Chemical Engineering Fundamentals Calculators

Chemical Engineering core courses apply thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat/mass transfer to the design and operation of chemical processes. The calculators in this class support analysis of separation processes, reaction engineering, and process equipment sizing.

Mass and energy balance calculations are the foundation — accounting for the flow of material and energy through process equipment at steady state. Reaction kinetics describes how fast chemical reactions proceed and how temperature, concentration, and catalysts affect reaction rates through the Arrhenius equation. Reactor design compares CSTR (well-mixed) and PFR (plug-flow) reactor types, sizing each for target conversion using design equations derived from material balances. Vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) analysis uses Raoult's law and activity coefficient models to predict phase behavior for distillation design. The McCabe-Thiele method provides a graphical approach to sizing binary distillation columns by stepping off theoretical stages between operating and equilibrium lines. Packed bed pressure drop (Ergun equation) and fluidization calculations support reactor and separation column design. Absorption column design uses the HTU-NTU method to determine the height of packing needed to achieve a target gas-phase purification. The Antoine equation relates pure component vapor pressure to temperature.

Chemical engineering processes produce the fuels, chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals, and food products that modern society depends on. The calculators in this class provide the quantitative tools for designing these processes safely and economically.