Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1Chemical Engineering
- 2Basic Concepts of Analysis
- 3The Balance Equation
- 4Component Mass Balances
- 5Membrane Separation
- 6Chemically Reacting Systems
- 7Designing Reactors
- 8Bioreactors and Nonlinear Systems
- 9Overcoming Equilibrium
- 10Two-Phase Systems and Interfacial Mass Transfer
- 11Equilibrium Staged Processes
- 12Energy Balances
- 13Heat Exchange
- 14Energy Balances for Multicomponent Systems
- 15Energy Balances for Reacting Systems
- Postface
- Index
- References
2 - Basic Concepts of Analysis
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1Chemical Engineering
- 2Basic Concepts of Analysis
- 3The Balance Equation
- 4Component Mass Balances
- 5Membrane Separation
- 6Chemically Reacting Systems
- 7Designing Reactors
- 8Bioreactors and Nonlinear Systems
- 9Overcoming Equilibrium
- 10Two-Phase Systems and Interfacial Mass Transfer
- 11Equilibrium Staged Processes
- 12Energy Balances
- 13Heat Exchange
- 14Energy Balances for Multicomponent Systems
- 15Energy Balances for Reacting Systems
- Postface
- Index
- References
Summary
Introduction
Chemical engineering design, operation, and discovery generally require the analysis of complex physicochemical processes. The quantitative treatment of such systems is frequently called modeling, which is a process by which we employ the principles of chemistry, biochemistry, and physics to obtain mathematical equations describing the process. These equations can then be manipulated to predict what will happen under given circumstances. Thus, if it is a chemical reactor that we are modeling, we will know, for example, the effect on the final product of changing the temperature at which the reactor operates. If it is an artificial kidney that we are modeling, we will know the time required for treatment in terms of the flow rate of the dialysis fluid. The analysis process is straightforward and systematic. In this chapter we will examine the approach, see how a model of one simple process unit can be obtained and applied, and get a preview of the things to look for in more complex situations.
The Analysis Process
The specific goals of analysis are as follows:
Describe the physical situation through equations (obtain the model).
Use the model equations to predict behavior.
Compare the prediction with the actual behavior of the real system.
Evaluate the limitations of the model, and revise if necessary.
Use the model for prediction and design.
The logical sequence of the analysis process is shown in Figure 2.1. This is a manifestation of what is often called the scientific method.
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Chemical EngineeringAn Introduction, pp. 23 - 59Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011
References
, Process Modeling, Longman, London and Wiley, New York, 1986.
, Models and Analogies in Science, U. Notre Dame Press, South Bend, IN, 1966.
, The Structure of Scientific Inference, U. California Press, Berkeley, 1974.
, The Logic of Scientific Discovery, Harper and Row, New York, 1968.
, “A History of Automatic Control,” in , editor, Springer Handbook of Automatic Control, Springer, New York, 2009.
, “The emergence of a discipline: Automatic control 1940–1960,” Automatica, 12, 113–121 (1976).Google Scholar
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