What is Chemical Engineering?

What is Chemical and Process Engineering?

Chemical and Process Engineers are in the business of turning raw materials into finished products utilising stage-to-stage processes in a cost effective manner.

These finished products end up in pharmacies, supermarkets, petrol stations, etc. The design, operation and management of the processes by which these finished products are produced is the domain of the Chemical and Process Engineer.

Try www.whynotchemeng.com.

This site has been developed by the Institution of Chemical Engineers to demonstrate the wide range of careers open to chemical engineers. If you are a teacher (or not!), look for the "Top Ten Flash Bang Demos".

What does a Chemical and Process Engineer do?

A process can be viewed as a large jigsaw where the jigsaw pieces are known as "unit operations". Typical unit operations include reactors, distillation columns, fermenters, driers, heat exchangers and pumps. The Chemical Engineer selects, designs and integrates unit operations into a process which will achieve the desired conversion of raw materials into a profitable and useful finished product.

Chemical and Process Engineers design, build and run process plants such as those involved in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, oil refineries and breweries. They may also work in such areas as the manufacture of electronic equipment where many liquid chemicals and gases are utilized during processing.

Serving Society - IChemE animation exploring the evolution of chemical engineering

Watch this animation which explores the evolution of the chemical engineering profession from its origins over a century ago to the contributions chemical engineers are making to society today.

WheRE do Chemical and Process Engineers work?

A Chemical Engineer may:

Become a consultant engineer where he/she is involved in designing,building and commissioning a process to produce a particular product.
Work in an existing process plant where they may be responsible for all aspects of ensuring that the process runs smoothly and optimally.
Bring about improvements to unit operations, as a Research Engineer, which will result in more efficient, environmentally friendly and more cost effective processes.
Work in non Chemical Engineering roles where their analytical thinking skills are utilised e.g. stock broking and management consultancy.