The PSE group develops solutions and assist companies on a consultancy basis for a wide range of industries. The following are some examples of industries supported:

• Pulp and paper

• Mining and metallurgy

• Petrochemicals

• Biochemical and pharmaceuticals

• Desalination and wastewater treatment

• Food industries

With the skills and know-how available within the PSE Group, it is possible to tackle the most daunting of process engineering problems. The group is capable of realizing the full potential of a process whether it is large or small.

The expertise in process identification, modelling, analysis, optimization, control and design provides the basis to exploit the full potential of the processes.

The PSE Group is heavily model oriented with a significantly large sector of its research dedicated towards modelling activities. Simple models are always the best for process control and are readily developed using process systems identification techniques. The PSE Group is also capable of building more complex models with intricate mechanistic detail for any application and at any scale. Some examples of complex models already completed include a dynamic digester model and a dynamic polymerization model amongst others. Our experience in multi-scale modelling allows us to build models of processes possessing variability in scale such as in a dynamic crystallization facility model, where the crystal size on the micro-scale is modelled simultaneously alongside that of the plant at the unit operation scale. Once a model is available many things are then possible.

The PSE Group has a vast record in control and optimization with many control implementations over the last couple of decades. Processes are optimized using validated models. Dynamic optimization is possible and the outcome provides time profiles of control variables. Conventional controllers including feedback, feedforward, cascade, compensation and ratio are readily designed and tuned by the PSE Group. Further, the Group has amassed expertise in advanced model-based control techniques and methodologies. Model-predictive control (MPC) has been implemented by us to control a variety of processes. Implementation on modern distributed control systems (DCS) including Honeywell, ABB and Schnieder have been done.

Having designed a number of process and constructed a number of plants the PSE Group can serve the design and retrofit needs of a given process. The Group specializes in pilot plant design and commissioning and our installations at the Department of Chemical Engineering showcase our experience in this (refer to Facilities link on this site).

The dissemination of knowledge and experience is part of our work. The PSE Group provides a number of courses in Process Systems Engineering at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Educational organization planning curriculum reform or developing new teaching and learning strategies may consult with the PSE Group. Our experience in curriculum development and our innovative teaching and learning methods will assist in improving the educational experience of Process Systems Engineering Students. High quality training is also provided with industrial short courses at the Department or onsite that are catered to specific needs. Those attending these courses will typically be exposed to hand-on training alongside theoretical learning. Real industrial facilities are used in the training Please contact Prof. Jose Romagnoli for further details.

Short course Advanced Control and Operation.pdf

Short Course Monitoring.pdf

Short Course Data Reconciliation.pdf