Embargo: 20 septembre 08.30

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1 Embargo: 20 septembre Solvay : le calcul à haute performance permet une avancée significative dans l'optimisation technologique et environnementale de la production de bicarbonate de sodium Solvay et l'ulb (Université Libre de Bruxelles) annoncent des résultats significatifs d une étude initiée par la Direction Recherche & Technologie de la SBU Soda Ash et destinée à améliorer la productivité, l efficacité environnementale et la qualité d un procédé industriel majeur : la production de bicarbonate de sodium. Cette importante avancée a été réalisée grâce à l'expertise de partenaires de haut rang tels qu ANSYS, Intel, HP et Microsoft. Le service de Génie Chimique de l'ulb a pu développer un modèle informatique permettant de tester virtuellement différentes configurations d installations destinées à la production de bicarbonate de sodium raffiné. Cette simulation numérique a été rendue possible grâce au logiciel de mécanique des fluides (Computational Fluid Dynamics) Fluent, mis à disposition par ANSYS. «Ce logiciel permet de simuler le mélange de différents fluides à l intérieur des installations. La connaissance de ce mélange est indispensable à la construction de notre modèle. Avec une solution informatique clé sur porte, nous avons pu nous concentrer sur notre métier de base, la recherche, et avons obtenu, en un mois, des résultats essentiels qui auraient nécessité plusieurs années de calcul précédemment.», commente Benoît Haut (Professeur ULB). De plus, ajoute Thierry Cartage (Technology Manager dans l unité de Process Engineering - Solvay), «le modèle développé par l ULB nous permet de prédire la quantité et la taille des cristaux de bicarbonate produits. Il suffit pour cela de faire varier virtuellement les paramètres de nos colonnes de fabrication, ce qui est bien moins onéreux et plus rapide que de réaliser ces essais en grandeur nature dans nos unités de production». Un premier modèle est opérationnel, il permet déjà d envisager des modifications significatives du procédé de fabrication. La performance globale de la synthèse du bicarbonate de sodium, dont le CO 2 est une des matières premières, pourrait être nettement accrue. Les simulations indiquent la possibilité d accroître d au moins 20% le taux d absorption du CO 2 consommé, l efficacité énergétique et la productivité globale du procédé, tout en réduisant les émissions dans l atmosphère. Le marché du bicarbonate de sodium est en croissance constante avec une production annuelle de plus de 2.6 millions de tonnes en «Solvay en est le leader mondial, commente Giordano Zappelli (SBU Carbonate) et accède avec sa gamme de produits à des marchés très variés : alimentation animale, épuration des fumées, détergence, industries alimentaire et pharmaceutique.» Les résultats de cette étude ouvrent des pistes pour élargir notre portefeuille de produits et encore améliorer leur qualité, ce qui est en phase avec notre stratégie», conclut-il. Plus d informations :

