About me
I am a UK-resident chemical engineer with a passion for chemical
engineering design, so feel free to contact me any time about the subject.
My Background
My background is mostly process development in the
petrochemicals - mainly modelling processes using linear programs, simulation
packages. The computer is an important chemical engineering tool, and therefore
I am au fait with most programming languages -(BASIC, Fortran, Pascal, C,
Clipper, Dbase, OPL and Delphi) and most packages. I also rely heavily on the
internet for communication and data resources, and I believe that it is
essential for all engineers.
My Mission
My mission is to solve design and operational problems, and I
believe that mobile computer models should be more accessible. Using simple,
flexible software, I want to be able to capture ideas on the fly.
For example, If a new gasifier comes out with improved
performance, I want to sketch it quickly and record a general description. I
want to be able to check the claimed performance and cost figures.
My Resources
To achieve my mission above, I need computer software with a
minimum overhead drain on my time - without a steep learning curve and without a
need for frequent refresher courses. I needed something with visual impact, a
small footprint and robustness. The Psion application suite consisting of
database, spreadsheet, sketching and word processing seems to be the best
choice.
For example, though Delphi is a wonderful product produced by a
first class company, it takes about 3 months to learn and must be used about one
hour a day so that its vast library of tools remains fresh in the mind. In my
opinion, Delphi is really for the computer professional, not the chemical
engineer. Ditto most software languages like Pascal, "C++", Visual
Basic etc. Perhaps that explains why most chemical engineering universities
still teach Fortran in preference to other computer languages - its basic set of
commands is manageably small.
The spreadsheet is the answer. It is easier and quicker to write
a spreadsheet to design a unit, than it is to write a similar Fortran program,
and it is easier to read and requires less documentation. The spreadsheet is
ubiquitous and many features a standardised. The Psion spreadsheet is simple and
can be embedded within a containing database for easy location and use. No need
for macros or advanced spreadsheet features which would obstruct cross-platform
conversion.
With the Psion, I get instant computer on opening. The solid
state memory is fast and totally dependable - no error-checking, no
de-fragmentation, no lost clusters, no computer crap, just pure engineering.
DTCE
- Design Tools for Chemical Engineers