Computing and Simulation

This module introduces three computational tools and some numerical algorithms that may be used to help solve Chemical Engineering problems. The MATLAB programming environment and use of command line operations will be introduced as a foundation to Simulink while flow-sheeting is introduced via UNISIM.

The Python environment, matrix handling, basic house-keeping commands, scripts and functions, conditionals, for-next and while loops, plotting and other commands are taught through a series of labs/workshops.

Students are introduced to flow-sheeting using UNISIM. How to navigate the UNISIM user interface, how to set up the simulation basis, how to use the unit operation models available in UNISIM are taught using step by step examples of how to set up a process simulation.

Students will be taught numerical algorithms used in root finding, solving sets of algebraic equations and used in the solution of ODEs. The theoretical bases and relative merits of these algorithms are covered and students will learn how to apply the techniques, including the use of SIMULINK to simulate dynamical systems.