2 Solvay: high performance computing zorgt voor een significante stap voorwaarts in de optimalisatie op technologisch en milieuvlak van de productie van natriumbicarbonaat Solvay en de ULB (Université Libre de Bruxelles) maken belangrijke resultaten bekend van een onderzoek op initiatief van de Directie Onderzoek & Technologie van de SBU Soda Ash. Dit onderzoek beoogde de productiviteit, de milieuprestaties en de kwaliteit van een cruciaal industrieel procédé te verbeteren, namelijk de productie van natriumbicarbonaat. Deze belangrijke stap werd gezet dankzij de expertise van toonaangevende partners zoals ANSYS, Intel, HP en Microsoft. De afdeling Génie Chimique (Chemical Engineering) van de ULB is erin geslaagd een informaticamodel te ontwikkelen waarmee verschillende configuraties van installaties voor de productie van geraffineerd natriumbicarbonaat virtueel kunnen worden getest. Deze digitale simulatie werd mogelijk dankzij Fluent, het programma voor Computational Fluid Dynamics (numerieke stromingsleer) dat ter beschikking werd gesteld door ANSYS. Met deze toepassing kunnen we de mengeling simuleren van verschillende niet-vaste stoffen in de installaties. De kennis van het mengsel is vitaal voor de creatie van ons model. Dankzij deze gebruiksklare informaticaoplossing konden wij focussen op onze hoofdtaak, het eigenlijke onderzoek, en wisten we op een maand tijd essentiële resultaten te verkrijgen waarvan de berekening vroeger meerdere jaren in beslag zou hebben genomen, aldus Benoît Haut (hoogleraar ULB). Thierry Cartage (Technology Manager in de unit Process Engineering - Solvay) voegt eraan toe: Bovendien kunnen we met het door de ULB ontwikkelde model de kwantiteit en de grootte van de geproduceerde bicarbonaatkristallen voorspellen. Daarvoor hoeven we enkel virtueel de parameters van onze productiekolommen aan te passen, wat heel wat goedkoper en sneller is dan een test in de praktijk in onze productie-eenheden. Nu het eerste model operationeel is, overwegen we al belangrijke aanpassingen van het productieproces. Het algemene resultaat van de synthese van natriumbicarbonaat, waarvoor CO 2 een van de grondstoffen is, zou flink kunnen worden verhoogd. Uit de simulaties blijkt dat de CO 2 - absorptie, de energie-efficiëntie en de algemene productiviteit van het procédé met ten minste 20% kunnen worden verhoogd, terwijl ook de uitstoot in de atmosfeer wordt verminderd. De jaarproductie van natriumbicarbonaat voor 2006 bedroeg meer dan 2,6 miljoen ton en de markt blijft groeien. Solvay is hier wereldleider, aldus Giordano Zappelli (SBU Soda Ash), en bedient met zijn productassortiment heel diverse markten: dierenvoeding, zuivering van rookgassen, detergenten of de voedings- en de farmaceutische industrie. De resultaten van dit onderzoek bieden mogelijkheden om onze productportefeuille uit te breiden en de kwaliteit ervan nog te verbeteren. Dit ligt in de lijn van onze strategie, besluit hij. Meer informatie:

3 Solvay: high performance computing permits significant advance in technological and environmental optimization of sodium bicarbonate production. Solvay and ULB (Université Libre de Bruxelles) today announce significant results in a research project initiated by the Research and Technology Management of SBU Soda Ash to improve the productivity, environmental effectiveness and quality of a major industrial process, the production of sodium bicarbonate. This major advance was made possible by the contribution of expertise from top ranking partners including ANSYS, Intel, HP and Microsoft. With their assistance ULB's Chemical Engineering department succeeded in developing a computer model for virtual testing different production configurations at refined sodium bicarbonate manufacturing installations. This numerical simulation would not have been possible without the Fluent computational fluid dynamics software that ANSYS made available. This software allows us to simulate the mix of different fluids within installations, which is vital input in building our model. With a turnkey IT solution at hand, we were able to focus on our basic profession of research. In just one month we obtained essential results which would previously have required several years computation, says Benoît Haut, Professor at ULB). On top of this, adds Thierry Cartage (Technology Manager at Solvay's Process Engineering unit), the ULB model enables us to predict the quantity and size of the bicarbonate crystals produced. To do this we simply vary in virtual mode the parameters of our manufacturing columns. That s cheaper and faster then making the trials on our production units. An initial model is operational, and is already pointing to significant changes that can be made in the production process. The performance of sodium bicarbonate synthesis, of which CO 2 is one of the raw materials, can be greatly enhanced. The simulations are pointing to an at least 20% potential increase in the CO 2 absorption rate, energy efficiency and global productivity, whilst lowering atmospheric emissions. The sodium bicarbonate market is growing constantly with an annual production of over 2.6 million tonnes (2006 figures). Solvay is the world leader, Giordano Zappelli (SBU Soda Ash) notes, and supplies a wide variety of markets, including animal feed, flue gas cleaning, detergents, food and pharmaceuticals. These research results are opening up avenues for developing new and improved products, in line with our strategy, he concludes. Further information is available on :

