Chemical engineering, utilizes chemistry to solve the problems that are inherent with in the production area and/or use of chemicals and other products. The engineers design the equipment and processes for large-scale chemical manufacturing they will also plan and test the various methods for manufacturing the products, and they supervise all levels of the production line.
They work in a variety of industries other than chemical manufacturing, some examples are the manufacturers that are producing energy, electronics, food, clothing, and paper, it also plays a large role in the healthcare industry, biotechnology, and business services.
The engineers that are involved use principles of physics, mathematics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, as well as chemistry. They must be aware of all aspects of manufacturing and how the process affects the environment and the safety of workers and consumers.
In this field the engineer works principally in the chemical industry converting basic raw materials into a variety of products, and as stated earlier they will deal with the design and operation of the plants and equipment.
In general, a chemical engineer is one who applies and uses the principles of chemistry in a variety of applications. Today’s chemical engineers, are becoming more involved in developing new technologies such as fuel cells, hydrogen power, nanotechnology, and nanomaterials. Some engineers specialize in a particular chemical process, such as oxidation or polymerization, while others will work in fields such as polymer engineering and biomedical engineering.
To take this to the next level here is a listing of other disciplines and fields that chemical engineering plays a significant role in. The engineers are engaged in a diverse range of products. These products include: high performance materials needed for aerospace, automotive, biomedical, electronic, environmental and military applications, along with ultra-strong fibers, fabrics, and adhesives for vehicles, bio-compatible materials for implants and prosthetics, and many applications for the medical industry, such as gels for medical applications, pharmaceuticals, and films with special dielectric, optical or spectroscopic properties for opto-electronic devices.
And. Not to be left out of the mix these important products are the byline of chemical engineering: by applying the principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering they manufacture chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp.
The field of chemical engineering and those that work in it have a variety of job titles, here are a few of the many. Process Engineer, Engineer, Scientist, Process Control Engineer, Process Development Engineer, Refinery Process Engineer, Project Engineer, Development Engineer, Engineering Scientist.
The engineers of this discipline, must have these skills and abilities to properly function in this field. They must do and be aware of the following: Develop safety procedures for workers operating equipment, troubleshoot problems with in the manufacturing processes, evaluate the equipment and identify ways to optimize performance, ensure the equipment is in compliance with safety and environmental regulations, look for ways to improved the chemical manufacturing processes, monitor the performance of production to determine the degree of control over variables such as temperature, density, specific gravity, and pressure, and design and plan the most efficient layout for the equipment, the list could go on and on so I will cut it off here. BUT; you get the picture, You pretty much need to know whats going on or stay out of the plants.
A must for anyone employed in the chemical engineering industry are the following:
A complete knowledge of chemistry, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. A working knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance; Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. A through understanding of the raw materials used in the production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing, apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense, to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions, to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences, to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand, to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem. Use computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. Keeping up-to-date technically and applying the knowledge and procedures to your job.
For more detailed information on an chemical engineering, contact: American Chemical Society, Department of Career Services, 1155 16th St. NW., Washington, DC 20036. OR American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 3 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016.
Overall chemical engineers are expected to have an employment situation that is slightly over the status quo, (slow and steady); over the next decade. Although chemical companies will continue to employ engineers for research and develop, always looking for new chemicals or the more efficient processes to increase output of existing chemicals. There will be employment growth for the engineers in the service providing industries, such as professional, scientific, and technical services, particularly for research in the energy field and the developing fields of biotechnology and nanotechnology.
Okay you periodic table wielding fools, I hope you maintain your health and keep a positive attitude because its just good chemistry to be that way.
