Chapter 12 - Product Design and Process Intensification

Abstract

This chapter gives a brief introduction to the two emerging and interrelated subjects of product design and process intensification. In particular, consideration is given to the design of particulate products (processed foodstuffs, pharmaceutical products, for instance) and their attributes like shape, size, finishing, texture, etc. This entails different length scales ranging from the molecular scale (~10−8m) to several meters corresponding to the plant level. This also involves the use of new and green processes including novel reactor/separator systems, spinning disc reactors, etc. Similarly, process intensification goes much beyond the idea of augmenting rates of heat/mass transfer and chemical reactions, etc. It is seen more like a new philosophy of designing and operating the next generation of chemical plants. This is a vast field which is still evolving, and this chapter provides just the introduction to it by way of specific examples and experimental results available in the literature.