4 The Intel Xeon processor 5300 series, featuring the world s first quad-core standard high-volume server processor, provides breakthrough performance and energy-efficiency for high-performance cluster environments. Many server applications are threaded and will benefit from the Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor 5300 series thanks to its 4 cores and large 8MB of on-die cache. The performance-enhancing and energy-efficient technologies delivered by the Intel Core micro-architecture help IT departments maximize performance and density with fewer cooling challenges. PR contact : Kristof Sehmke or kristof.sehmke@intel.com Hewlett-Packard (HP) has years of experience in High Performance Computing (HPC), which has resulted in a wide array of new computing choices. HP's Cluster Platforms are accessible and affordable to every research team in extensive applications areas. Scientists but also Financial Analysts, Designers, Pharmaceutical Researchers and other are eager to take advantage of HP's highly scalable clusters based on industry-standard technology. As the leader in HPC, HP's Unified Cluster Portfolio is at the forefront of this expansion -- advancing the power of computing with scalable solutions for high performance computation, data management, and visualization. HPC software stacks are enabled to scale extremely well on the full range of HP Cluster Platforms, from 1U Rack server to Blades (from x86 to Itanium). HP Cluster Platform Express comes factory assembled and available with pre-installed software for cluster management, and ready for deployment. The extensive array of software development tools and applications featured in the Unified Cluster Portfolio are supported on Cluster Platform Express solutions, which adhere to the design and quality standards of HP Cluster Platforms. PR contact : Liliane.Devos@hp.com Microsoft and High Performance Computing Microsoft has supported fault-tolerant and high-availability clustering for many years, but with the release of Microsoft Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 (CCS), Microsoft brings the power of high-performance computing (HPC) to the commercial mainstream. Windows Compute Cluster Server was built to shorten user time-to-insight for HPC workloads by being easier to deploy and manage and by leveraging existing Windows IT infrastructure for management, security, storage, and desktop use. In 1991, 10 Gflops of computing power cost approximately 40,000,000. Today, the same level of computing power can be achieved by combining commodity x86 computers at a cost of about 4,000. This drop in cost effectively brings the hardware acquisition cost of supercomputing down to the personal desktop level. A major barrier to personal supercomputing, however, has been the complexity of deployment and management. Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 integrates clustering, deployment, and management into the familiar tools of the Active Directory directory service and Microsoft Windows Server 2003, enabling simple deployment of compute nodes and central management. In short, enabling people to focus on Science and not on IT. More info on PR contact : Christophe.VanMollekot@microsoft.com ANSYS, Inc., founded in 1970, develops and globally markets engineering simulation software and technologies widely used by engineers and designers across a broad spectrum of industries. The Company focuses on the development of open and flexible solutions that enable users to analyze designs directly on the desktop, providing a common platform for fast, efficient and cost-conscious product development, from design concept to final-stage testing and validation. The Company and its global network of channel partners provide sales, support and training for customers. Headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., with more than 40 strategic sales locations throughout the world, ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries employ approximately 1,400 people and distribute ANSYS products through a network of channel partners in over 40 countries. Visit for more information. ANSYS, ANSYS Workbench, AUTODYN, CFX, FLUENT and any and all ANSYS, Inc. brand, product, service and feature names, logos and slogans are registered trademarks or trademarks of ANSYS, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States or other countries. All other brand, product, service and feature names or trademarks are the property of their respective owners. < PR contact : Isabelle Mathy ima@fluent.be The Faculty of Applied Sciences of the ULB, also known as the École Polytechnique, is an educational institute dedicated to the training of civil engineers Among its other missions we mention applied scientific research as well as a number of services for third parties. Many external professors with a career in the industry teach specific courses. This linkage helps the professors to keep a healthy balance between

5 educational needs and employers requests The Faculty is part of an extensive international network and student exchange through the Erasmus programme is quite common. Research carried out more specifically by The Chemical Engineering department deals with the design and optimisation of processes in the chemical, food, pharmaceutical and environmental industries via experimental study and mathematical modeling of phenomena such as the momentum, heat and mass transfer within these processes. Among processes reviewed and analysed in recent years is sodium bicarbonate production, crystallisation of chocolate, the drying of tomatoes, biological water treatment and crystallisation of pharmaceutically relevant substances. PR contact : bhaut@ulb.ac.be SOLVAY is an international chemical and pharmaceutical Group with headquarters in Brussels. It employs some 29,000 people in 50 countries. In 2006, its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 9.4 billion, generated by its three sectors of activity: Chemicals, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals. Solvay (Euronext : SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR) is listed on the Euronext stock exchange in Brussels. Details are available at PR contact : martial.tardy@solvay.com