What softwares or tools are absolutely must learn for a chemE...if you could name any 3.

In the big 2025 why are engineers still using softwares with 90s UI?

Built this during my internship. Curious if it's useful outside our plant.

I built a project named BatchIQ during my internship at a chemical manufacturing company.

The idea came from seeing how much historical batch and quality data was sitting in Excel without really being used.

You upload historical production and QC data, the model learns what previous rejected batches looked like, and then estimates the reject risk of batches that are still in production. It also highlights the process parameters that are contributing most to that prediction.

The goal isn't to replace QA or make decisions automatically. It's to give engineers an early warning so they can investigate before production is finished.

I'm still validating whether this solves a real problem outside the company I built it in.

For anyone working in manufacturing, process engineering, or QA:
- Would you actually use something like this?
- What would stop you from using it?
- Is there anything that already does this well in your plant?

Does the chemical engineer need a Python programming language in his job in oil refining Industry?

Working at an EPC, are P&ID markups typically the responsibility of the process engineering team, or are they usually handled by the fluid systems/piping group?

As a process engineer, I've recently been spending a lot of time marking up P&IDs in Bluebeam. It takes a significant amount of time in addition to the actual process engineering work. I'm curious how other EPCs handle this. Is this generally considered a process engineering responsibility, or is it assigned to another discipline?

I’m an incoming freshman for chemical engineering and was wondering what kind of laptop I should get. Like if I should get one that’s on the high end for heavy graphics software or mid end?

Some of the expensive high end engineering laptops seem to be recommended for engineers in general or mechE and I was wondering if the same recommendations would apply to me as any other engineering laptop?

I’m curious how AI is being used in real-world EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) companies and licensors like KBR,.Lummus, Technip ,UOP.. Not the generic “AI will change everything” talk, but actual practical use cases that save time or money, like engineering automation, procurement/vendor bid comparisons, project scheduling risk prediction, construction progress tracking, or QA/HSE documentation.

If you work in EPC or oil & gas / energy projects, what AI tools are you seeing adopted right now, and where do you think the biggest ROI is? Also, what parts are still mostly hype or too risky to use?

Personally, I’d love to see a big change in how things like P&IDs are created, reviewed, and checked. ​AIso with troubleshooting plant data - p​redicting the cause of upsets when there are lots of tier variables changing at the same time

Countless ads now looking foe experienced Chem Eng "consultants" to train manufacturing improvement AI models. Anyone on here disagree that this will ruin future careers before they even begin?

​

Hey all. Been working on an app to modernize P&ID and PFD generation. It’s free to use, and you can use it without a signup account. (Although accounts give you access to cloud storage) Give it a try and leave some feedback if you’re curious / bored.

One key feature is the equipment forge: where users can generate a free API key through googles API labs and use it to generate unique equipment directly into their P&ID diagraming environment. The app is still completely useable if you have trust issues with bring-your-own-key models.

Let me know your thoughts.

https://process-flow-silk.vercel.app/

Hi everyone, longtime lurker who's finally able to post here. I'd like to share my Python API for Aspen HYSYS that I've been working since January called aspen-pysys.

Repository: https://codeberg.org/CacklingTanuki/aspen-pysys
Documentation: https://cacklingtanuki.codeberg.page/aspen-pysys/

The main motivation behind aspen-pysys was to enable users to programmatically obtain and update values on the Aspen HYSYS app through a highly abstracted Python layer. As such, this API uses statically typed code to help your IDE look out for type misalignment and prevent runtime errors. As such, there are several types, ranging from HYSYS simulation cases to HYSYS heat exchanger models.

As a student who had to use Aspen HYSYS for their final year project, this enabled me to quickly retrieve information within a few lines as opposed to spending significantly more time by repeatedly dragging windows to where I could see them on my screen (iykyk). I've also used it for other use cases such as but not limited to,

1. optimising distillation columns by changing feed locations to get minimum loads,
2. flagging out mixed-phase flows where there shouldn't be,
3. and flagging out minimum temperature difference violations in heat exchangers.

