部会活動の内容(Activity)

　化学工学は，熱工学の先達である国井大蔵先生の言葉を拝借すれば，物理的・化学的および生物学的状態変化を利用する新プロセスの開発と設計を行う工学と解釈されます．
　これらの状態変化を利用する様々なプロセスでは，必ず熱（温度の高低）を利用する段階があり，したがって熱エネルギーの移動状況を予測することがプロセス開発に成功するカギとなることも少なくありません．
　これまで熱工学は「熱的単位操作」としてその役割を演じてきました．これからもその役割自身は時代が変化しても大きく変わらないと思われますが，社会構造が急速に変化しつつある今日，時代の要請に応じた進化が必要不可欠となります．
　化学工学会では，将来の化学工学研究の推進を目的として，基盤技術と展開技術に関する13の部会から成る新しい化学工学体系を導入しました（ビジョン2011）．特に基盤技術分野の部会は研究の深化だけでなく，学問体系の確立，教育体系の適用なども求められています．

　熱工学については次の２点を考慮しながら部会を運営しています．
１．熱工学体系の維持（応用分野への熱プロセス展開）
　熱工学が抱える問題点のひとつに，時代の変化に伴った応用分野として，すそ野が広がりつつある現在，中身が細分化され希薄になりつつあるということが挙げられます．熱工学が工学技術の基盤であることは他学会でも認知されています．とりわけ化学工学分野においては，環境・エネルギー問題を意識し，各種プロセスの開発，設計に役立つ熱工学（燃焼，プラズマ，伝熱，熱交換器，反応器，各種エネルギーシステムなどの分野）の体系を維持しつつ，他の部会と連携をはかることが重要となります．
２．新分野への展開（知られていない伝熱現象の基礎研究）
　熱工学体系を維持すると同時に，熱工学を魅力あるものにするためには未知分野への展開が必要です．近年，マイクロ・ナノテクノロジーによって，マイクロ・ナノの領域の伝熱をはじめとした，新しい輸送現象の研究が進行しています．さらに食品の凍結保存や再生医工学の発達からバイオの分野への展開も始まっています．これらの分野ではアプローチの手法が従来のものとは異なるため，研究は困難を極める場合も考えられますが，新しい現象の支配原理の発展が期待されます．
　したがって，基礎と応用の交流を深め，新原理から革新技術を輩出し，また逆に技術の立場から新しい原理が見いだされることを期待してやみません．
　このような背景のもと，熱工学部会は化学工学体系のひとつとして展開技術分野より基盤技術分野に所属し，熱工学関連部会であるエネルギー部会，粒子・流体部会などと強い連携を持つことが望ましいといえます．そこで，部会活動を進めるにあたり，活動目標を次のように挙げています．

1. マイクロおよびバイオテクノロジーへの伝熱現象や輸送現象の展開（新学問分野）
2. 熱工学体系の維持と他の部会との連携（応用分野）
3. 熱工学分野における化学工学の窓口として，国際交流に貢献
4. 各種企画の実施（講演・講習会，出版，学会誌・論文集特集など）

　本部会では多くの会員を募り，自由活発な交流の場として皆様の研究，技術開発を支える部会にしたいと考えています．本部会にご入会希望の方，また，ご興味をお持ちの方はぜひご連絡ください．

部会活動の内容(Activity) 英語表記(English version)

Chemical engineering is interpreted as engineering in which new processes are developed and designed using physical, chemical, and biological changes of state, in the words of Professor Daizo Kunii, who is a pioneer in thermal engineering.

In various processes using these state changes, there is inevitably a stage where heat (difference in temperature) is used, and the prediction of the transfer conditions of thermal energy is often key to success in the development of the process.

Thermal engineering has played a role with respect to “heat transfer operation.” It seems that the role itself will not change drastically even though the times change, but evolution in responding to the needs of the times is indispensable today, when the social structure is rapidly changing.

The SCEJ has introduced a new chemical engineering system that is composed of 13 Divisions related to basic technology and development technology for the purpose of the promotion of chemical engineering research in the future (Vision 2011). Especially in the Divisions of basic technology, not only a deepening of research is required, but also the establishment of an academic system and its application to the educational system.

As for thermal engineering, the Division is operated with consideration of the following two points:

1. Maintenance of the thermal engineering system (development of thermal process applications).
   One of the problems in thermal engineering is that the content is subdivided and is being refined at present, while at the same time expanding in its applications. As in other societies, it is recognized that thermal engineering is fundamental to engineering technology. Especially in the chemical engineering field, it is important to be aware of environmental/energy problems and to cooperate with other divisions in maintaining the system of thermal engineering (fields such as combustion, plasma, heat transfer, heat exchange, various energy systems, and others), which is useful in the development and design of each process.
2. Development of a new field (fundamental research into heat transfer phenomena)
   The development of a new field is required in order not only to maintain the system of thermal engineering but also to make it more attractive. In recent years, the research of new transport phenomena, including heat transfer in micro/nano fields by microtechnology/nanotechnology, has been proceeding. Furthermore, thanks to the development of cryopreservation of food and tissue engineering, thermal engineering has started to be developed in the field of biology. As the method of approach differs from the traditional one in these fields, the research is extremely difficult sometimes, but the development of new governing principles is expected.

We hope that the blending of the theoretical and the applied is promoted, innovative technologies are produced from the new principles, and, conversely, new principles are derived from the technologies.
In this context, it may be desirable that Division of Thermal Engineering belong not to a developmental technology field but to a basic technology field like chemical engineering and that it closely cooperate with the Divisions of Energy and Fluid & Particle Processing, which are the divisions related to thermal engineering. Therefore, the following targets are set in order to promote the activities of the division:

1. Development of heat transfer phenomena and transport phenomena in microtechnology and biotechnology (new academic area).
2. Maintenance of the thermal engineering system and cooperation with other divisions (application field).
3. Contributions to exchange across boundaries to create a window between chemical engineering and thermal engineering.
4. Implementation of various projects (lectures/short courses, publishing, features in academic journals/collected papers, and other activities).

We are seeking many members, and we aim to support your research and technology development as a place for free and active exchange. If you want to participate in the Division or are interested in the Division, please contact us.