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Welcome to the Northwestern University Chemical Engineering Process Design Open Textbook. This electronic textbook is a student-contributed open-source text covering the materials used in our chemical engineering capstone design courses at Northwestern.
If you would like to suggest changes to these pages, please email you[at]northwestern.edu .

Northwestern University Chemical Engineering Process Design Open Text Book

Chemical Process Design Theory and Method
Design Basis Define product and feed Preliminary market analysis and plant capacity Site condition and design Block flow diagram
Process Flow Diagram Process alternatives and flowsheeting Reactors Separation processes Process hydraulics: Hydraulic systems, pressure drop, valves, pumps, and compressors Heat transfer equipment: Heat exchangers, boilers, condensers, heaters and coolers Utility systems Pressure vessels
Process Economic Analysis Estimation of capital Estimation of production cost and revenue Engineering economic evaluation Sensitivity analysis and design optimization
Other Process Design Considerations Process safety Process hazards Environmental concerns Controls and P&ID

Chemical Process Design Projects
Examples Sugar Cane Ethanol Plant (2011) Other examples
Glycerol to propylene glycol Design 1 Design 2 Design 3
3-Hydroxypropionic acid to 1,3-propanediol Design 1 Design 2 Design 3
Succinic acid to 1,4-butanediol Design 1 Design 2 Design 3

Contents