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Research Projects

Mohamed Awad

Current PhD Student

Minimizing energy utiliation for batch production through multivariante scheduling optimisation

Mohamed Awad holds a bachelor and master’s degree in chemical engineering from Cairo University, Egypt. Since his graduation, he was working as an assistant lecturer in the chemical engineering department of Cairo University in addition to working as process and chemical engineer in multiple companies. Before starting his PhD project, Mohamed was a lead process engineer in ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions. He was able to achieve large savings in different projects by applying process optimisation methodologies. Mohamed has a passion in optimisation which was also clear not only from his professional career but also from his master’s thesis which was entitled, “Optimization of small-scale liquefaction processes using genetic algorithm”.

Scheduling is a decision-making process for short-term activities. By solving a scheduling problem, a limited set of resources can be allocated to produce certain products with specified recipes without violating or exceeding the limits of such resources. These resources can include equipment, utilities, manpower, raw materials, storage tanks…etc. The objective of the scheduling process may vary between minimisation of energy consumption, decreasing the timespan of a production, increasing production throughputs to meet market requirements, and decreasing the environmental loads resulted of a production facility.  The solution of a scheduling problem defines how many batches need to be executed (batching), where these tasks will be executed (assignment) and when and in what sequence the tasks will be executed (timing and sequencing). Such decisions are limited by the constraints in the manufacturing facility.

Papers

  • Awad M. et al. “The Identification of Utility Constraints in a Batch Manufacturing Facility”. In: The 17th International Conference on Manufacturing Research (ICMR). Belfast UK; 2019.   http://ebooks.iospress.nl/volumearticle/52654

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