Process industry is a pillar industry of national economy, and in the context of double carbon target, it is urgent to promote the green, low carbon, high-end and intelligent development of process industry. The group focuses on the optimal utilization of energy and resources in process industry, closely combines the intrinsic mechanistic characteristics of chemical production process, and carries out the research of process industry system integration and optimization with mathematical planning, artificial intelligence and information technology as the main means, including the following main directions:l  Intelligent design and optimization methods for heat transfer networks, work networks and quality networks in the process industryl  Machine learning and mechanistic model-driven simultaneous molecular and process design and optimization techniquesl  Carbon neutral oriented new energy reconfiguration process and new energy integrated system developmentl  Software development for olefin polymerization process simulation and control scheme optimizationMany theoretical and industrial applications have been achieved in recent years, and the research results have been published in AIChE Journal, Chemical Engineering Science, Applied Energy, Journal of Cleaner Production, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy and other journals. The highly efficient recovery technology of polyolefin emission gas, which is centered on double-expansion self-deep-cooling separation technology, has been developed to maximize the separation efficiency and economic benefits. The technology has been applied in polyethylene plants of more than 30 enterprises, such as Qilu Petrochemical, Fujian Refining and Chemical, Baofeng Petrochemical, etc., with remarkable economic benefits, energy saving, consumption reduction and emission reduction effects, and basically eliminated the torch. 2015, the technology was selected as the "National Key Promoted Low Carbon Technology Catalogue (Second Batch)" organized by the Climate Department of National Development and Reform Commission; 2020, the technology won the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation First Prize of Scientific and Technological Progress.

By using modern signal analysis methods and intelligent algorithms such as artificial neural network and deep learning, we can establish the correspondence between the characteristic parameters of chemical reaction process and multiphase flow and the signals of sound, light, electricity and magnetism, and realize the in-situ online detection of key reaction parameters and process parameters. To reveal the mechanism of chemical reaction, flow and mass transfer in multiphase reactor, to clarify the mechanism of chemical reaction, and to guide the design and operation optimization of chemical reactor.On this basis, the chemical process intelligent control system is built by combining chemical reaction kinetics and reactor mathematical model, and the intelligent control of industrial reactors is realized on the basis of soft measurement and online measurement of key process parameters, including maximum yield control, product quality control, grade switching process control and other functions. After the system is put into operation, it can significantly improve the smoothness of industrial plant operation and product quality, and significantly reduce energy and material consumption.Representative results include:l  Fluidized bed reactor acoustic emission detection system. The acoustic emission technology is used to achieve online detection of more than ten key process parameters such as particle agglomeration, flow pattern and material level in the fluidized bed reactor of gas-phase polyethylene, which has been applied in more than 10 sets of large polyethylene plants.l  Fluidized bed electrostatic detector. We have developed explosion-proof fluidized bed electrostatic detector and fluidized bed electrostatic detection system to realize online measurement of electrostatic potential and charge-to-mass ratio, early warning of agglomeration, and material level detection, etc. A total of 48 electrostatic detectors have been industrially applied in large polyolefin plants.l  Intelligent monitoring system for polyolefin plant production process. Developed a decision support system for reactor operation optimization and accident stop warning, formed an intelligent monitoring system for polyethylene production process, and proposed a process to regulate flow patterns and destroy vortex hot spots to enhance heat transfer, which was verified by industrial tests. It has been applied in more than ten polyethylene industrial plants. Meanwhile, the results have been extended to be applied in coal gasification units, catalytic cracking units, polypropylene units, etc.

