Bodo Linnhoff
Encyclopedia
Bodo Linnhoff is a chemical engineer
who developed Pinch Analysis
, a technique for minimizing energy usage in the process industries. In its early days, the technique helped companies such as ICI
and BASF
to design plants that used roughly 30% less energy. As of the 1990s, Pinch Analysis became industrial standard in the oil refining and petrochemical industries.
and ETH Zurich
, Switzerland
(MSc in Mechanical Engineering
). He taught at ETH until 1974 when he went to University of Leeds
, UK, as a British Council Scholar. There he gained a PhD in Chemical Engineering
(1979). He joined the company ICI
in 1977 and moved to UMIST
in 1982 where he became a professor of Chemical Engineering.
His work was developed in a series of papers beginning in 1978. Although he and John R. Flower had difficulty getting the first paper accepted, it became one of the most highly cited in the history of chemical engineering. In ICI, six design optimisation projects in six ICI Divisions (incl USA, Europe and Australia) resulted in significant energy savings. Subsequent programme of method development and further applications followed with ICI itself adopting the technique and further papers followed.
The early papers and awards led to sufficient academic status for his appointment to a Chair of Chemical Engineering at UMIST at age 33. Once at UMIST, he established the “Research Consortium” of Internationals (Shell, Exxon, BP, BASF, were founder members) to fund and direct research programmes. He introduced Integrated Process Design, or "Process Integration", as a discipline to Chemical Engineering. In 1983, his team formed the "Center for Process Integration" at UMIST. By 1986, the UMIST "Process Integration Research Consortium" counted member companies from 14 countries from America, Europe and Asia.
), UBA, LFU (Germany
), DTI, DoE (UK), EPA, EPRI (United States
) and the European Commission to advise on environmental legislation.
In 1986 he became a Member of the UK government thinktank on energy conservation and an expert witness at the House of Lords on energy savings potential in industry in 1988.
Linnhoff ran Linnhoff March and the UMIST Department of Process Integration in parallel until 1994. Around 80% of all the world's largest oil and petrochemical companies had by then become clients or sponsors. Linnhoff left UMIST in 1994 and built up Linnhoff March into a dominant world-wide supplier. He sold the company in 2002 to KBC Advanced Technologies
(FTSE listed) and retired.
.
In May 2010, Linnhoff became Chairman of Harvester Capital Ltd.
Chemical engineer
In the field of engineering, a chemical engineer is the profession in which one works principally in the chemical industry to convert basic raw materials into a variety of products, and deals with the design and operation of plants and equipment to perform such work...
who developed Pinch Analysis
Pinch analysis
Pinch analysis is a methodology for minimising energy consumption of chemical processes by calculating thermodynamically feasible energy targets and achieving them by optimising heat recovery systems, energy supply methods and process operating conditions...
, a technique for minimizing energy usage in the process industries. In its early days, the technique helped companies such as ICI
ICI
ICI or Ici may mean:* ICI programming language, a computer programming language developed in 1992* Ici , an alternative weekly newspaper in Montreal, CanadaICI is also an abbreviation which may mean:...
and BASF
BASF
BASF SE is the largest chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Germany. BASF originally stood for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik . Today, the four letters are a registered trademark and the company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, and Zurich Stock...
to design plants that used roughly 30% less energy. As of the 1990s, Pinch Analysis became industrial standard in the oil refining and petrochemical industries.
Life
Linnhoff studied at Technical University of Hanover, GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
(MSc in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
). He taught at ETH until 1974 when he went to University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, UK, as a British Council Scholar. There he gained a PhD in Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
(1979). He joined the company ICI
ICI
ICI or Ici may mean:* ICI programming language, a computer programming language developed in 1992* Ici , an alternative weekly newspaper in Montreal, CanadaICI is also an abbreviation which may mean:...
in 1977 and moved to UMIST
UMIST
The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology was a university based in the centre of the city of Manchester in England. It specialised in technical and scientific subjects and was a major centre for research...
in 1982 where he became a professor of Chemical Engineering.
