Career as Chemical Engineer
Chemical Engineering includes using of scientific principles and engineering techniques to create products and processes which makes this program unique and exciting for students. Chemical engineers use their knowledge of physics, biology, maths, and depth understanding of chemistry to solve complex chemical problems and create new solutions for the benefit of the general people. They are involved from the start of product development, designing equipment, and to the end of the refining process of raw materials to develop and improve products.
Chemical Engineers have a lot of responsibilities and they deal with the risk of reactions of chemical compounds. They work with raw materials to discover new formulations, designing equipment and systems to process and refine the materials. They apply their knowledge and experience to increase productivity, reduce costs and improve the quality of existing products ensuring all processes are safe, efficient, and environment friendly.
Chemical engineers develop numerous new materials or elements such as nanomaterials and design large-scale production systems for the materials. Chemical Engineering has a vast scope in various industries like pharmaceuticals, energy, food, cosmetics, etc. They use their 4 years of knowledge and experience to create from basic products to heavy-duty products such as creams, fuels, and many more considering the effect on the environment.
In conclusion, Chemical Engineering helps students to cross their knowledge boundaries solving some of the world’s seemingly unsolvable problems and improving the lives of people living on the planet.
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Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for the program vary depending on the institution offering the course. Here is a general overview of the eligibility criteria for B.Tech in Civil Engineering:
- Academic Qualification: Candidates who have completed their 10+2 education with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects and have scored a minimum of 75% marks in their 10+2 examination are eligible for B.Tech in Chemical Engineering.
- Age Limit: Although there is no specific age restriction for most institutes, in general, the age of the candidates applying for B.Tech in Chemical Engineering is to be over 18 years.
- Entrance Examination: Candidates must clear JEE Main followed by JEE Advanced to take admission to IITs while for NITs they must qualify the JEE Main exams to register for counseling sessions. Though private colleges are relatively much easier to enroll in, these institution...
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- Chemical Engineering Knowledge
- Problem-Solving
- Analytical Skills:
- Technical Aptitude:
- Safety Awareness
- Process Optimization
Types of Job Roles
Some common job roles for chemical engineers include:
- Process Engineer: Chemical process and manufacturing operations are designed, improved, and advanced by process engineers.
- Research and Development (R&D) Engineer: Innovative chemical technologies, processes, and products are developed by R&D engineers. They collaborate with scientists and researchers while carrying out experiments and analyzing data.
- Plant Engineer: The daily management of a chemical plant's operation and maintenance is done by plant engineers. They are responsible for assuring appropriate equipment operation, resolving problems, and putting safety procedures into place.
- Environmental Engineer: Environmental engineers concentrate on designing and implementing processes to minimize the environmental impact of chemical operations, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.
- Quality Control Engineer: Testing, inspections, and quality assurance methods are used by quality control engineers to monitor and guarantee the quality of chemical goods.
- Safety Engineer: Safety engineers identify and mitigate potential hazards in chemical processes, prioritizing a secure working environment for plant workers.
- Process Control Engineer: Process control engineers develop and implement control systems to monitor and regulate chemical processes, maintaining optimal operating conditions.
- Petrochemical Engineer: Petrochemical engineers specialize in the petroleum and oil refining industries, dealing with the extraction, processing, and application of petroleum-based products.
These examples showcase the diverse and significant roles available to chemical engineers, illustrating their broad expertise and contributions across various industries.
Admission
To take admission into B.tech chemical engineering in India, a candidate must go through national-level entrance exams like JEE-Main, JEE Advanced, and many state-level entrance exams.
Indian Institute of Technology:
To get admission to B. Tech Chemical Engineering in IITs, candidates must qualify Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main, conducted by National Test Agency (NTA) followed by JEE Advanced which is conducted by any respective IIT college. IIT colleges are considered to be the most prestigious institutions in India for engineering. The JEE Advanced exam patterns are always unpredictable and are set by any respective IIT college every year. The admission process for IITs starts via counseling sessions (JoSAA) after the results of JEE Advanced are out.
National Institute of Technology:
For NITs, students have to qualify only for JEE Main and get the required cut-off for chemical engineering. Candidates who qualify for the NITs’ cut-off score are eligible for JoSAA counseling sessions which include multiple rounds.
Private Colleges:
Some private colleges conduct their entrance exams, while others admit students based on their JEE main score. Candidates have to go through the admission process and interview conducted by respective private colleges which varies from college to college.
Overall, to get admission to B. Tech Chemical Engineering programs, candidates must give national-level entrance exams such as JEE Main, and JEE Advanced, and some state-level entrance exams like OJEE, MHT-CET, etc.
Exam
4 years of B. Tech in Chemical Engineering includes various subjects that build in-depth concepts in students’ minds. Some of the main subjects are mentioned below:
- Chemical Thermodynamics: This subject includes the study of chemical equilibrium, energy conversion, and heat transfer in chemical reactions. It has a vast syllabus that mainly deals with the laws of thermodynamics and their applications in chemical processes.
- Chemical Reaction Engineering: This subject includes the analysis of different reactions, their structures, and applications to design and analyze the chemical reactors used in industries. It covers a vast range of topics such as chemical kinetics, heat transfer, and mass transfer in chemical reactions.
- Transport Phenomena: This subject covers topics such as fluid mechanics, energy conversion, heat transfer, and mass transfer. It also includes the study of the transport of mass, energy, and momentum in chemical reactions.
- Process Control and Instrumentation: This subject includes the basics of process control by the controllers and the usage of instruments in chemical processes. It deals with the study of controllers, sensors, and actuators that are used in chemical plants.
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Chemical Process Design and Economics: This subject includes the design and analysis of chemical reactions which are mainly focused on economic considerations. It covers various topics like the study of the process of equipment sizing, flow diagrams, and cost estimation.
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Separation Processes: This subject has vast topics like distillation, extraction, adsorption, and membrane separation which help students to understand the separation techniques used in chemical reactions.
- Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics: This subject covers the topics like phase equilibria, activity coefficients, and chemical potential. It mainly deals with the principles and laws of thermodynamics applied to chemical systems.
Besides these core subjects, some popular elective subjects include polymer technology, biochemical engineering, nanotechnology, and environmental engineering.
Prep Books
These textbooks are highly regarded in the field of Civil Engineering, offering valuable knowledge and practical insights. These books can be valuable resources for expanding your understanding and enhancing your skills in the field:
- “An Insight into Chemical Engineering” written by M Subbu.
- “Essentials of Chemical Reaction Engineering” by Fogler.
- “Heat Transfer” by JP Holman
- “Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics” by creator JM Smith.
- “Principles of Mass Transfer and Separation Processes” by author BK Dutta.
- “Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering” created by McCabe -FPM and MO.
FAQ's
Chemical engineers work on a wide range of tasks, including designing chemical processes and equipment, conducting experiments, troubleshooting, and ensuring safety and environmental compliance.
A bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or a related field is typically required to become a chemical engineer. Some positions may require advanced degrees for specialized roles.
Chemical engineers work on diverse projects, such as designing chemical processes, developing new products, improving manufacturing efficiency, and researching sustainable solutions.
