Problem Solver
Jeffrey Silverstein
Areas Jeffrey Silverstein is Knowledgeable in:
Distillation technology - product purification, solvent recovery, air and water pollution abatement
Process simulation and analysis
Process simulation and analysis
Techniques Jeffrey Silverstein Uses:
My education and career have been focused on the use of fundamental engineering theory and principles, computer-based process simulation, and statistical analysis to define and solve chemical engineering problems. The simulations are used to provide the design basis for troubleshooting and debottlenecking existing equipment and designing new equipment and chemical plants. I have a particular expertise in distillation systems for product purification and solvent recovery, as well as stripping and scrubbing.
In R&D applications, these skills are used to develop process concepts and evaluate alternate process routes so that the most technically feasible, environmentally innocuous and economically viable processes are chosen for implementation. The goal of my R&D involvement is to bring an engineering viewpoint to the research project at an early stage so that it is always on target towards a process that is industrially practical and economical. In this way viable processes get built faster with fewer start-up issues and the product gets to the market place more quickly. Nonviable processes fall by the wayside sooner, thus reducing R&D and engineering time and expenditures.
In R&D applications, these skills are used to develop process concepts and evaluate alternate process routes so that the most technically feasible, environmentally innocuous and economically viable processes are chosen for implementation. The goal of my R&D involvement is to bring an engineering viewpoint to the research project at an early stage so that it is always on target towards a process that is industrially practical and economical. In this way viable processes get built faster with fewer start-up issues and the product gets to the market place more quickly. Nonviable processes fall by the wayside sooner, thus reducing R&D and engineering time and expenditures.
Jeffrey Silverstein's Problem Solving Skills:
- JMP statistical software
- Packing and tray vendor software
- Aspentech heat exchanger software
- CHEMCAD process simulation software
- Process data analysis
- Design and evaluation of experiments
- Chemical engineering thermodynamics
- Process piping analysis
- Reactor design and analysis
- Stripper and Scrubber design and analysis for water and air pollution abatement
- Continuous and batch distillation design, analysis and optimization
- Chemical process conceptualization, development and design
- chemical process simulation & analysis
- Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher
Jeffrey Silverstein's Problem Solving Experience:
- Acrylonitrile Process
• Design and debottlenecking of the product recovery and purification section of the Fortier, LA Acrylonitrile Plant for two major expansions
• Design of a second Heads Column in the time period between the two expansions to debottleneck HCN recovery and permit the Acetonitrile Column to resume its intended function
• Design of Acetonitrile Column to recover HCN and acetonitrile from the Stripper Column overhead stream
• Optimization of operating conditions for AN columns which have resulted in increased production capacity and/or improved product quality. These included simple things such as a change in feed location, column operating pressure, feed temperature, etc., which involved minimum capital cost, but maximized the capacity of existing columns to permit delay of larger capital expenditures for major debottlenecking projects
• Developed robust process simulation models for each of the columns in the process - Polyesterification Batch Process
• Developed simulation model of batch reactor and distillation
• Insights from model provide direction for improvements in cycle time, product yield and waste treatment