ChE 101

Elementary Principles of Chemical Engineering

M.A.A. Shoukat Choudhury, PhD

Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering, BUET

05/13/2024 1
Syllabus
ChE – 101: ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
Scope of Chemical Engineering: Global and local context.
Principles of chemical engineering calculation:
System of units; Dimensional analysis; Process
variables; Significant numbers.

Introduction to common unit operations in chemical engineering.

Material balances: Types of processes; Balances for non-reactive and

reactive systems; Balances involving recycle and purge streams;
and Combustion processes.

Energy balances: Forms of energy; First law of thermodynamics;

Mechanical energy balance; Heat capacities; Steam tables;
balance on simple non-reactive systems; Energy balance for simple
reactive systems.
Chemical Engineering, BUET Dr. M. A. A. Shoukat Choudhury 2
Books:

Text book:
Felder, R.M., Rousseau, R.W., and Bullard, L.G. (2016),
Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes, 4th ed.,
John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York

Reference books:
1. Reklaitis, G.V. (1983), Introduction to Material and
Energy Balance, John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York
2. David M. Himmelblau and James B. Riggs, Basic
Principles and Calculations in Chemical Engineering,
8th ed., Prentice Hall

Chemical Engineering, BUET Dr. M. A. A. Shoukat Choudhury 3

Course Teachers: Dr. M. A. A. Shoukat Choudhury
Mr. Ahaduzzaman Nahid
Richard Felder

• http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lo
ckers/users/f/felder/public/

• North Carolina State University

Richard Felder
Chemical Engineering, BUET Dr. M. A. A. Shoukat Choudhury 6
What is Chemical Engineering?

Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with

the application of physical science (e.g., chemistry and physics), and
life sciences (e.g., biology, microbiology and biochemistry) with
mathematics, to the process of converting raw materials or
chemicals into more useful or valuable forms. In addition to
producing useful materials, modern chemical engineering is also
concerned with pioneering valuable new materials and techniques -
such as nanotechnology, fuel cells and biomedical engineering.[1]
Chemical engineering largely involves the design, improvement and
maintenance of processes involving chemical or biological
transformations for large-scale manufacture. Chemical engineers
ensure the processes are operated safely, sustainably and
economically. Chemical engineers in this branch are usually
employed under the title of process engineer. A CHEMICAL
ENGINEER converts scientific discoveries into marketable products.
Source: Wikipedia7
What is Chemical Engineering?
Chemical Plants
Chemical Products

From
Potato
chips

To
computer
chips
Chemical Engg. Products
Consumer Products
Food, water, clothing, medicines, health & beauty aids, soap
and detergents, fuels, lubricants, pulp and papers

Commodity Chemicals
Oxygen, water, sulfuric acid, ammonia, chlorine, plastics,
rubber, fertilizers, inks, polymers, pesticides, insecticides

Special materials
Biomaterials, Nylon, Teflon, nanomaterials

Electronic/Optical Materials
High purity silicon, compound semiconductors, thin films,
optical polymers
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What Chemical Engineers Do?

Chemical engineers apply the principles of

chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve
problems that involve the production or use of
chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and many other
products. They design processes and equipment
for large-scale manufacturing, plan and test
production methods and byproducts treatment,
and direct facility operations.
What Can a Chemical Engineer Do?

Inception
Feasibility Study Design and construction
Site Selection

Make Money Manage, operate and Built and commission

troubleshoot
Activities of Chemical Engineers
- Process Development
- Process Evaluation
- Process Design
- Plant Equipment Procurement
- Plant Construction
- Plant Operation and Maintenance
- Research and Development
- Technical Services
- Entrepreneurships
- Management
- Marketing and Product Sales
- Teaching
Chemical Engineering, BUET Dr. M. A. A. Shoukat Choudhury 14
Activities of Chemical Engineers
• Bangladesh Situations
- Mainly Operation and Maintenance
- Management
- Entrepreneurships
• Process Engineering
- involves research and development of Chemical
processes, design of Chemical Plant, Project
Engineering
• Professional Bodies in Bangladesh
- Chemical Engineering Division, Institute of Engineers
Bangladesh (IEB)
- Chemical Engineering Alumni Association
- Source:BUET Chemical
Chemical Engineering
Engineering EducationForum in Bangladesh by Dr. Nooruddin
- Engineering,
Chemical
Ahmed,ChemicalBUET
ICChE conference 2003, pp. 8-11
BUET Dr. M. A. A. Shoukat Choudhury 15
What is the difference Between a Chemist and a
Chemical Engineer?

