Chemical Engineering

Alice Chew

What do they do?

Applying the principles of Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Mathematics, they:

• Transform raw materials into useful everyday products

• Maintain and improve everyday products

• Design and Troubleshoot processes for the production of chemicals, fuels, pharmaceuticals, etc.

• Helping to manage the world’s resources, protect the environment and ensure health and safety standards are met.

like clothes, food and drinks

What does it take to be a chemical engineer?

Example pathway: University of Toronto (chemical engineering program)

in HIGH SCHOOL:

✓ Grade 12 English

✓ Grade 12 Calculus and Vectors

✓ Grade 12 Chemistry

✓ Grade 12 Physics

✓ Grade 12 Advanced Functions

✓ Grade 12 additional U/M course

✓ OSSLT

What does it take to be a chemical engineer?

Example pathway: University of Toronto (chemical engineering program)

In university:

✓​4 year program

✓​ minimum of 600 hours of practical work (can be obtained through PEY)

• optional: (PEY) Practical Experience Year (Internship program)

What does it take to be a chemical engineer?

After University:

• ENCOURAGED BUT NOT REQUIRED: Professional Engineering (PE) LICENSING

- Requires a degree from an engineering program, passing scores on Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and Principals and Practice of Engineering (PPE) exam.

What kind of tasks would they perform?

• Conduct research to develop new manufacturing processes

• Develop safety procedures for those working with dangerous chemicals

• Develop processes for separating components of liquids and gases, or for generating electrical currents, by using controlled chemical processes

• Design and plan the layout of equipment

• Conduct tests and monitor the performance of processes throughout production

• Troubleshoot problems with manufacturing processes

• Evaluate equipment and processes to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations

• Estimate production costs for management

• Based on the nature of the project, AN EMPLOYER ASSIGNS CHEMICAL ENGINEERS TO SPECIFIC PROJECTS.

• After learning and understanding the purpose of a project, he/she will begin to perform preliminary theoretical tests.

• Once a solid plan is created for manufacturing, a chemical engineer begins the production of test samples. These test samples are carefully assigned to subjects.

• results of these tests are monitored and adjustments are made to formulas as needed.

• Once the product has been fully tested, it will be sent for approval and the chemical engineer moves on to another project.

A typical example:

Example calculations one might use

(Taken from Chemical Engineering Learning Resources - msubbu)

Question:

CARBON TETRA CHLORIDE IS TO BE REMOVED FROM A POLYMER SOLUTION BY BUBBLING DRY AIR THROUGH IT AT 297 K. THE RESULTING MIXTURE HAS % RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 70. IT IS REQUIRED TO REMOVE 90% OF CARBON TETRA CHLORIDE PRESENT BY COMPRESSING TO A SUITABLE PRESSURE AND COOLING TO 283 K. WHAT THIS PRESSURE SHOULD BE?

 

DATA: VAPOR PRESSURE OF CCL4 AT 297 K = 12.2 KN/M2 AND AT 283 K = 6 KN/M2

 (this information would have been physically calculated by the chemical engineer as well.)

Example calculations one might use

Initial conditions:

Temperature = 297 K | Total pressure = 101 kN/m2 | Relative humidity = pA/pS = 0.70

pA = 0.7 x 12.2 = 8.54 kN/m2

moles of CCl4 / moles of dry air = 8.54 / (101.3 - 8.54) = 0.09207

CCl4 present per mole of dry air = 0.09207 mole

Final conditions:

Temperature = 283 K

Total pressure = to be determined

Relative humidity = 100 %

CCl4 to be present in the exit air per mole of dry air = 0.09207 x 0.1 = 0.009207 mole

If the partial pressure of a vapor is greater than its vapor pressure, it will condense till its partial pressure is equal to vapor pressure.

i.e., 6/(pT - 6) = 0.009207

pT = 657.71 kN/m2

that is, the air mixture has to be compressed to 657.71 kN/m2 and cooled to 283 K to remove 90% of carbon tetra chloride.

What are some Employment skills that are necessary to have ?

Problem-Solving Skills 

need to be able to identify and solve problems proficiently.

 

interpersonal skills

need to be able to work with others as a group.

Analytical skills

need to be able to troubleshoot any problems that they face in their project. They must be able to ask the right question and find answers that work.

 

Math Skills

- need to be able to use knowledge of mathematics to apply, design and troubleshoot their work

Creativity

need to be able to explore new ways to apply engineering concepts into their work.

licensing

If one decides to obtain the Professional Engineering (PE) License, he/she may have more of an advantage to other Chemical Engineers.

 

obtaining the PE License will:

- grant you as a more experienced leader

- oversee the work of other engineers

 

PERKS:

- There are some jobs that only a candidate with pe can do; this sets PEs apart from other candidates when applying for jobs.

 

- The demand for chemical engineering is growing, this means chemical engineers will have a Larger chance of getting a job

Benefits 

Salary

Benefits 

As there is a growing need for chemical engineers in the world to improve our overall life style and society, chemical engineers are in high demand and thus are given a higher-than- normal annual wage due to their specialized knowledge.

In addition, the salary ranges when one specialize in various chemical engineering areas.

Challenges

Exposure to Health and safety hazards

Chemical Engineers will be dealing with various hazardous chemicals and equipment. If it is not handled/ monitored safely, it can be a life/death situation.

Inconvenience in lifestyle

Individuals working at a plant might require one to travel from plant to plant for research purposes. In addition, individuals might have to work additional/odd hours to monitor their work. O

Employment possibilities

1. Active Exhaust Corp.

Location: 1865 Birchmount Road, Scarborough Ontario

Job: Chemical Process Engineer

 

2. Flavorcan International Inc.

Location: 145 Dynamic Drive, Scarborough, ON

Job: Chemical Technologist

 

3. Interface Biologics

Location: 101 College St, Suite 300 Toronto, ON

JOb: Associate Research Chemist/ Research Engineer

 

Career analysis 

Despite the few challenges that seem to have a negative impact on people's opinion on the career, I personally find that this career is ideal for those who want to make a change in the world. from mixing chemicals to finding the right material for a shirt, the world needs chemical engineers or else we will be lack thereof from all the luxuries we are using in today's time and day.

Chemical Engineers change the world one chemical at a time, by creating, innovating and improving our materialistic aspects of life. In addition to changing the world, Chemical Engineers help solve some main environmental issues like reducing industrial air pollution.  In fact, the amount of SO2 and CO(x) emissions are reduced by about 3 - 5.5 million tons per year since 1990 (Chemical Engineers in Action). This wonderful creation is called the flue gas desulfurization (FGD) brought forth by Chemical Engineers around the world.

With several years of education and hard work, one would be able to gain enough knowledge to change the world to make it a better place. In my opinion, Chemical Engineers really make a big impact on making a difference to the world.

As a dedicated St Joseph's student, i wish to pursue this career in the future as I want to be apart of the change in the world. With my knowledge in science and maths, I will want to be able to create and innovate something to improve the lives of others. It is truly a career of wonder and awe.

"A career that wonders and awes"

Works cited

• http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/careers/college-to-career/chemistry-careers/chemical-engineering.html

• http://www.theguardian.com/careers/what-chemical-engineer-does

• http://discover.engineering.utoronto.ca/programs/engineering-programs/chemical-engineering/

• https://collegegrad.com/careers/chemical-engineers#become

• http://ca.indeed.com/Chemical-Engineering-jobs

• http://myblueprint.ca

• http://www.msubbu.in/sp/pc/CCl4humidification.htm

• http://www.chemicalengineering.org/enviro/green.html