Chemical Engineering for Non-Chemical Engineers | AIChE

Chemical Engineering for Non-Chemical Engineers

In today’s workplace, non-chemical engineers are increasingly expected to work with chemical engineers on projects, scale-ups and process evaluations. But to do so, you need a solid understanding of basic concepts of chemical engineering analysis, design and calculations.  Join chemical engineering experts in this three-day overview of the fundamentals of chemical engineering that you need to understand, communicate and work with chemical engineers. 

Gain an understanding of chemical engineering

In three days, you’ll learn how to hold your own in discussions on safety, industrial hygiene and reactive chemicals. You’ll gain an understanding of the basics of fluid flow, heat transfer, heat exchanger design and how to apply it. You’ll also get up-to-speed on solids handling, tank and vessel design, polymerization and polymer processing and how use this knowledge to sharpen projects and evaluations. Through case studies, you’ll see the concepts you learn in action so you can apply them in your workplace when collaborating with chemical engineers on projects, chemistry scale-ups, process evaluations and other initiatives. 

Also available as an online course: Chemical Engineering for Non-Chemical Engineers 

Learning Outcomes:

  • Discuss the basic concepts of chemical engineering including mass and energy balances and the concept of unit operations.

  • Describe basic safety regulations and procedures and the basics of reactive chemical analysis.

  • Explain the basics of fluid flow and pumps.

  • Explain the basics of distillation, absorption, adsorption, filtration and drying processes and equipment choices for these unit operations.

  • Calculate basic stoichiometry and unit conversions.

  • Discuss the basics of process scale up and economics, solids handling, characterization, transfer and storage.

  • Explain the basics of process control and the basis for choosing the type of process control.

Who Should Attend:

Non-engineers without formal chemical engineering training who have up to three years of experience working in a plant with chemical engineers. It will be especially valuable to:

  • Operating technicians
  • Engineering managers who are not chemical engineers
  • Chemists
  • DHS, EPA and other government employees
  • Other engineers

Times listed are in EST. For questions, please email academy@aiche.org

Day One

9:45-10:00
Log into WebEx Training Center
 
10:00-10:30
Course Overview/Introductions
 
10:30-12:00
Introduction to ChE/Health and Safety
 
12:00-12:15
Exercise #1: HAZOP
 
12:15-12:45
Lunch Break
 
12:45-1:45
Units of Measurement, Stoichiometry, Balances, Unit Operations and the Ideal Gas Law
 
1:45-2:00
Exercise #2: Using the Ideal Gas Law
 
2:00-2:15
Break
 
2:15-3:00
Chemical Engineering in Polymers and Plastics
 
3:00-4:00
Flow Sheets and Diagrams, Materials of Construction, Economics
 

Day Two

9:45-10:00
Log into WebEx Training Center
 
10:00-12:00
Fluid Mechanics
 
12:00-12:25
Exercise #3: Pump Curves
 
12:25-1:00
Lunch Break
 
1:00-1:45
Fluid Mixing
 
1:45-2:30
Heat Transfer (Part 1)
 
2:30-2:45
Break
 
2:45-3:30
Heat Transfer (Part 2)
 
3:30-4:00
Exercises #4&5: Heat Transfer
 

Day Three

9:45-10:00
Log into WebEx Training Center
 
10:00-11:30
Distillation and Stage-wise Contacting
 
11:30-12:00
Exercise #6: Distillation
 
12:00-12:30
Lunch Break
 
12:30-1:30
Adsorption, Stripping, Extraction and Leaching
 
1:15-1:30
Exercise #7: Extraction
 
1:30-2:30
Specialty Separations
 
2:30-2:45
Break
 
2:45-3:45
Evaporation and Crystallization
 
3:45-4:00
Wrap-up
 

Day Four

9:45-10:00
Log into WebEx Training Center
 
10:00-11:30
Kinetics, Thermodynamics and Reaction Engineering
 
11:30-12:00
Exercise #8: Inerting/Residence Time Distributions
 
12:00-12:30
Lunch Break
 
12:30-2:15
Solids Processing/Particle Technology Unit Operations
 
2:15-2:30
Exercise #9: Solids Processing
 
2:30-2:45
Break
 
2:45-3:45
Process Control and Measurement
 
3:45-4:00
Exercise #10: Process Control
 

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06/02/2025 - 06/05/2025See schedule details in outline
  • AIChE Pro Members - $2084.50
  • AIChE Emeritus Members - $2084.50
  • AIChE Graduate Student Members - $1042.25
  • AIChE Undergraduate Student Members - $1042.25
  • AIChE Explorer Members - $2414.50
  • Non-Members - $2414.50
  • Course ID:
    CH710
  • Source:
    AIChE
  • Language:
    English
  • Skill Level:
    Basic
  • Duration:
    3 days
  • CEUs:
    2.30
  • PDHs:
    23.00
  • Accrediting Agencies:
    Florida
    New Jersey
    New York
    RCEP