Evaluating the accuracy of CatCost Tool (developed by NREL) to complete IFPEN database with new process equipment and raw material costs in the field of inorganic material recycling and production.

IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) est un acteur majeur de la recherche et de la formation dans les domaines de l’énergie, du transport et de l’environnement. De la recherche à l’industrie, l’innovation technologique est au cœur de son action, articulée autour de quatre priorités stratégiques : Mobilité Durable, Energies Nouvelles, Climat / Environnement / Economie circulaire et Hydrocarbures Responsables.

Dans le cadre de la mission d’intérêt général confiée par les pouvoirs publics, IFPEN concentre ses efforts sur :

• l’apport de solutions aux défis sociétaux de l’énergie et du climat, en favorisant la transition vers une mobilité durable et l’émergence d’un mix énergétique plus diversifié ;
• la création de richesse et d’emplois, en soutenant l’activité économique française et européenne et la compétitivité des filières industrielles associées.

Partie intégrante d’IFPEN, l’école d’ingénieurs IFP School prépare les générations futures à relever ces défis.

Evaluating the accuracy of CatCost Tool (developed by NREL) to complete IFPEN database with new process equipment and raw material costs in the field of inorganic material recycling and production.

Our process department is developing its activities in inorganic materials synthesis processes (e.g., recycling of metals from spent catalysts, recycling of metals from batteries, pCam synthesis, new catalyst production). Methodological challenges arise, particularly in estimating the cost of associated unit operations (extruders, stirred tanks, filtration, etc.).

Our internal CAPEX estimation database was built around gas/liquid processes dedicated to refining and petrochemicals. It is now necessary to expand it with unit operations dedicated to solids.

The CatCost tool (free, available in Excel or as a web application) allows for the preliminary estimation of the manufacturing cost of a catalyst and was developed by the NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory).

Description

CatCost Overview

CatCost combines industry-standard cost estimation methods and resources into an intuitive suite of tools to bring actionable cost insight to every step of catalyst research and development. It allows the rapid development of comprehensive catalyst cost estimates. It incorporates detailed insight into manufacturing methods, especially for precommercial catalysts, without requiring any process design experience. https://catcost.chemcatbio.org/

Goal of the internship

The main goal of this internship is to evaluate the results obtained from CatCost for a previously identified IFPEN reference case.

The work will be divided into the following tasks :

• Study an IFPEN process reference case, selected from previous studies (process scheme, equipment list, mass balance, utilities balance, economical evaluation results obtained from IFPEN tool)
• Set up the reference case into CatCost Tool
• Compare and analyze the results obtained from IFPEN and CatCost Tools
• Enrich IFPEN database with data from CatCost (raw material pricing, unit operation cost)

Required profile

Experience in process design, chemical engineering, familiar with economical studies

Additional information

Duration of the internship : 6 months
Workplace : IFPEN Lyon, Rond-point de l'échangeur de Solaize, 69360 Solaize
Transport : public transportation / personal vehicle
Paid internship 1130€/month (gross)