Application of the TRIZ creativity enhancement approach to design of inherently safer chemical processes

Abstract The paper gives a brief overview of the creativity supporting methods of potential interest to process engineering community. Information about computer implementations of the presented methods is introduced as well. Creative problem solving can be broadly classified into intuitive and analytical methods—the paper suggests the analytical approaches to creative problem solving as the most promising group for process engineers. Special attention is given to TRIZ, a popular method for systematic creativity. Classical TRIZ needs to be modified in order to be used in a specialised domain such as process engineering. We discuss the changes needed and illustrate the application of the modified TRIZ to the design of inherently safer chemical processes. A discussion of the advantages and drawback of creativity enhancing methods in the context of process engineering is also presented along with directions for future development.

[1]  Arthur B. VanGundy,et al.  Techniques of structured problem solving , 1981 .

[2]  Reginald B. H. Tan,et al.  Expert system for the design of inherently safer processes. 1. Route selection stage , 2002 .

[3]  Edward De Bono,et al.  Lateral Thinking for Management , 1971 .

[4]  R. Sternberg.  Handbook of Creativity: Subject Index , 1998 .

[5]  Bertrand Braunschweig,et al.  Case-base retrieval in process engineering: Supporting design by reusing flowsheets , 1996 .

[6]  David Leake,et al.  Case-Based Reasoning: Experiences, Lessons and Future Directions , 1996 .

[7]  Tony Proctor,et al.  Creative Problem Solving for Managers , 1999 .

[8]  Xiao-Ning Li,et al.  TRIZ-Based Creative Retrofitting of Complex Distillation Processes: An Industrial Case Study , 2001 .

[9]  Darrell Mann,et al.  Hands-on systematic innovation , 2002 .

[10]  Andrzej Kraslawski,et al.  Creative Design of Distillation Flowsheets Based on Theory of Solving Inventive Problems , 2000 .

[11]  T. Buzan,et al.  The Mind Map Book , 1993 .

[12]  Xiao-Ning Li,et al.  Synthesis of Reactor/Separator Networks by the Conflict-based Analysis Approach , 2002 .

[13]  Michael French,et al.  Invention and evolution : design in nature and engineering, 2nd ed. , 1988 .

[14]  Trevor Kletz.  Process Plants: A Handbook for Inherently Safer Design , 1998 .

[15]  Xiao-Ning Li,et al.  A conflict-based approach for process synthesis with wastes minimization , 2003 .

[16]  R. B. Tan,et al.  Expert System for the Design of Inherently Safer Processes. 2. Flowsheet Development Stage , 2002 .

[17]  Andrzej Kraslawski,et al.  Selection of internals for reactive distillation column - case-based reasoning approach , 2004, Comput. Chem. Eng..

[18]  Michael A. Orloff,et al.  Inventive Thinking through TRIZ , 2003 .

[19]  M. Boden.  The Creative Mind , 1991 .

[20]  Claude Marouzé,et al.  A triz-based creativity tool for food processing equipment design , 2002 .

[21]  Altshuller.  Creativity As an Exact Science , 1984 .

[22]  Martin G. Moehrle,et al.  How Combinations of TRIZ Tools are Used in Companies - Results of a Cluster Analysis , 2005 .