Application of Mathematical Software Packages in Chemical Engineering Education
Session leaders:
Michael B. Cutlip, Department of Chemical Engineering, Box U-3222, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3222 (Michael.Cutlip@Uconn.Edu)
Mordechai Shacham, Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel 84105 (shacham@bgumail.bgu.ac.il)
These materials were originally created for Sessions 16 and 116 at the ASEE Chemical Engineering Division Summer School at the University of Colorado – Boulder. July 27 - August 1, 2002
This paper provides a collection of representative problems with detailed solutions that can be used to introduce numerical problem solving into core chemical engineering courses. These problems require application of the numerical analysis areas of linear equations, nonlinear equations, ordinary differential equations, partial differential equations, and regressions with statistics (polynomial, multiple linear and nonlinear).
A set of 12 "example" problems is presented here along with complete solutions utilizing three representative software packages: Microsoft Excel*, MATLAB*, and Polymath. An additional set of 12 "assignment" problems is also presented. All 24 problem statements and the detailed solutions of the demonstration problems are made available from this page.
These problems and their solutions provide insight into the various types of problems appropriate to chemical engineering, practical aspects of problem solution, and proper interpretations of results. Emphasis will be given to placement of these problems and application of the software within the Chemical Engineering curriculum
Workshop Materials
General Introduction DOC PDF HTM
A. General Materials
Demonstration Problems PDF
Assignment Problems PDF
B. POLYMATH
POLYMATH Solutions to Demonstration Problems PDF
POLYMATH Solution Files HTM
POLYMATH Introduction DOC PDF HTM
POLYMATH Detailed Overview DOC PDF HTM
C. MATLAB
MATLAB Solution Files XLS
MATLAB Regression Files XLS
D. EXCEL
EXCEL Solution Files XLS
E. Software Installation Files
POLYMATH Demo Instructions DOC PDF HTM
POLYMATH Demo Software (limited to 20 sessions) SETUP
Request Full Examination Copy of POLYMATH Software DOC PDF HTM