Protsessitehnika

Protsessitehnika, or process engineering, is an engineering discipline focused on the design, development, optimization, operation and management of industrial processes that convert raw materials into products. It integrates principles from chemistry, physics, mathematics and chemical engineering practice with mechanical design, control theory and environmental considerations to create processes that are safe, economical and sustainable.

The field covers a wide range of industries, including chemical production, refining and petrochemicals, food and beverage processing, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, materials manufacturing and energy conversion. Core concerns include the selection and arrangement of equipment, unit operations such as reaction, separation and heat transfer, and the integration of process steps to minimize energy use and waste.

Practitioners use a set of methods and tools, such as mass and energy balances, process synthesis and design, simulation and optimization of flowsheets, process control systems, instrumentation and safety analysis. Design often proceeds from laboratory experiments to pilot facilities and finally full-scale production, with attention to scale-up, reliability and maintainability.

Education in protsessitehnika typically occurs within engineering faculties, often under titles such as protsessitehnika or chemical engineering. Programs emphasize thermodynamics, transport phenomena, reaction engineering, separations, process control and sustainability. Research areas include process intensification, green processing, bio-based production, process integration and energy-efficient technologies.

The field aims to deliver efficient, safe, and environmentally responsible processes that support modern industry and innovation.