The contents of the course (organized in 5 modules) are summarized below.

Module 1: Mathematical Modeling in the Process Industry.
Duration: 10 hours - Frontal Lessons
Topics: Basics of chemical kinetics applied to reactors: identification of the kinetic scheme; problems of selectivity and yield; management of unwanted reactions; modeling and control of discontinuous and continuous reactors in the start-up and shut-down phase. Thermal stability of reacting systems: thermal runaway.

Module 2: Identification criteria for Runaway boundaries and process optimization in industrial reactors.
Duration: 8 hours - Frontal Lessons
Topics: Identification of runaway boundaries: illustration of the main theories on the identification of runaway boundaries. Definition of safe and productive operating conditions (on an industrial scale) for discontinuous and continuous reactors (start-up and steady state phase).

Module 3: Calorimetry applied to the study of industrial reacting systems.
Duration: 10 hours - Frontal Lessons
Main calorimetric methods suitable to characterize the thermochemical stability of substances and / or reacting systems (DSC; ARC; C80; PHI-TEC II; RC1) in the typical conditions of the operation of an industrial plant (both normal and emergency). Interpretation of experimental results for the purpose of conducting a better risk analysis.

Module 4: Techniques for identifying hazards in the system.
Duration: 12 hours - Frontal Lessons
Topics: Illustration of the technique of identifying hazards "Advanced Recursive Operability Analysis" and its application to process industry plants. Case study analysis.

Module 5: Illustration and critical reconstruction of real accidents.
Duration: 8 hours - Frontal Lessons
Topics: Illustration (also through video viewing) of the dynamics of accidents actually occurred in chemical companies; detailed reconstruction of the causes of the incidental event using the methods illustrated in the previous modules.