Process Design Engineer
A Definition

Edward T. Woodruff is a Process Design Engineer.  This sheet is information for your interest and edification.  To learn more about our contributions and performance results, please see Home and Accomplishments. 

When Edward T. Woodruff graduated in chemical engineering from Ohio State University the first work at W. R. Grace Research was in the Process Development Department.  This went from 1962 to 1974.  In 1974 we formed and staffed the Engineering Consulting Department. We stayed here as its manager until early retirement in January 1997 when the Grace Research Division was closed.

Since successfully starting the Engineering Consulting Department we have been involved in the process design engineer function.  Our department at Grace has provided preliminary process designs and economic evaluations that have given vital and important direction and support to a variety of research projects in  catalysis, inorganic and organic chemistry, biochemical, and biomedical.

As Edward T. Woodruff, Inc. our focus is in the world of the process design engineer.  This includes the Grace calcium nitrite plant in Augusta, GA , in which we are an expert, as well as the process design for calcium nitrite for Abocol in Cartagena, Columbia.   We anticipate doing more process design in the future.

The goal of the process design engineer is obviously to design processes. The process design engineer is usually a chemical engineer. But, the process design engineer can also be a mechanical engineer. The process design engineer is a chemical engineer when the process involves making chemicals. The process design engineer is a mechanical engineer when the process makes parts and discrete items.

The process design engineer could be an engineer working for a research group. The process design engineer could also be one who works in pilot plant development. The process design engineer might work for an engineering company. The process design engineer could also be an independent consultant. The process design engineer is not likely to work in sales. However, this does not mean that the sales person could at times be a process design engineer.

The role of the process design engineer is important because the process design engineer bridges the gap between research and development. The process design engineer similarly bridges the gap between process development and production.

The process design engineer prepares the process flow diagram describing the process. The process design engineer also prepares heat and material balances. The process design engineer is involved in materials handling and reactor design. The process design engineer determines product separations that involve distillation, extraction, crystallization, and filtration, etc. The process design engineer does the necessary engineering calculations for equipment design. The process design engineer also does process simulations.

When the process design engineer is a mechanical engineer, the process design engineer determines parts and items materials flow. The process design engineer determines the machines that are necessary to manufacture the parts and items. The process design engineer also determines the automation needs and controls for the equipment.

See also process design engineering.  Also see Accomplishments