Expert in: Process simulation with a focus in distillation, heat exchangers, FCC, naphtha reforming and isomerization
I’m the EMEA regional lead for simulation software services and support. In this role, I ensure our simulation customers receive the maximum value from the KBC simulation programs.
I became interested in simulation when I collaborated with a university professor to develop the first simulation laboratory practices. It was back in 1996, and I decided process simulation was always going to be part of my career. My first professional assignment was to work as a technical support engineer for a process simulator company. My focus was refining and heat exchangers modeling. During that time, I provided support for many European refineries as well as delivered simulation projects for refining, oil and gas and petrochemicals.
The launch of a very innovative refinery simulation project, including refinery reactors models and refinery wide models, led me to work close with KBC. It was a very exciting project as customers were also thrilled about the possibilities. Mergers and acquisitions delayed the project, so I had the opportunity to work in other simulation fields equally interesting such as safety studies, dynamic simulation, hydrogen network digital twin and adsorption modeling.
I’m still as passionate about simulation as I was then because process simulation has tremendously evolved from the original process design calculations. It has become business support tools with Process Twins, operational guidance and optimization with process and energy RTO, tackling the challenges of the industry decarbonization with bio and synthetic fuels without losing any focus in processes and equipment design, energy integration and process safety.
I hold a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University Complutense of Madrid and was a research fellow at Strathclyde University and l’Université de Pau.