Annual Meeting in Process Engineering and Materials Technology

Abstract

This CIT Special Issue is dedicated for the first time to the Annual Meeting of the Dechema Section Process Engineering and Materials Technology—PEMT, formerly known as PAAT (Fachsektion Prozess- Anlagen und Apparatetechnik). On November 11–12, 2024, more than 120 participants listened to six plenary talks on digital developments, modularization, hydrogen technology—a teaser for the plenary discussion—and material developments in the light of hydrogen technology and regenerative energies. Three industrial exhibitors, X-Visual, Busch Vacuum Solutions, and Simulate365, gained high attraction with lively discussions at their booths. Three poster prizes were awarded for outstanding results in process engineering. The main program was compiled following feedback from the Working Group leaders in PEMT guided by the new head Andreas Bamberg (Merck KGaA), alongside Vivien Manning (VDI-GVC), Norbert Kockmann (TU Dortmund University), and Markus Finke (Bayer AG). The highlight of the 2-day convention was the plenary discussion on hydrogen technology development and market supply, already published in CITplus (March 2025). The planning and organization of the PEMT 2025 Annual Meeting are mostly finished, and we are looking forward to seeing you on November 10–11 in Frankfurt. Further information can be found at https://dechema.de/PEMT2025.html.

The conference in 2024 with a high industrial attendance mirrored the current developments on machine learning in process engineering, data-driven process development and modular plants, hydrogen and carbon management, modeling and data handling, as well as the development of unit operations and AI-oriented modeling, just to give the headlines. From the 51 contributions in total, several authors were approached to deliver a full publication in this Special Issues, which contains 11 accepted papers on data handling, process modeling, and optimization as well as modular equipment and plants. Highlights in this special issue are as follows:

The industrial view on DEXPI 2.0 illustrates the synergistic integration of process flow diagrams (PFD) and Pipe and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID) in a unified digital model, which is an important base for the engineering planning process. Data handling also plays an important role, as well as sensor data treatment with AI tools. The modern process modeling and optimization is illustrated with dynamic modeling of H2 generation from biogas, on Fischer–Tropsch synthesis for efficient fuel production and optimal operation trajectories for batch processes. Machine learning is applied for pressure-swing separation and for thermophysical property prediction. The uncertainty treatment is discussed for model-based process design and operation. Finally, modular approaches in process and plant design are presented for trickle-bed reactors, lab-scale vacuum DTB crystallizers, and the module scale-up supported by digital twins.

We would like to express our gratitude to all the authors of this special issue for their valuable contributions, to the CIT-Team at Wiley-VCH, as well as the entire VDI/Dechema team for their enormous support and successful collaboration. We hope that this special issue will provide momentum for new developments and technology in process engineering and materials technology, while also staying competitive and learning from our activities.

Vivien Manning

Andreas Bamberg

Markus Finke

Norbert Kockmann (© TU Dortmund)