The objective of this year’s AIChE Design Problem was to evaluate the economics of the production of non-alcoholic beer in five different states: Alabama, Georgia, California, Florida and Texas, using a reverse osmosis membrane process.

The targeted breweries were considered to be able to produce 60.000 barrels/year (BPY) and to have an excess capacity up to 30.000 BPY. The students were required to determine the minimum capacity of non-alcoholic beer (above 60.000 BPY of alcoholic beer) that provided an 1RR of 15%, as well as the capacities required to achieve IRR’s of 20%, 25%, 30%, and 35%.