Here’s a list of widely used software in chemical engineering, categorized by their functions:
Process Simulation and Design
- Aspen Plus – Used for process modeling, design, optimization, and simulation of chemical processes.
- HYSYS – Focuses on oil and gas process simulation, including refining and natural gas processing.
- CHEMCAD – A suite for process simulation, equipment sizing, and optimization.
- ProSim – Offers simulation tools for energy, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries.
- DWSIM – An open-source process simulator for modeling chemical processes.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
- ANSYS Fluent – Specialized in fluid flow, heat transfer, and chemical reactions.
- COMSOL Multiphysics – A multi-purpose simulation software that includes CFD, heat transfer, and chemical reaction modeling.
- OpenFOAM – An open-source CFD toolbox for custom simulations.
Process Control and Optimization
- MATLAB/Simulink – Used for process modeling, control system design, and optimization.
- gPROMS – For advanced process modeling, optimization, and control.
- Dynochem – Focused on process development in chemical and pharmaceutical engineering.
Equipment Design
- Aspen Exchanger Design and Rating (EDR) – For designing and rating heat exchangers.
- AutoCAD Plant 3D – Used for designing and modeling plant equipment and layouts.
- SolidWorks – Assists in equipment design, including detailed 3D modeling.
Thermodynamics and Property Data
- Refprop – Provides accurate thermodynamic and transport properties of pure fluids and mixtures.
- Thermo-Calc – Used for phase diagram calculations and thermodynamic modeling.
Process Safety
- PHAST – For hazard analysis and consequence modeling.
- BowTieXP – A tool for risk assessment and barrier-based safety analysis.
Molecular Modeling and Simulation
- Gaussian – For molecular modeling and electronic structure calculations.
- Materials Studio – Focuses on molecular simulation and materials design.
Specialized Applications
- Chemkin – For combustion and reaction kinetics modeling.
- Polymath – A tool for solving mathematical problems in chemical engineering.
- Cantera – An open-source suite for chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, and transport processes.
These tools cater to different aspects of chemical engineering and are instrumental in academia, research, and industry applications.