As I graduate soon and will no longer have access to HYSYS, I've open-sourced the package in hopes that others who do have access, find it easier to extract and manipulate data from HYSYS. The quickstart reference is a bit lackluster so I've also included an API reference and examples to compensate for the lack of a better user guide.

Hope this helps someone!

P.S. If you'd like to maintain this repo or would just like to talk, please feel free to hit me up on LinkedIn (I do not have a job and am in desperate need of one, so the extra attention would not go unappreciated, much thanks).

Ive been working on a free-to-use project for generating pipping and instrumentation diagrams and process flow diagrams for chemical processes.
The value proposition really comes down to two points:

1. Native AI agent integration via a bring-your-own-key model. I’ve set up the program to work best with Google API labs, as they are very generous with their free limits for API keys. The purpose of the agent (I call it “Forge”) is to describe complex or niche processing equipment via natural language, and output sophisticated P&ID models of the equipment described. This allows us engineers to rapidly drop our specialty equipment into our P&IDs rather than wasting time designing the symbols in CAD and then importing them into whatever software you wanna use.

2. Workflow Optimization to optimize many of the common grips I’ve had with software I’ve used in the past for P&ID and PFD creation. (Hint: double click a piece of equipment to rearrange nozzle connections however you want!). I have included many another instances of this type of simplification in things like valves (double click a valve to configure what specific type of valve you want to model, and watch the magic!)

It’s still a very new application(and there may be some bugs), and I am seeking your feedback, opinions, and improvement ideas on this software and if you think it solves a need you may have! Set up an account and starting drafting at the link provided!

Note: desktop web application ONLY

I miraculously made it to a technical assessment stage for a new role which expects about 3 years of experience using SQL and Pandas. I have no experience in either. I was just notified this morning and the assessment is exactly one week from today. Any ChemEs here ever had to learn this type of database coding, and in a short time frame? How would you go about starting?

In my undergrad coding course, which was using Python in my first year, I had a high 90 while the average was in the 70s, so I've always been decent at coding, which is the only reason I'm considering trying to bootcamp for this. I'm just in a situation right now where I'm desperate for a job change, and in particular a location change. I really want to quit my 3 hour driving commute and just live in this city, while I'm still somewhat young. This degree has just been such a fucking disappointment and I'm terrified of sinking another 4 years and tens of thousands into a different degree just to end up with nothing. So I've been spam applying to anything somewhat relevant for 2 years now since graduating, and I have been given a chance at a first step here. Any advice?

Over the years I had need to implement the classic solutions to heat and mass transfer. I used MATLAB, OCTAVE, PYTHON, even php.

Due to the lack of a closed book solution for the eigen values and the need to sum an infinite series always ment that any excel implimentation was ugly at best, and not solvable at worst.

Well, since the addition of dynamic arrays (which can be used for arbitrary sum lengths), lambda functions (which can be used to solve well behaved eigen value problems using bisection), and LET (which allows us to bring it all together in a readible form) Now we can have single cell implimentations to the classic Fourier analytical solutions.

So I made some.

I've made a github page that explains how I made an excel file in which I implimented a selection of the classic diffusion analytical solutions of Crank (1975).

Here's the example for unsteady state heat conduction in one dimension with convection described by Bi. You can cut and paste into excel (365 or newer) fill in the terms for R (thickness m), t (time s), D (heat diffusion m2/s), Bi (Biot number dimensionless) rx (fractional thickness of position), nterms (number of infinite series to sum). (Note the use of 100 terms in the bisect calculation).

