Variations due to different parameters, such as energy source used, plant layout, and environmental factors, can be predicted accurately and quickly so that the best combination can be chosen. At the heart of the encyclopedia are pictures of actual equipment, obtained from equipment manufacturers, animations showing how the equipment works, and pictures of applications of the equipment in a wide variety of fields. https://www.britannica.com/technology/chemical-engineering, Stanford University - Stanford Chemical Engineering - What is Chemical Engineering. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Foundation and the Chemical Engineering Department. …the desired pressure requires extensive engineering equipment. Chemical engineering, the development of processes and the design and operation of plants in which materials undergo changes in their physical or chemical state. Modern chemical engineering emerged with the development of large-scale, chemical-manufacturing operations in the second half of the 19th century. In the same way that a complex plant can be divided into basic unit operations, so chemical reactions involved in the process industries can be classified into certain groups, or unit processes (e.g., polymerizations, esterifications, and nitrations), having common characteristics. The Visual Encyclopedia of Chemical Engineering Equipment has been developed by Dr. Susan Montgomery at the The notion of a processing plant encompassing a number of operations, such as mixing, evaporation, and filtration, and of these operations being essentially similar, whatever the product, led to the concept of unit operations.
This classification into unit processes brought rationalization to the study of process engineering. While the scale and materials are different, these again are found in modern continuous production of foodstuffs. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. The over 100 pieces of chemical engineering equipment are organized into the nine categories shown in below, and an index/glossary is also provided for ease of access. Optimization means arranging materials, facilities, and energy to yield as productive and economical an operation as possible. Looking to the future, it is probable that chemical engineering will provide the solution to at least two of the world’s major problems: supply of adequate fresh water in all regions through desalination of seawater and environmental control through prevention of pollution.

This leads the user from a brief description of how the equipment works to more in-depth details of its operation; examples of industries in which the equipment is used; comparisons with other types of equipment; and resources for more information. Chemical engineering, the development of processes and the design and operation of plants in which materials undergo changes in their physical or chemical state.

This has given unity to the diverse unit operations and has led to the development of chemical engineering science in its own right; as a result, many applications have been found in fields outside the traditional chemical industry. Chemical engineering provides an ideal background for the economic evaluation of new projects and, in the plant construction sector, for marketing. A landmark in the development of chemical engineering was the publication in 1901 of the first textbook on the subject, by George E. Davis, a British chemical consultant. The result was a demand for chemists with knowledge of manufacturing processes, known as industrial chemists or chemical technologists. Language: English Location: United States Restricted Mode: Off History Help It includes pictures of each type of reactor along with a basic description of how the reactor operates. P.O.

The purpose of this encyclopedia is to provide students with a basic understanding of what chemical engineering equipment looks like and how it works. Applied throughout the process industries, it is founded on the principles of chemistry, physics, and mathematics. by Visual Encyclopedia of Chemical Engineering Equipment - University of Michigan. Modeling is the construction of theoretical mathematical prototypes of complex process systems, commonly with the aid of computers.

Pulp and paper manufacture involve considerations of fluid flow and heat transfer. The pharmaceuticals industry presents chemical engineering problems, the solutions of which have been essential to the availability of modern drugs. The encyclopedia also has information on equipment design, usage examples and the advantages and disadvantages of using a particular reactor. The…, Chemistry, the science that deals with the properties, composition, and structure of substances (defined as elements and compounds), the transformations they undergo, and the energy that is released or absorbed during these processes. Plant operation and control is increasingly the sphere of the chemical engineer rather than the chemist. 0:12. Despite its emergence in traditional chemicals manufacturing, it was through its role in the development of the petroleum industry that chemical engineering became firmly established as a unique discipline. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Since World War II, closer examination of the fundamental phenomena involved in the various unit operations has shown these to depend on the basic laws of mass transfer, heat transfer, and fluid flow. The complexity arises from the variety of conditions under which the unit operations are conducted. The online Visual Encyclopedia of Chemical Engineering Chemical engineering is as old as the process industries. University of Michigan under support from the National Science The laws of physical The demand for plants capable of operating physical separation processes continuously at high levels of efficiency was a challenge that could not be met by the traditional chemist or mechanical engineer. Every substance, whether naturally occurring or artificially…. The modules are available at http://encyclopedia.che.engin.umich.edu.

This led to the emergence of combines with resources for larger operations and caused the transition from a craft to a science-based industry. Plastics, polymers, and synthetic fibres involve chemical-reaction engineering problems in their manufacture, with fluid flow and heat transfer considerations dominating their fabrication. Chemical engineers are involved in many sectors of the metals processing industry, which extends from steel manufacture to separation of rare metals. This was first enunciated by the American chemical engineer Arthur D. Little in 1915 and formed the basis for a classification of chemical engineering that dominated the subject for the next 40 years. Chemical engineers are employed in the design and development of both processes and plant items. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. Energy changes, deriving from thermodynamic considerations, are particularly important. Applied throughout the process industries, it is founded on the principles of chemistry, physics, and mathematics. The laws of physical chemistry and physics govern the practicability and efficiency of chemical engineering operations.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Bradford, England. In the capillary tube viscometer, the pressure needed to force the fluid to flow at a specified rate through a narrow tube is measured. by Susan Montgomery - University of Michigan, Chemical Engineering Department, Multimedia Education Laboratory. Mathematics is a basic tool in optimization and modeling. In each case, data and predictions often have to be obtained or confirmed with pilot experiments.
Increase in demand, public concern at the emission of noxious effluents, and competition between rival processes provided the incentives for greater efficiency. What kind of electric charge does an electron have? The unit approach suffered from the disadvantage inherent in such classifications: a restricted outlook based on existing practice.

Its heritage dates from the fermentation and evaporation processes operated by early civilizations. The description for each piece of equipment is divided into: General Information, Equipment Design, Usage Examples, Advantages / Disadvantages, and References. Due to recent online availability of this software, the production of the CD version has been discontinued. Study of the fundamental phenomena upon which chemical engineering is based has necessitated their description in mathematical form and has led to more sophisticated mathematical techniques. Further applications of chemical engineering are found in the fuel industries.

Updates? Box 511 Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? The term chemical engineer was in general use by about 1900. For more information on the encyclopedia and other materials produced by our laboratory and distributed by CACHE, please visit http://che.engin.umich.edu/mel/MEL_HOME.html. In this encyclopedia you will … The purpose of this encyclopedia is to provide students with a basic understanding of what chemical engineering equipment looks like and how it works. The fundamental principles of chemical engineering underlie the operation of processes extending well beyond the boundaries of the chemical industry, and chemical engineers are employed in a range of operations outside traditional areas. Williamsburg, MA 01096-0511 Phone: (386) 256-2165 The purpose of this encyclopedia is to provide students with a basic understanding of what chemical engineering equipment looks like and how it works. This concentrated on the design of plant items for specific operations. Omissions? This channel will include the videos available in the University of Michigan's Visual Encyclopedia of Chemical Engineering Equipment. In the second half of the 20th century, considerable numbers of chemical engineers have been involved in space exploration, from the design of fuel cells to the manufacture of propellants. Fax: (386) 256-2168cache@umass.edu, Theme by Danetsoft and Danang Probo Sayekti inspired by Maksimer, http://che.engin.umich.edu/mel/MEL_HOME.html. The higher the pressure the greater the yield but the higher the actual cost of compression. Editor of. Figures 1 through 4 show typical screens from some of the applications. References are also included if you would like more information.