The objective of this annual course is to teach chemical reaction kinetics and chemical reactor dynamics and related transfer processes on a level that is suitable as an introduction, while at the same time being advanced enough for those wishing to improve their background in modelling and simulation. Thus, the course is designed to benefit engineers and scientists from a wide variety of backgrounds. A careful presentation of mass and energy balancing and reaction kinetics fundamentals provides the basis for understanding complex dynamic reactor models. The simulation examples emphasize the basics and cover a broad range of subjects. Guest lecturers from university and industry complement the course with their practical experience.

Specialities of the course are the modelling and the computer simulation workshops. Using personal computers with with the new simulation language Berkeley Madonna, which can be downloaded.The participants work together in pairs to gain an understanding of the physical systems and their models by changing the parameters interactively and evaluating the graphical results. No previous computer experience is needed. We feel that this feature greatly enhances the learning of mathematical modelling. The descriptions and BerkeleyMadonna programs for100 examples are included in our book, "Chemical Engineering Dynamics: Introduction to Modelling with PC Simulation", which was published by Wiley-VCH in April 2000. The participants will thus become familiar with a very flexible and educational software package, which will be useful in their future work.

The material is presented informally, and we try to react to particular needs and wishes of the participants for special topics, workshops, and individual simulation problems.

The auto-free village of Braunwald reached by cable-car is situated high above a valley at 1300 m, at the base of high mountains (2700 m). The participants and instructors stay together in one of the most comfortable hotels of the resort.

The course is scheduled for the morning and evening hours. The afternoons are reserved for activities such as skiing (downhill and cross-country), snow shoeing, sledding, walking , swimming and sauna.

more information ☞ http://www.braunwaldcourse.ch