Energy analysis to identify potential process improvements for an industrial evaporator park – Lenzing, Austria

Internship + Master thesis proposal

Information:

Energy analysis to identify potential process improvements for an industrial evaporator park.

Good knowledge of English (candidates also speaking German will be given preference)

6 months on the site, starting February 2017

Salary: ~1300€/month

Description:

The objective of the project is to carry out an energy review of a large evaporator network and to identify and study energy savings opportunities on an industrial site owned by Lenzing in Lenzing, Austria.  The Master thesis is carried out within both and industrial and academic context. The student will be immersed in the site during the whole duration of the project (ca. 6 months). The main activities will be the data collection, process modeling and applied research aimed at the understanding of the Lenzing viscose fibre production process and in particular the evaporation process. Some possible energy saving opportunities have been already identified by the on-site team, though additional opportunities could also be identified upon a thorough analysis of the processes. The student will therefore analyse and prioritize all opportunities according to indicators such as profitability. The student will be immersed in the site and will have access to all necessary data and information through collaboration with Lenzing’s engineers and operators. The study will be carried out by such techniques as energy integration (pinch analysis) at white box level, indicating the relevant energy and mass balances and thus entering the process details. Optimisation techniques will be used to identify promising solutions.

The student will report regularly with progress updates and will receive feedback and input. Local project leaders and on-site engineers are first lines of contact. Periodic telecons with the Industrial Process and Energy Systems Engineering (IPESE) supervising team will ensure support for the project from the side of EPFL.

About Lenzing:

The Lenzing Group is a world market leader headquartered in Austria, with production sites in all major markets as well as a worldwide network of sales and marketing offices. Lenzing supplies the global textile and nonwovens industry with high-quality, botanic cellulose fibers. Its portfolio ranges from dissolving pulp to standard and specialty cellulose fibers.

More information about Lenzing can be found on their website.

  

EPFL Professor: Prof. Dr. François Maréchal

Assistants: Dr. Ivan Kantor, Alessio Santecchia

To apply, please contact Ivan Kantor and include your CV!