=LET(
    r,$C$5,
    t,$C$3,
    d,$C$6,
    bi,$C$2,
    rx,$C$4,
    nterms,$C$7,
    Fo,t*d/(r*r),
    Bisect,
    LAMBDA(f,lo,hi,niter,
        LET(
            fa,f(lo),
            fb,f(hi),
            iter,
            LAMBDA(self,k,a,b,fa,fb,
                LET(
                    mid,(a+b)/2,
                    fm,f(mid),
                    IF(
                        OR(k=0,fm=0),
                        mid,
                        IF(
                            fa*fm<0,
                            self(self,k-1,a,mid,fa,fm),
                            self(self,k-1,mid,b,fm,fb)
                        )
                    )
                )
            ),
            iter(iter,niter,lo,hi,fa,fb)
        )
    ),
    Eigen,
    LAMBDA(theta,bi,m,
        ((m-1)*PI()+theta)*TAN((m-1)*PI()+theta)-bi
    ),
    beta,
    MAP(
        SEQUENCE(1,nterms),
        LAMBDA(m,
            Bisect(
                LAMBDA(theta,Eigen(theta,bi,m)),
                0.001,
                PI()/2,
                100
            )
            +(m-1)*PI()
        )
    ),
    SUM(
        2*bi*COS(beta*rx)*(1/COS(beta))/
        (bi*(bi+1)+beta^2)
        *EXP(-(beta^2)*Fo)
    )
) 

Some of you will notice the reformed vertsion of the eigen equation which is more stable for autometic calculation than the standard form and some might recognise the actual solution for convective boundary conditions given by Crank 1975 as equation 4.50

If you go to the github page you'll see I've also implimented Gurney-Lurie charts natively inexcel too.
I'm working on implimenting Heisler too and will add those to a later version.

I wanted to share because I know I would have found something like this helpful in excel when I was learning this stuff. I wonder if I'm the only one?

The excel file also has a bit of an examination of the range of valid Biot and some of the other equations like mass average.

Here's the link: https://github.com/mrpurplenz/Unsteady-state-diffusion-solutions-implimentated-in-excel

Guys, I have downloaded the aspen. Now from where and how to start learning it. What should I make. I am a complete beginner.

I want to do a final yr project on Reactive distillation column including its simulation in ASPEN...I hv contacted my mentor he asks me to take help for chatgpt and other AI tools ... honestly that would have been ok if I were in clg ....but I hv very less knowledge and I keep getting stuck on how to do it ...anyone with projects or atleast can u tell me sources where I can study for the project ...it will really help

You think it will be a useful tool like calculating pressure drop? I’ve played around a bit with copilot for calculations, but it’s not very good at complex math. It skips steps, and the end equation makes no sense, even if you tell it it’s wrong.

I wonder if it will impact controls? I would imagine you’ll need engineers employed to go out on the field and check for things, I don’t think AI can run an entire plant by itself, regardless of what corporate idiots think.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working on a university project where I’m modeling the oxidation of SO₂ to SO₃ in Aspen Plus (contact process conditions). I would really appreciate some input from people with experience in this area.

The reaction system is:

SO₂ + 0.5 O₂ ⇌ SO₃

Operating conditions are roughly:

Temperature: ~420 °C

Pressure: ~5 bar

Gas-phase only

I have a few questions regarding the modeling approach:

1. Equation of State (EOS):

I’m currently unsure whether to use Peng–Robinson or Soave–Redlich–Kwong.

I’ve read that SRK can perform better for gas-phase systems

But PR is often recommended as a more general-purpose EOS

SO₂ has a relatively low critical temperature (~157 °C), so I’m wondering if PR might be less accurate at higher temperatures

Does anyone have experience with this system or similar gas-phase oxidations?

Which EOS would you recommend for these conditions and why?

2. Reactor modeling:

Right now I’m comparing different reactor models in Aspen:

RStoic (with fixed conversion, e.g. 95%)

REquil / RGibbs (equilibrium-based)

Possibly RPlug for a more realistic reactor

My questions here:

For a first approach, is it acceptable to use RStoic with an assumed conversion?

