7 replies to this topic

[Light]

Please pardon me if I sound stupid.

For all types of chemical engineering calculations, we have available in the market many process simulation softwares which perform all the required calculations in a fraction of a second and we just need to input the required data. Moreover, in all the industries also, all the designs and other calculations are performed using these softwares. Then why is it that we, as students are made to study process design remembering bulky formulae and performing complex calculations manually, while the same can easily be accomplished by using softwares?

[xavio]

samkha,

 

The simulation sofware is so powerful that even the most junior engineer can do plant or equipment design in minutes.

That kind of task was performed by a group of senior engineers in weeks or months prior to the computer era.

The problem is correctness and accuracy. You throw garbage in, you get garbage out.

Without properly understanding the formula and assumptions underlying every calculation step done by the software, you will certainly not get reliable results.

 

You only need to remember all the formula right now because as a student you have exams.

Later in your professional life you can always refer to your textbooks anytime.

 

We also need to do manual calculation quite often, like using spreadsheet.

So, it is very important to have your basic right.

Good engineering judgment can only be produced by those who understand how things work.

 

xavio

[Light]

thank you very much xavio.

[Art Montemayor]

Samkha:

 

Your concern is valid.  I have written countless warnings in this very Forum, advising all engineering students to be aware of the dangers when dealing with computer simulation programs.  You would be wise to look up these threads using our SEARCH engine.

 

The basic danger is that you are dealing with a very STUPID machine.  Although its calulation capacity is vast and extremely fast, it is only as "smart" or accurate as its operator.  If you don't dominate the basic engineering skills and resources - such as the basic logic, common sense, math, and unit operations and unit processes knowledge, you simply have no business trying to run a simulation program.  This is a mistake on the part of the majority of chemical engineering students who frequent this Forum, and I continue to warn all students when I have the opportunity.

 

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE for the hard-earned knowledge and skills obtained by dominating your basic engineering studies and courses.  No computer is capable of understanding what is required or how to calculate the answer unless you instruct it.  That makes YOU the responsible party and liable for the answers obtained.  The computer cannot be blamed for a wrong result.  Your brain basically is so superior to any computer that it dominates the calculation method or instructions.  Only you have the power of making logical, safe, and correct assumptions and arriving at the proper path to do the calculations.  No computer can do this for you.  The stupid machine can't THINK.

 

I hope you (and other students reading this) take this to heart.  There is only one sure way to become a knowledgeable and successful engineer: hard work and study.  This is not happy news, but this is real life.  You have to earn your way to success - and you do this by studying and mastering the basics of engineering.  The machine can't do this for you - it is too stupid to know better.

 

[Light]

Art Sir,

Thank you very much for your useful advice.

[Esteban Lopez]

Dear Samkha

 

As Mr. Montemayor said a simulation program is a TOOL that will do wathever the OPERATOR said to do. If you as operator of the program does not know the phenomema of the process and the main restriction of it and you put the information in the simluator it will give you an answer but the answer may be not correct.

 

For example if you use an inapropiate thermodinamic packagge the answer is not correct because the phenoma is not accurately modelled.

 

Before you jump into a simulator you may know all the basis and the major restrictions and assumptions that a model (equations) represents.

 

The knowledge of all the equations concerning the thermodynamics properties estimations; the heat, mass and moment transport phenoma; the equipment design equations; and the equipment/process selection criteria and the design basis restrictions and assumptions; all of this are a MUST that you have to know before jumping into a simulator program.

[Light]

thanks Esteban Lopez