Prozesscharge

Prozesscharge is a term used in German-language technical literature to describe the material that is loaded into a processing step and undergoes transformation, such as in reactors, furnaces, kilns, or mixers. It is commonly employed in process engineering, metallurgy, and chemical production to refer to the starting material and any accompanying substances that enter the operation.

In practice, the process charge encompasses the feedstock and often additives, catalysts, fluxes, or solvents that are introduced at the beginning of a production step. The precise composition, mass, particle size, moisture content, and initial temperature of the charge influence energy balance, reaction pathways, yields, and product quality. Accurate specification and traceability of the charge are important for process control, reproducibility, and scheduling.

Contexts and examples vary by industry. In metallurgy, the process charge might include ore, coke, and fluxes loaded into a smelting or refining furnace. In chemical synthesis, it can denote the reagents and solvents fed into a batch reactor. In cement or mineral processing, the charge may comprise raw materials and additives fed into a kiln or mixer. The term is less standardized in everyday language and can be replaced by more specific descriptions such as feed, charge material, or Ladung, depending on the domain.

Legal usage of Prozesscharge is rare and typically avoided in favor of established terms like Prozesskosten or Verfahrenskosten in German law. The phrase is primarily a technical, industry-specific term.