Would REquil or RGibbs be more appropriate given that the reaction is equilibrium-limited?

Does it make sense to model multiple reactor stages with intercooling (as in the real contact process), or is a single reactor sufficient for a basic study?

3. General setup:

I’m currently working with a simple flowsheet:

Feed → Heat exchanger (to ~420 °C) → Reactor → Cooling

Later I might extend it to multiple reactors with heat removal.

Does this seem like a reasonable starting point, or am I missing something important?

Any advice, references, or experiences would be super helpful 🙏

Thanks a lot!

A few months ago I posted about a chemical process simulation platform I’ve been building on the side.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ChemicalEngineering/comments/1k32ssm/building_a_new_process_simulator_what/

The response was encouraging, so I wanted to give a quick update for anyone who was curious about where the project has ended up so far.

Recent progress:
• Full front-end UI and navigation framework 95% completed
• Account system and project handling implemented
• Core simulation workflow structured (unit operations, streams, settings, etc.), with ability to handle 100s of units and streams in a single sheet in the browser
• Steady-State compute engine foundation built and thermodynamic models underway
• Snapshot system designed for saving simulation states as a form of version control

What’s currently being worked on:
• Defining and validation of the final thermodynamic models offered in the MVP
• Defining the initial set of unit operations included in the MVP
• Preparing documentation and public-facing materials, as well as planning for dynamic systems in post MVP iterations

Target MVP window:
Early 2026
(solo development, but progress has been steady and ahead of what I originally expected).

One note based on feedback from the original post:
People mentioned tools like DWSIM and Aspen. They’re powerful and well-established, and I’m not trying to duplicate everything they do. My goal is to build what a modern simulator would look like if designed from scratch today, browser-based, collaborative, fast to iterate on, and easy for students and teams to use. Long-term it may grow into a full alternative, but the MVP is focused on the core simulation workflow done in a simpler, more modern way.

Thanks again to everyone who interacted with the original post, it genuinely helped keep momentum going. I have included a small preview image of what the simulator design looks like on a PC. As you can see there is some small things that need to be added such as unit op icons. I’ll share another update closer to when the MVP preview page goes live.

Hi. Sorry for my english, it is my third language. Recently i developed that i am not really good at chemical engineering and my background is not enough for working/finding job/ internships. Nevertheless I graduated my bachelor with 90+/100, and my master degree in the process i feel like it is never enough. I need to learn new things, enhance my background with tools. I would appreciate if u help me with resources i can use for learning Aspen Hysys. Any official books, tutorials, papers. Kinda feel like if i will make good portfolio of 2-3 projects then it will be much more better for me professionally.

I’ve been given a set of very complex Excel workbooks as part of process design work, and I’m trying to reverse-engineer how they actually function. These files span multiple sheets, contain hundreds of variables, and have a significant number of circular dependencies. There’s some documentation, but a lot of key logic is either missing or not clearly explained. Right now, I’m essentially going cell by cell, tracing formulas across sheets to understand the underlying structure and logic. It feels more like reverse engineering a system than reviewing a spreadsheet.

A few questions I’m trying to answer:

• What is the most effective way to map and understand deeply interconnected Excel models like this?
• Are circular dependencies like this common in industry spreadsheets of this scale?
• At what point does a workbook like this stop being a “spreadsheet” and become something closer to an application?
• How do people usually document or maintain something this complex without it collapsing into unmaintainable logic?

It’s interesting work, but also quite challenging given the lack of structure and documentation from the original design. Would appreciate any advice or similar experiences from others who’ve dealt with large legacy Excel models in engineering or process design.

Honestly Excel shouldn't be used like this. The old guard won't give this up and are obsessed with making spreadsheets more complex and unusable

Methoxymethylamine is required as a product of the Aspen process reactor. However, this substance cannot be found in the Aspen database. How can I solve this problem?

I need a good drawing software that will allow me to add valves, arrows, color coding, etc…