Process Design Engineering
A Definition

Edward T. Woodruff is in the world of Process Design Engineering.  The sheet you are on is information for your edification and interest.  Please see Home and Accomplishments to learn more about contributions and performance results. 

The goals of Process Design Engineering people are obviously to design processes. Process design engineering folks usually are chemical engineers. But, mechanical engineers can also be in process design engineering. Process design engineering people are chemical engineers when the process involves making chemicals. The process design engineering folks are mechanical engineers when the process makes parts and discrete items.

Since successfully starting the Engineering Consulting Department at Grace Research in 1974, 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.

Those in the field of process design engineering could be working for a research group. Process design engineering people could also be involved in pilot plant development. Process design engineering might be a function of an engineering company. Those in the process design engineering arena could also be independent consultants. Process design engineering is not likely a function of sales. However, this does not mean that the sales people could at times be into process design engineering.

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

Process design engineering involves preparation of process flow diagrams describing processes. Process design engineering folks also prepare heat and material balances. Process design engineering workers are involved in materials handling and reactor design. Process design engineering folks determine product separations that involve distillation, extraction, crystallization, and filtration, etc. Process design engineering people do the necessary engineering calculations for equipment design. Process simulations are also done by those working in process design engineering.

For mechanical engineers, process design engineering involves determining parts and items materials flow. Process design engineering is used to determine the machines that are necessary to manufacture the parts and items. Process design engineering also is involved in determining the automation needs and controls for the equipment.
The output from process design engineering is the transmission of documentation to the engineering firm. The Process design engineering function brings the detailed designers of the engineering firm up to speed. Once the plant has been designed in detail and constructed, those in process design engineering can take on the role of process engineers. This role for people in process design engineering is needed for plant equipment troubleshooting. This role for process design engineering workers is also used to optimize the process and fix instrumentation problems that are process oriented.
 

See also process design engineer..  Also see Accomplishments.