Re-Envisioning Particle Technology: Filling the Void(age) in the Chemical Engineering Curriculum

Although approximately 60-70% of all chemical engineering processes involve the solid phase in some step, whether as a raw material or a final product, many chemical engineering curriculums do not include a course on solids or particle technology. In this talk, the development of the Particle Technology course at The Cooper Union will be discussed.

This course, which consisted of a mixture of undergraduates and graduate students, introduced students to the role of particulates in the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and other chemical process industries. In doing so, students were able to link previous coursework (fluid mechanics, heat transfer, materials science, numerical methods, mechanics) to problems and situations involving particles, either in processing, or in situations such as handling and storage. In order to further develop this course, computer-based examples using COMSOL, MATLAB, and FLUENT were introduced to provide insight into complex systems involving multiphase flow and equipment.

This talk will provide interested instructors with an introduction to the importance of a particle technology course in the chemical engineering curriculum.