing reports and presenting results in English. Learning to work in groups is also an integral part of the integrated project.
2023-2024
Two groups of eight master 1 students took part to the 2023-2024 Integrated Project. This year, the project was carried out in collaboration with Ineos Styrolution, and the objective of the students was to design a process of styrene production. One group worked on a process in Europe, while the other focused on a process in the USA.
They worked on various topics such as reactor and distillation column design, thermodynamic evaluation of properties, heat integration and life-cycle analysis of their process.
Thanks to the knowledge and experience gained in the lectures, as well as the acquisition of soft skills such as presenting scientific work to an audience or working in large groups, they were able to design and optimize the process they were studying.
We are pleased to publish their final articles on our website, summarizing their work and the results obtained over the course of the year.
- Detailed analysis of a styrene production plant (US)
- Process design of styrene monomer production (EU)
2022-2023 :
Treatment of pyrolysis oil in the context of plastics recycling
2021-2022 :
- Final Report Anhydride Phtalique : a compound used in the formulation of plastics, produced by partial oxidation of ortho-xylene
- Final Report Ethylbenzene : an important precursor for various polymers including styrene, produced from benzene and ethylene
2020-2021 :
Map and Access
Quartier Agora, B6c 1/62
Allée du Six Août 11-13
4000 Liège
Belgium
