Process and chemical engineering are closely related disciplines focused on the design, operation, and optimization of chemical, physical, and biological processes used in industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, food processing, and energy production.
Process engineering involves designing and improving industrial processes to enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability. It covers fluid dynamics, heat transfer, mass transfer, and reaction engineering to develop cost-effective and energy-efficient production systems. Process engineers work on process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), and process control systems to ensure smooth plant operations.
Chemical engineering focuses on the transformation of raw materials into useful products through chemical reactions and physical changes. It integrates principles of chemistry, physics, and mathematics to develop processes for manufacturing chemicals, fuels, polymers, pharmaceuticals, and other products. Chemical engineers deal with unit operations such as distillation, filtration, mixing, and catalysis while ensuring process safety and environmental compliance.
