Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is an extensive branch of engineering which focuses on the design and manufacture of machines and plants to solve chemical problems. Chemical engineers use their knowledge to create designs and to solve technical problems related to chemistry. Chemical engineering has many different types of fields and requires high degree of education and knowledge. Despite the heavy qualifications, it is considered one of the highest paying jobs and a greatest working environment. [1]
Job Description
Chemical engineers work to design and process the equipment of chemicals. [2]They develop and construct the process of wide variety of chemical products. The commonly known relevant products are drugs, oil, gas, food , energy, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and chemicals. They use laws and theories of chemistry to research and develop chemical processes.[3] Chemical engineers also serve to design, operate, and construct the equipment produced by other chemists. They develop the basic designs with the help of chemical technicians to help the chemists.[4] There are diversity of roles in chemical engineering, such as working with control engineers, designing equipment and plant, installing and commissioning products, developing and applying new technologies, preventing safety issues. Since chemical engineering has variety of sections, the goals for chemical engineers vary, therefore some chemical engineers just focus on one section. [2] Also chemical engineering requires collaboration with other engineers to design a variety of machinery.
Chemical engineers also work in laboratories and offices, although depending on the work some spend time looking for industrial plants and manufacturing problems. [4] They work in well-equipped and clean offices and laboratories. Some of the chemicals that they work with can be dangerous, but the workers have strict safety guidelines to prevent from injuries. [3]The work hours for the chemical engineers are forty hours a week. They normally work full time and many of them have regular working hours, although depending on their projects overtime is sometimes necessary. [4]Also depending on the engineers they can be away from home for certain periods of time. Chemical engineers have variety of different tasks and times that they have to manage to be involved in projects.[2]
Education
Chemical engineering jobs require a bachelor's degree to be involved in the field. The portion that does not require engineering still requires chemistry courses and many lab practices as well as calculus and physics. Generally the degree takes about four or five years in engineering.[5] Some part of the chemical engineering require a higher degree like master's and that can be earned with one or two more additional years. With the master's degree it can make faster progress into becoming a manager and also being able to work as an instructor at a university.[4] These studies are the basic and main requirements for chemical engineering, although continuous studying and researching is required to keep up with the new and advance engineering technology. Most chemical engineering jobs require a bachelor's degree, although certain positions require graduate degree.[3] These opportunities are made in most schools offering master's and doctorate degrees. Doctorate programs help chemical engineers to develop a skill to lead a part of a program or a project. To earn a doctorate, students usually study for five to six years focusing on research and coursework of chemical engineering.[4] After graduating, the first license exam that is available is called the fundamentals of Engineering exam. This exam will help to get in to the engineering field and further in to the job. With that license and four years of work experience, the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam is available. With these exam one can be titled as a professional engineer. [3]
History
In the early 1700s a frenchman named Nicholas Le Blanc invented a method using sea salt. He had converted the sea salt to sodium carbonate and was used by many people, although the invention was dangerous for the environment. The chemical products were often released during the process of converting sea salt to sodium carbonate and had damaged the people and the environment. [6] In 1811, A.J. Frensel developed the Solvay process which produced the desired sodium carbonate with no hazards. Chemical engineering was not known as a profession at that time, but the manufacture was the start of chemical engineering.[7] In the 1800s chemical engineering industry became more known and used.[6] George E Davis was the founder of the profession and he discovered the chemical factories. Davis had also published a book series explaining the chemical engineering titled A Handbook of Chemical Engineering. However in the United States Arthur D. Little William H. Walker and Warren k. Lewis were the leaders that started the profession of chemical engineering. [7]
Salary
Chemical Engineering is one of the top paying professions in the U.S. Chemical engineers employ people who have the knowledge of chemistry and physics to manufacture new chemicals and techniques. Chemical engineers are creating the new fuel sources and technologies which have been critically helpful to global supplies. The average salary for chemical engineer is $65,000. Chemical engineering requires high degree of education but they can earn good salaries from the beginning. [8]Depending on the fields of chemical engineering and years of experience the salary rate varies. Chemical engineers with 1 to 4 years of experience will approximately get around $56,206 to $66,286. Engineers that have experience more than 20 years will get around $83,304 to $126,418. [9]With higher education and work hours these salary varies. However chemical engineering salary has been increasing because of the good opportunities. There are many types of chemical engineering field which helps the engineers to choose their desired field and work hard. [8]
Video
What is Chemical Engineering?
References
- ↑ What is chemical engineering about. Web. Accessed on May 26, 2013 Author unknown.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Chemical Engineer Prospects. Web. last update April 2013 Author unknown.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Chemical Engineer Job Description Careers. Web. Accessed on May 19, 2013 Author unknown .
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Chemical Engineer Job Description careerthoughts.Web. Accessed on May 19, 2013 Author unknown.
- ↑ Engineer Chemical education portal. Web. Accessed on May 19, 2013 Author unknown.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 An example of early chemical engineering ceb.Web. Accessed on May 26, 2013 Author unknown.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Chemical Engineering chemical heritage. Web. Accessed on May 26, 2013 Author unknown.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Chemical engineering forbes.Web. Accessed on May 26, 2013 Author unknown.
- ↑ chemical engineering salary about. Web. Accessed on May 26, 2013 Author unknown.
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