Preparation of H2 gas in the laboratory. Zn reacts

with H2SO4 to produce ZnSO4 and H2

Zn (s) + H2SO4 (l) ZnSO4 (s) + H2 (g)

Produce 1 kg or 20 kg ZnSO4 per day

- Probably a chemist can make it
Produce 100 ton (100,000 kg) ZnSO4 per day
- A chemist cannot handle or deal with it.
- Here comes, Chemical Engineering
Difference Between a Chemist and a Chemical
Engineer

• A Chemist is good in running a laboratory

• He feels comfortable working in a laboratory
• He does not know how to transfer a technology from
Laboratory scale to Industrial scale
• He can’t design and build an industrial plant

• A Chemical Engineer is capable of running a laboratory

• He is comfortable working in an industrial environment
• He knows how to transfer a technology from laboratory to
industry
• He CAN design, build, operate and run an industrial process
Chemical Plants
ChE Employment
Typical Annual Salary of Engrs (US)
2022 Engineering Salary Statistics

Mean Entry- Mean Annual Top 10

Industry BLS Stats Level Salary1 Salary2 Percent3
Aerospace Engineering
National Labor Stats $86,034 $122,270 $168,370

Biomedical Engineering National Labor Stats $63,575 $101,020 $154,750

Chemical Engineering National Labor Stats $68,797 $121,840 $187,430
Civil Engineering National Labor Stats $59,892 $95,490 $133,320
Computer Engineering,
IT Engineer Computer Hardware En $75,953 $136,230 $208,000
gineers

$70,115 $120,990 $168,570

Software Developers
Construction Management National Labor Stats $59,259 $108,210 $163,800
Electrical Engineering National Labor Stats $68,819 $107,890 $162,930
Engineering Management National Labor Stats $95,000 $158,970 $208,000
Environmental Engineering National Labor Stats $58,808 $100,220 $153,200
Electrical Engineering Technolog
y Recruiter $64,7104 $97,9404

Geological and Mining Engineeri

ng and Sciences National Labor Stats $69,879 $100,450 $162,720

Geospatial Science and Technol

ogy National Labor Stats $58,562 $73,510 $103,450

Industrial Engineering,
Manufacturing Engineering National Labor Stats $70,496 $95,200 $129,620

Materials Science and Engineeri

ng National Labor Stats $68,136 $101,950 $161,080

Mechanical Engineering National Labor Stats $64,682 $97,000 $136,210

Mechanical Engineering Technol
ogy National Labor Stats $69,097 $107,800 $164,690
1: Figures from payscale.com, accessed May 2022
2, 3: Figures from National Occupational Employment and Wage
Mechatronics Engineering,
Robotics Engineering Payscale $80,735 $86,0001 $127,0001 Estimates, United States Department of Labor, dated May 2021
Surveying Engineering, 4: Electrical Engineering Technology figures from Recruiter.com
Geospatial Engineering National Labor Stats $78,810 $68,880 $101,240
for Private Sector, accessed May 2022
Achievements of ChE, BUET Graduates

• Chemical Engineers: Successful at home and abroad

• Administrators: Vice Chancellors (4 Vice Chancellors - 3 at BUET
and one at DUET), Chairman/Managing Directors/CEO (Zia
Fertilizer Co. Ltd. , Urea Fertilizer Factory Ltd, Padma Oil
Company Limited, Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd.
Bakhrabad Gas Systems Ltd.), Unilever Nepal, Sylhet gas fields,
BCIC, BCSIR
• University faculties: Singapore, Malaysia, Denmark, UK, USA,
Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bangladesh
• Working in reputed Companies: Honeywell, Saudi ARAMCO,
ASPEN, Unilever, BOC, Shell, Chevron, Cairn-Energy, AES, Alfa-
Laval, Exxon-Mobile, IBM, Microsoft and ……
• As Graduate Students – All our graduates are performing
superbly all over the world
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Achievements of ChE, BUET Graduates

• Consultants: UNDP, UNESCO, WB, BCIC, SABIC

• Entrepreneurs: Ceramics, Basic chemicals, Plant
equipment , supply/erection, Textile industries,
Garments industries, ETP
• Gov’t officers: magistrate, TNO, Income Tax, Custom
Officers
• Politicians: Ministers
• Software engineers: Microsoft and IBM
• TV, Bank, School
Rather ask the easier one:
Where does a chemical Engineer not work?
23