Pinch Analysis
The key concepts of Pinch Analysis were developed in his MSc. dissertation (1972, ETH Zurich) and in his PhD thesis "Thermodynamic Analysis in the Design of Process Networks" (awarded 1979, Leeds University). For this early work, Linnhoff received the Georg-Fischer-Preis of the ETH (1972) and the IChemE (UK) Moulton Medal and “Best Paper” Awards (both in 1980).His work was developed in a series of papers beginning in 1978. Although he and John R. Flower had difficulty getting the first paper accepted, it became one of the most highly cited in the history of chemical engineering. In ICI, six design optimisation projects in six ICI Divisions (incl USA, Europe and Australia) resulted in significant energy savings. Subsequent programme of method development and further applications followed with ICI itself adopting the technique and further papers followed.
World-wide recognition
In 1982 the work was recognised by the award of a Royal Society Gold Medal: the "Esso Energy Award" (UK) "for the contribution to the design of process plants and their energy utilization".The early papers and awards led to sufficient academic status for his appointment to a Chair of Chemical Engineering at UMIST at age 33. Once at UMIST, he established the “Research Consortium” of Internationals (Shell, Exxon, BP, BASF, were founder members) to fund and direct research programmes. He introduced Integrated Process Design, or "Process Integration", as a discipline to Chemical Engineering. In 1983, his team formed the "Center for Process Integration" at UMIST. By 1986, the UMIST "Process Integration Research Consortium" counted member companies from 14 countries from America, Europe and Asia.
Linnhoff March Ltd
Linnhoff established Linnhoff March Ltd. in 1983 and ran it in parallel with UMIST. Linnhoff March offered process design services to international clients such as Shell from the outset. In 1986, training and software product lines were added and overseas offices were set up in the US (1986) and in Japan (1990). Around 1990, several projects for government agencies were set up including MITI (JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
), UBA, LFU (Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
), DTI, DoE (UK), EPA, EPRI (United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) and the European Commission to advise on environmental legislation.
In 1986 he became a Member of the UK government thinktank on energy conservation and an expert witness at the House of Lords on energy savings potential in industry in 1988.
Linnhoff ran Linnhoff March and the UMIST Department of Process Integration in parallel until 1994. Around 80% of all the world's largest oil and petrochemical companies had by then become clients or sponsors. Linnhoff left UMIST in 1994 and built up Linnhoff March into a dominant world-wide supplier. He sold the company in 2002 to KBC Advanced Technologies
KBC Advanced Technologies
KBC Advanced Technologies plc is an independent provider of consulting and software services to energy and other process industries. Headquartered in Walton on Thames in England, the company has twelve other offices worldwide, with major operations in Houston and Singapore.KBC is a public company...
(FTSE listed) and retired.
Sports and post retirement
For 2005–6 he was President of the Rotary Club of RuthinRuthin
Ruthin is a community and the county town of Denbighshire in north Wales. Located around a hill in the southern part of the Vale of Clwyd - the older part of the town, the castle and Saint Peter's Square are located on top of the hill, while many newer parts of the town are on the floodplain of...
.
In May 2010, Linnhoff became Chairman of Harvester Capital Ltd.
Prizes/awards/honours/criminal convictions
- ETH Georg-Fischer-Preis (1972)
- Council of Europe Scholarship (British Council, 1974)
- IChemE (UK) Moulton Medal and “Best Paper” Awards (1980)
- Royal Society (UK) Gold Medal - Esso Energy Award (1982)
- DTI (UK) Award for the best collaboration University/Industry(1986)
- AIChE (US) Lifetime Achievement Award (1990)
- Ahlström (later Millennium) Prize (Helsinki, 1994)) for the best Engineering Innovation: helping the Environment.
- Criminal Conviction for inconsiderate driving (June 2001)