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CAREER IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING: A COMPLETE GUIDE

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CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Living in the 21st-century world of global warming, we need more chemical engineers and more guidance towards eco-friendly sources of energy to save our planet!

 

To all the aspiring engineers, this one is for you!

 

The current scenario of the scientific revolution possesses several fields where we can get familiarized in. Mention may be made of such a field i.e., Engineering, which is one of the most sought career fields owing to man’s innate nature of discovering new and fixing old objects. There are a variety of branches of engineering. These are mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science engineering and chemical engineering, and many more. 

 

In this blog, we will discuss “Chemical Engineering” and its various other aspects. It is the branch of engineering that deals with the study of the design and operation of chemical plants as well as methods of improving their production. Thus, chemical engineers are developing economical and commercial processes for converting raw materials into useful products.

 

What are the skills needed, to be a Chemical Engineer?

 

  • Creativity: The most vital part of being a Chemical Engineer involves working with chemical compounds and developing them into new materials. Once the raw materials are known, the engineers continue working with them to develop innovative ways of using them. Thus to be a successful CE, one needs to be as innovative as possible, as versatile as possible.
  • Mass Transfer: The candidate must have a proper understanding of Mass Transfer. This is the core part of Chemical engineering. If someone wants to become a design engineer in this field, then it is mandatory to know the basics of equipment design.
  • Genius in Math: CEs use advanced techniques in math such as calculus, linear algebra, trigonometry and geometry to develop and produce a range of materials and products. Understanding the characteristics and principles behind math and how they apply to the process is crucial, especially when customizing a new production phase or analysing pre-production reports.
  • Knowledge is the key: A typical chemical engineer must be well equipped with the units of the different physical quantities which come under several topics. Some of these are Heat Transfer, Mass Transfer, Fluid Flow and Thermodynamics.

 

Where does Chemical Engineering stand in future?

 

With increasing issues of global warming and pollution, the chemical engineering scope has been diminishing day by day. The world, as well as society, is awaiting chemical engineers who can bring forth new environment-friendly materials to reduce the impact of those actions on the planet. Chemical engineers are working in various chemical industries. There they are investigating the creation of new polymeric materials with important electrical, optical or mechanical properties. It needs attention not only to the amalgamation of the polymer but also to the flow and forming processes. These processes are necessary to create a final product.

 

Thus, a chemical engineer must have a comprehensive and perceptible understanding of both engineering and scientific principles. Due to this reason, the curriculum is being designed in such a way that it includes the study of applied mathematics, material and energy. It also balances the areas of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, energy and mass transfer, chemical reaction kinetics, reactor design etc. with other branches of engineering. Thus chemical engineering is giving a solid foundation in the sciences of chemistry, physics and biology.

 

Top 15 Indian Colleges that offer Chemical Engineering courses:

 

  1. Indian Institute of Technology – Madras
  2. Indian Institute of Technology – Kharagpur
  3. Indian Institute of Technology – Bombay
  4. Indian Institute of Technology – Roorkee
  5. Indian Institute of Technology – Delhi
  6. Indian Institution of Technology, Kanpur
  7. Anna University Chennai
  8. Indian Institute of Technology – Guwahati
  9. Institute of Chemical Technology – Mumbai
  10. Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) – Dhanbad
  11. Indian Institution of Science, Bangalore
  12. Galgotias University, Greater Noida
  13. Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
  14. Amity University, Noida
  15. Lovely Professional University, Phagwara

 

Career Opportunities as a Chemical Engineer

 

This particular field is continuing to shift towards technological embraces and innovations and digital solutions, calling out the creative well-versed individuals in not only properties of chemistry and engineering but also in leveraging technology.

 

  • Chemical Plant and System Operators: These professionals are hired for ensuring the correct usage of equipment used in chemical plants and all other operational aspects of chemical processing and recording. They also inspect and maintain all equipment and operating units used on the job. They need to run tests occasionally, check if there are any troubleshoots, and make or suggest adjustments accordingly. 

 

  • Chemists: Chemists can be found in any organization with a chemical component, ranging from pharmaceutical research to forensic laboratories. They analyse existing substances, innovate new or synthetic substances, and measure various properties of compounds.

 

  • Biotechnologist: Biotechnologist is one of the most promising roles for a Chemical engineer. They collaborate with researchers in operating living organisms or their components to design or enhance vaccines, medicines, drugs, food products, and even artificial organs.

 

  • Food Scientists: As food scientists, chemical engineers are needed to evaluate the nutritional value, colour, flavour and texture of food. Scientists who are working in the food industry use a blend of chemistry, microbiology and engineering to understand the properties of natural foods and to create processed foods adhering to set nutritional standards.

 

  • Chemical Engineering Manager: Chemical Engineering Managers devise plans for manufacturing new products, lead teams in research and product creation, oversee staff, create and coordinate teams for a specific project and develop budgets for ongoing and upcoming projects. They spend a lot of time thinking about how to move projects and teams forward, keeping the overall goal in mind at all times. 

 

  • Manufacturing Production Engineer: The majority of time spent by manufacturing engineers includes working directly with machinery or equipment used in the manufacturing of raw materials or goods. Chemical engineers have a major role to play in setting the equipment, verifying that all the safety measures are met by running tests.

 

Steps to Become a Chemical Engineer:

 

  • You should qualify for your Higher Secondary in Science stream. 
  • Sit for entrance exams like JEE Main/Advanced
  • Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering
  • Earn a Post-Graduation Degree in Chemical Engineering

 

How does SpeEdLabs help you with the preparation?

 

SpeEdLabs has extensive programs and methodologies designed to prepare you for your boards as well as competitive exams. With adaptive and interesting videos, sample test papers, mock tests, doubt solving for each concept and personalised feedback, SpeEdLabs enlists online learning methods that will give you the necessary advancement to your career. 

 


Also published on Medium.

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