CK 600 (PCE)

School of Engineering

BE Process & Chemical

Dr. Denis Ring CEng FIChemE MIEI
Why Choose Chemical (Process) Engineering?

Modern society relies on the work of

chemical and biochemical engineers –

Chemical Engineers manage resources,

protect the environment and control
health and safety procedures, while
developing the processes that make the
products we desire or depend on.
 Chemical Engineers aka Process Engineers
Chemical engineering is all about changing raw materials into useful products
you use everyday in a safe and cost effective way. For example petrol, plastics
and synthetic fibres such as polyester and nylon, all come from oil.

Chemical engineers understand how to alter the chemical, biochemical or

physical state of a substance, to create everything from face creams to fuels

* Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)

 One man’s “Dream”
is another man’s ENGINEERING!
 Chemical Engineering is Fundamental !
Similar Engineering principles can
be applied to many industries

Jameson has now become the

world’s fastest growing drinks brand!

Aughinish Alumina in Limerick is one of

the most technologically advanced and
energy efficient facilities globally

In 2012 the refinery saw an increase in €100m Extension Just Finished……

its annual production capacity up to In Midleton
1.99 million tonnes of alumina Global exports of Irish whiskey rose 10.1 % to 62 million litres in 2013
 Chemical Engineering is Fundamental !

To all of US!!!
 Chemical Engineering is Fundamental !
Generic process stages or ‘unit operations’ applied to a wide range
of industries:
1. Food and Drink
2. Water
3. Bio/Pharmaceuticals
4. Energy
5. Cosmetics
6. Bulk Chemicals
7. Speciality Materials
8. Consumer Goods, etc.

Water Purification
Essential to…..Health
 Chemical Engineering Developments
Focus on Health & Safety, Environmental Engineering,
Economics and Communication Skills

The Danone Macroom factory is expected be the

largest, and most technologically advanced,
manufacturing centre in baby-nutrition’s global
network, resulting in a trebling of capacity to
100,000 tonnes annually, after the creation of a
new drying line.

When it is operating at full capacity, the projection

is that 20% of the world’s infant milk formula will
be produced in Ireland.

This means one in five babies in the world who are

fed infant milk will use an Irish product.
 Emerging Chemical Engineering
“Focus on Sustainability for progress……”

Chemical engineers make decisions concerning:

1. Which reaction pathway should be used to
make the product?
2. How to purify the desired product
3. How to control the process and ensure it's
safe
4. How to make the process cost effective
5. What should be done with any by-products
formed?
6. How to reduce the amounts of unwanted by-
products
7. What to do with unreacted raw materials
8. How to recycle energy within the process
 Emerging Chemical Engineering;
• By 2025, world population will be over 8 billion people. That’s a LOT!!!!

• The majority of this growth will be driven by the developing world, where rapid
improvements in living standards are evident – thanks significantly to the application
of chemical engineering.

Chemical Engineering is at the centre of a new

industrial revolution where economic wealth
goes hand-in-hand with environmental and
social sustainability. And fast. We are reaching
critical tipping points beyond which it will be
too late to reverse negative trends.
 Chemical Engineering
“It’s a Small World”
PSE Kinsale Energy Limited, has been producing natural gas from
its facilities off the Old Head of Kinsale since 1978.

The gas found in the Kinsale Head area is exceptionally pure,

consisting mainly of methane, and only requires removal of
associated water to ensure it meets the required quality levels.

PSE is owned by PETRONAS which is currently ranked among

the Fortune Global 500 largest corporations in the world.
PETRONAS Revenue  100 billion
 Its Special when Chemical meets Engineering?

Aspirin, one of the first drugs to come into common usage, is

still the mostly widely used in the world - approximately
35,000,000 kg are produced and consumed annually,
enough to make over 100 billion standard aspirin tablets
every year.
 Chemical Engineering Opportunities
• Biotechnology/ Biopharmaceuticals
• Food & Drink
• Water
• Pharmaceuticals
• Cosmetics
• Bulk chemicals / Speciality Chemicals
• Consultancy (Design & Operation)
• Energy
• Health, Safety & Environmental Services
• Materials
• Consumer Goods
• Education
• Even………..Business & Finance,
Chemical Engineering Opportunities
Biopharmaceutical Commercialisation and
Supply In 2006, Lilly announced that
Kinsale would become the main centre for
the manufacture and supply of active
ingredients for its new biopharmaceutical--
or "large molecule"--medicines.

(A "large-molecule" medicine is biologically

sourced and typically is injected rather
than taken orally.)
17 km of piping…………
To support this changing mission, a
significant investment in
biopharmaceutical manufacturing and
commercialisation facilities was made, and
operations commenced in 2011.
Chemical Engineering:- Financial Rewards
Profession Graduate salary

Dentistry £30,395
Chemical engineering £29,582 #2
Medicine £28,548
General engineering £26,362
Economics £26,283
Mechanical engineering £26,076
Aeronautical & manufacturing
£25,343
engineering
Veterinary medicine £24,934
Electrical & electronic
£24,639
engineering
Civil engineering £24,524

*Source: Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Salary Survey 2014

**Source: published in The Times newspaper on 22 September 2014
 Process & Chemical Engineering at UCC

Key Programme Features

1. Challenging Course !!!!!!!!

2. Small classes, excellent facilities
3. Pleasant university setting, excellent student
facilities, clubs, societies & student experience
4. 6 month salaried work placement
5. Accredited degree
6. Common first year with other UCC engineering
programmes with opportunity to switch from 2nd
year
7. Elective Streams in ‘Energy & Environmental’ or
‘Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical’

CAO points (2014): 505

Katherine Condon is awarded the Joe
Gantly Prize for Engineering at the UCC
Annual Prize Giving 2014
 Chemical Engineering

The breadth of scientific and technical

knowledge inherent in the profession
has caused some to describe the
chemical engineer as the "universal
engineer.“……..

Chemical engineering is ideally suited to students with ability in maths

and chemistry, who enjoy problem solving and aspires to be
successful…..
 CK600 PCE
Process & Chemical Engineering…….
Its Surprisingly Good………
My Leaving Cert Year Advise to You:-

“Perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim”

Ovid…..43BC-17AD

Be patient and tough; some day this pain will be useful to you!

PCE wish you all a bright and successful future in your chosen field…… And remember
when you do get to college…..
WORK HARD…..HAVE FUN!! 