IMPULSE Objectives

The development of small-scale structured components for chemical applications has been limited almost entirely to laboratory devices, whereas the potential impact of such components on the production scale is immense. To achieve true benefits from these technologies in production, however, research must address whole processes, including integration, connectivity and operability issues. The time to begin such research is now, since no reliable design methodologies, techno-economic evaluation tools or decision criteria for this purpose exist today.
In addition, for new approaches such as IMPULSE to be accepted in industrial practice, clearly established and validated business arguments, including critical analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the technologies from an economic, safety and environmental perspective, must be available. The goals of the IMPULSE integrated project are therefore the following:

• Proof of principle for IMPULSE approaches in several supply-chain sectors
  
• Validated business cases for selected applications
  
• “Teachable” generic design methodology and optimisation techniques
  
• Evaluation of the benefits of multiscale design to eco-efficiency, safety and sustainability in chemicals production and use

In agreement with its industrial partners, the IMPULSE consortium has adopted the following process-technology objectives as the basis for the choice of the chemical systems for investigation:

• Replacement of batch processes by steady-state continuous flow systems
• Modular processes for variable throughput and mass customization
• Integration/connection of innovative equipment for retrofit into existing plant
• Miniaturization of process systems for distributed, delocalized production.
  

Performance objectives for each case are quantified in terms of techno-economic indicators (such as quantity of solvent reduction or, in some cases, solvent-free operation, increase in space-time yield and throughput, improved selectivity and/or decrease in separation costs), as well as quality-control indicators (particle size distribution, product purity, molecular weight distribution, on-demand modification of product specification) and sustainability indicators.
Key issues to be investigated include methodology and design tools, eco-efficiency and safety metrics, local process control, equipment and instrumentation specifications, operability and reliability (including materials aspects: clogging, corrosion, cleaning, maintenance).