Aiming at the major needs in the process of low carbon olefin preparation and application, relying on the first domestic intelligent high-throughput synthesis and screening platform for chemical materials developed independently by the Institute of Biology and Molecular Intelligence of Hangzhou International Science and Technology Innovation Center (see video on website, https://hic.zju.edu.cn/ibct/wwhemwoundry/list.htm), the creation of functional molecular additives that can effectively improve functional molecular additives that can effectively improve the efficiency of oil cracking and olefin polymerization processes, including naphtha steam cracking active additives that can increase the production of low carbon olefins and antistatic agents and co-catalysts that are suitable for olefin polymerization processes, to provide support for the efficient preparation of high value-added low carbon olefins and the targeted development of high performance polymer materials.

Mathematical modeling is a versatile and important tool in chemical process research and development. Using mathematical notation and mathematical logic to provide an abstract and rational quantitative description of the flow, transfer, and reaction processes in chemical unit operations, it can enable the underlying characteristics of chemical processes that are not visible to the naked eye and not detectable by existing sensors to be presented to researchers in a clear and systematic manner. Focusing on the design and optimization of olefin polymerization processes, the team has developed multiple types of mathematical models and simulation methods covering macroscopic reactor scale, mesoscopic flow structure scale, and microscopic molecular chain scale, with the objectives of reaction process enhancement and high-end polyolefin material manufacturing, liquid-solid, gas-liquid-solid, etc. Further, artificial intelligence techniques and advanced signal statistics have been introduced into the mechanism modeling to achieve more accurate portrayal and prediction of the essential characteristics of chemical processes at multiple scales. The research results have been funded by the Key Fund of National Natural Science Foundation of China and Integrated Project, and some of the results have been applied to the installations of many large petrochemical enterprises, such as Tianjin Petrochemical, Hainan Refining and Chemical, Zhongan United, Shenhua Ningcoal, etc., which provide important theoretical support for industrial reactor scale-up, large proprietary equipment manufacturing, and high-end polyolefin new grade development.

Molecular design and macropreparation of olefin polymerization catalystsOlefin polymerization catalysts directly determine the structure and performance of polyolefin products, are the core technology for the development of polyolefin industry, and are the key to lead the progress of polyolefin industry. The team has developed unique in situ infrared, in situ ultraviolet and other in situ spectroscopic detection techniques to understand the intrinsic connection between catalyst structure and microstructure modulation of polyolefin molecules and the scientific laws between physicochemical properties, focusing on the creation and engineering realization of high-performance polyolefins. We develop industrially applicable polyolefin catalysts and provide technical support for the design and production of high-end polyolefin and polypropylene products such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, metallocene polyethylene, polyolefin elastomer, polyethylene wax, high carbon number α-olefin, etc. Representative achievements include the development of special catalysts for high-end products such as highly selective ethylene zwitterions, double/broad peak polyethylene, high melt strength polypropylene, polyolefin elastomers, easy processing, and high performance UHMWPE. Some catalysts have completed industrial experiments and more than 20 high-end polyolefin products have been successfully developed.

Polymerization reaction engineering and high-end new material developmentHigh-performance polyolefin materials are indispensable materials for national development and livelihood, and also important strategic materials for national defense industry. For a long time, China's polyolefin industry has a surplus of low-end products, a shortage of mid- and high-end products, a heavy reliance on imports of high-end products, and a long-term "neck" problem of core technology being restricted by foreign countries. The team's core task is to promote the engineering of olefin polymerization reactions, and to promote the industrial development of high-end polyolefin materials through the regulation of molecular structure, chain entanglement structure and aggregation structure of polyolefin materials with the help of catalyst design technology, reactor engineering technology and processing and molding technology. Currently, we are focusing on the research of olefin polymerization reaction process strengthening, polymerization process flow optimization design, and the research of high pressure low density polyethylene (LDPE), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), high melt strength, high gloss polypropylene and polyolefin elastomer (POE) to help the development of high-end polyolefin new materials. We have built the first set of ultra-high pressure free radical polymerization reaction experimental device in China, which can provide process data support for the development of LDPE homopolymer products and EVA, EMA, EnBA and other multi-polymer products, as well as the development and design of new high-pressure homopolymerization/ copolymerization processes.