Chemical Systems Engineering

Summary:

1.5.4         Chemical Systems Engineering

Chemical systems engineering is divided into three areas: process design, control, and operations. During the early 1960s, the field of chemical processing experienced significant growth. This is mainly due to three factors: the need for more profitable processes due to the rapid development of the chemical industry, the demand for a science-based description of essential phenomena in unit operations to improve production optimization, and the incorporation of computers to generate more precise and quantitative descriptions of process units. Thanks to all this, chemical engineers managed to formulate mathematical representations of multiple reactions and of all kinds.

1.6 Anatomy of a chemical engineering plant:

A chemical or gas plant is an industrial process plant that manufactures chemicals or natural gas on a large scale. The general objective of a chemical, biochemical or gas plant is to create new material wealth through the physical, chemical or biological transformation or separation of materials. Chemical plants use special equipment, units and technology in the processes.

1.6.2         Process units

A typical chemical or gas plant has large vessels, pieces of equipment, or sections called process units that are interconnected by process piping or other material-moving equipment that can carry material flows. Units can operate at ambient temperature or pressure, but many units operate at higher or lower temperatures or pressures. Vessels in chemical plants are usually cylindrical with rounded ends, with a body thickness that may be adequate to withstand high pressures. In a chemical plant, the main unit is known as a reactor; this is where the chemical reaction takes place.

1.6.3         Process interconnection pipes (pumps, pipes and valves)

Raw material and material vapors entering and leaving a process unit are transported through process interconnecting piping. However, the final products of one plant may be chemical intermediates used as feedstock in another plant for further processing. Pipes and tubes come in various diameters and sizes. In addition, there are various types of valves to control or stop the flow in pipes.

1.6.4         Power/electrical unit

A chemical plant is usually powered by gas or a steam powered electrical system. The interesting aspect of a chemical plant is that it can use the heat generated within a plant unit to produce steam that can drive a power unit's steam turbine.

1.6.5         Process Laboratory

A process plant also has a laboratory section where various tests, quality checks, investigations and analyzes are carried out. This is where chemists, biologists, and chemical engineers work together as a team.

1.6.6         Process control

In a chemical plant, information automatically collected from various field instruments in the plant is used to run and control plant operations. These field instruments (temperature and pressure detectors, level detectors, etc.) are connected to a central control unit. The primary function of the control system is to ensure that production, processing, and utility systems operate efficiently and safely within design constraints and alarm limits.

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