Computer-aided design tools in chemical engineering process design

This paper reviews the design activity for chemical engineering process design, starting from the earliest step of selecting which products to manufacture and ending with designing the operating procedures for a process plant. At each step we discuss computer-aided design tools which have been or are being developed. Throughout synthesis aids which help make discrete design decisions are contrasted with analysis aids which help to select the proper values for continuous variables. Computer aids are abundant to aid in process design. The future holds promise for an integrated design tool which will aid the engineer from start to finish in his task.