Theodore J. Williams

A generalized chemical processing model for the investigation of computer control

At present there is no direct method of comparing the relative applicability of the many computer-control schemes which have recently been proposed for use by the chemical and petroleum processing industries. While many of the computer manufacturers involved have undertaken joint study programs with several of the chemical and petroleum companies, proprietary considerations have to date prevented a direct comparison of the results obtained.

Systems engineering a large chemical plant complex

Todays large multiplant complexes in the chemical industry not only produce consumer products but also the chemical intermediates necessary to their manufacture. The competitive nature of the industry demands high-quality systems engineering techniques in the design and operation of such a complex. The present extent of these techniques, the nature of the decisions to be made, and the use of computers in their solution are discussed

Computations in the Field of Engineering Chemistry

The chemical industries have until recently lagged behind the aircraft and some other industries in the application of electronic computers to their research, design, and operational scheduling problems although they are now making great strides in correcting this situation. The lag has been due in major part, of course, to the lack of the impetus of the defense effort to the operations of this industry. In addition, at the same time, the chemical and petroleum companies have been able to invest all of their available capital in new plants in an effort to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for consumer goods brought on by our burgeoning economy. With plentiful markets at good profits available, the requirements for an extremely accurate design and for very close operational scheduling and control were relaxed in the necessity for speed in getting a plant on-stream. In addition, basic data on the physical behavior of chemical processes and on the properties of chemical materials is lacking in many cases. The success of computer applications in other engineering fields, and in some branches of the physical sciences, their spectacular application to certain business problems, as well as the results obtained by a few of the pioneers in solving chemical engineering problems on computers, has dra~m the attention of the industry to electronic computing machines. In addition, there has recently been a general tightening up of the available markets for all goods including chemicals. This has resulted in a necessity for a long, second look at plant design and operational methods to see what improvements might be made in order to maintain profits at the previous healthy level of the period of expansion. Thus, there has been a general awakening to the use and value of automatic computers to the industry. A striking illustration of this awakening is the fact that nearly every recent major chemical or petroleum technical society meeting has had at least one session or major talk on computers and their applications.