What do chemical engineers build in college?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the types of projects and practical applications that chemical engineering students engage in during their undergraduate education. Participants explore the nature of design projects and laboratory work specific to chemical engineering, comparing it to other engineering disciplines.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant lists typical projects for various engineering disciplines, suggesting that chemical engineers might work on calorimeters, heat engines, and other chemical processes.
  • Another participant mentions a design project involving the creation of a reactor based on economic data, indicating a focus on chemical processes like semiconductor manufacturing.
  • A participant questions how a reactor can be built in a classroom or laboratory setting, seeking clarification on the practical aspects of the project.
  • A later reply clarifies that the reactor design was conceptual and done on paper, with practical lab classes involving industry-type equipment such as separators.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express curiosity about the practical applications in chemical engineering, but there is no consensus on specific projects or methods used in undergraduate education. The discussion remains exploratory with varying perspectives on the nature of chemical engineering projects.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include a lack of detailed examples of hands-on projects and the dependence on theoretical design rather than practical implementation in some cases.

Bipolarity
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I know that in undergrad (at least in my school), mechanical engineers usually have their projects on things like robots, cars, UAV, trebuchets, etc.
Electrical engineers usually build clocks, calculators, data encrypters, wireless systems, ALU, motors, generators, lamps etc.
Civil engineers usually work on building blocks, hydraulics (miniature elevators etc.), miniature pipe systems, as well as self-sustaining units etc.

What do chemical engineers usually build in their undergraduate education? Perhaps calorimeters, heat engines, heat pumps, refrigerators, AC, etc.? Perhaps blood aphersis and dialesis machines and electrochemical cells?

I'm curious to know how chemical engineers would apply their knowledge in the undergraduate setting. After all, I don't imagine there being an opportunity to work on nuclear reactors and petroleum refineries in a university classroom. So what's out there for them to work on?

I am an EE major, but am curious about ChemE.

Thanks!

BiP
 
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The design project we just did had us "build" a reactor based on economic data. The designs we learn mainly deal with chemical processes, such as manufacturing semiconductors.
 
vincent_vega said:
The design project we just did had us "build" a reactor based on economic data. The designs we learn mainly deal with chemical processes, such as manufacturing semiconductors.

How did you build a reactor in a classroom/laboratory?

BiP
 
It has all been on paper.

There is a lab class where you work with industry type equipment such a seperators
 

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