Spreadsheet Problem-Solving for Chemical Engineers | AIChE

Spreadsheet Problem-Solving for Chemical Engineers

Spreadsheets are the chemical engineer’s tool of choice for day-to-day problem-solving; yet most chemical engineers have little formal training in their application to typical scenarios. This two-day course provides a comprehensive, hands-on overview of spreadsheet applications, focused on the needs of chemical engineers. Join expert instructor David Clough, who has taught this course over 100 times, as he provides dozens of useful tips and techniques to fill gaps in your spreadsheet knowledge.

Chemical engineering problem-solving with spreadsheets

In two days, you will implement typical chemical engineering calculations using Excel, including material and energy balances, fluid flow and heat transfer, separations, chemical reactions and flowsheets. You will learn methods for solving algebraic and differential equations associated with these scenarios. You will analyze data with spreadsheet methods, including statistical methods and model-fitting. Optimization methods for process design, scheduling and economics are also included. 

Save $795 or more when you take both this course and  CH766: Excel VBA Programming for Chemical Engineers. by registering for CH768 Spreadsheet Problem Solving and VBA Programming Combo Course.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Improve your basic skills with Excel so that your work is more efficient and reliable.

  • Develop well-organized, well-documented spreadsheets for chemical engineering calculations that can be understood by other engineers (and ... by you a few months down the road).

  • Use Excel’s built-in functions for calculations and table-based operations.

  • Set up spreadsheet-based flowsheet calculations, including processes with recycle streams.

  • Carry out model-fitting calculations using regression techniques, both linear and nonlinear.

  • Learn targeting and case study techniques.

  • Set up cash flow tables for venture-guidance profitability analysis.

Who Should Attend:

Chemical engineers with basic knowledge of Excel and common spreadsheet operations. Those involved in process engineering, design and economic evaluation, research and development, and chemical engineering education will find value in this course.

 

Course Outline

Day One

Basic Spreadsheet Skills

  • Configuring Excel for engineering calculations
  • Efficient spreadsheet manipulations
  • Formulas, cell addressing and range names
  • Creating engineering graphs

Process Calculations

  • Dealing with engineering formulas and units
  • Debugging spreadsheet calculations
  • Flowsheet calculations with recycle
  • Targeting calculations
  • Case studies

Day Two

Dealing the Data

  • Table look-up and interpolation
    • Incorporation table look-up in engineering calculations
    • Continuous tables
  • Quadrature and smoothing
  • Excel’s Data Analysis Toolpak
  • Histograms and distributions
  • Model building through curve-fitting

Numerical Problem-Solving

  • Solving algebraic equations
    • Single nonlinear equations
    • Sets of linear equations
    • Sets of nonlinear equations
    • Numerical solution of differential equations
  • Optimization calculations
  • Capstone design calculations
  • Economic evaluation
  • Cash flow and profitability

Times displayed are in EST. Please email questions to academy@aiche.org. 

Day 1

10:00 – 11:30  Session 1

Basic Spreadsheet Skills

  • Configuring Excel for engineering calculations
  • Efficient spreadsheet manipulations

12:00 – 1:30  Session 2

Basic Spreadsheet Skills

  • Formulas, cell addressing, and range names
  • Creating engineering graphs

2:30 – 4:00  Session 3

Process Calculations

  • Dealing with engineering formulas and units
  • Debugging spreadsheet calculations
  • Flowsheet calculations including recycle streams

4:30 – 6:00  Session 4

Process Calculations

  • Targeting calculations
  • Case studies

Day 2

10:00 – 11:30  Session 1

Dealing with Data

  • Table look-up and interpolation
    • Incorporating discrete table-lookup in engineering calculations
    • Continuous tables with linear interpolation

12:00 – 1:30  Session 2

Dealing with Data

  • Quadrature and smoothing
  • Excel’s Data Analysis Toolpak
  • Histograms and distributions
  • Model building through curve-fitting

2:30 – 4:00  Session 3

Numerical Problem-Solving

  • Solving algebraic equations and systems
    • Single nonlinear equations
    • Sets of linear equations
    • Sets of nonlinear equations
  • Numerical solution of differential equations

4:30 – 6:00  Session 4

Numerical Problem-Solving

  • Optimization calculations
  • Capstone design calculations
  • Process economic evaluation
    • Cash flow and profitability

 

Course Outline

Day One

Basic Spreadsheet Skills

  • Configuring Excel for engineering calculations
  • Efficient spreadsheet manipulations
  • Formulas, cell addressing and range names
  • Creating engineering graphs

Process Calculations

  • Dealing with engineering formulas and units
  • Debugging spreadsheet calculations
  • Flowsheet calculations with recycle
  • Targeting calculations
  • Case studies

Day Two

Dealing the Data

  • Table look-up and interpolation
    • Incorporation table look-up in engineering calculations
    • Continuous tables
  • Quadrature and smoothing
  • Excel’s Data Analysis Toolpak
  • Histograms and distributions
  • Model building through curve-fitting

Numerical Problem-Solving

  • Solving algebraic equations
    • Single nonlinear equations
    • Sets of linear equations
    • Sets of nonlinear equations
    • Numerical solution of differential equations
  • Optimization calculations
  • Capstone design calculations
  • Economic evaluation
  • Cash flow and profitability

A laptop with Excel installed (preferably the latest version) is required for this course.

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Train-A-Team (10 or more)
  • Course ID:
    CH764
  • Source:
    AIChE
  • Language:
    English
  • Skill Level:
    Intermediate
  • Duration:
    2 days
  • CEUs:
    1.50
  • PDHs:
    15.00
  • Accrediting Agencies:
    Florida
    New Jersey
    New York
    RCEP