CHE654: Computer Application for Chemical Engineering Practice

Academic Year 2026, Semester 1

This course is taught by Asst. Prof. Dr. Hong-ming Ku and Dr. Alisa Kammafoo. The aim of the course is to train ChEPS students in the use of the chemical process simulator called ASPEN Plus (A+) and MATLAB, which are crucial engineering tools for process engineers. Many thesis and site projects will involve process simulation and modeling. Students will learn the fundamentals of process simulation and how to use MATLAB as equation solvers and as a programming language.

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Course Syllabus, Textbooks, and Lecture Slides

Download the course syllabus here.

Main Textbooks:

1. Process Flowsheeting by A.W. Westerberg et. al., Cambridge University Press, 1979.

2. Chemical Process Design and Simulation - Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS Applications

    by Juma Haydary, Wiley, 2019.

3. Chemical Engineering Design, 4th Edition, by R.K. Sinnott, Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, 2005.

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A+ slides:

Section 1: Introduction - 1 slide/page, 2 slides/page, and 4 slides/page

Section 2: Output Files & Miscellaneous Topics - 1 slide/page, 2 slides/page, and 4 slides/page

Section 3: Unit Operation Models: 1 slide/page, 2 slides/page, and 4 slides/page

Section 4: Rigorous Distillation RADFRAC - 1 slide/page, 2 slides/page, and 4 slides/page

Section 5: Sensitivity Analysis - 1 slide/page, 2 slides/page, and 4 slides/page

Section 6: Design-spec & Calculator Block - 1 slide/page, 2 slides/page, and 4 slides/page

Section 7: Physical Properties - 1 slide/page, 2 slides/page, and 4 slides/page

Section 8: Flowsheet Convergence - 1 slide/page, 2 slides/page, and 4 slides/page

Section 9: Workshops - 1 slide/page, 2 slides/page, and 4 slides/page

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MATLAB slides:

1 slide/page, 2 slides/page, and 4 slides/page

 

Homework and Exercise Problems

Download a copy of "CHE654 Homework & Exercise Problems, Ver. 2026" here.

Your homework has been selected from this exercise book as follows:

1. Homework Set 1: #1, #4, #5, and #6. Due Friday Aug ??.

2. Homework Set 2: #8, #9, #10, #13, #15, and #18. Due Friday Aug ??.

3. Homework Set 3: #19 Part I, #21, #22, and #23. Due Friday Sept ??.

4. Homework Set 4: #24, #26, #27, #29, and #30. Due Sunday Oct ??.

5. Homework Set 5: #33, #34, #36, #38, and #39. Due Tuesday Oct ??.

6. Homework Set 6: #41, #42, #44, and #45. Due Tuesday Oct ??.

7. Homework Set 7: #46, #48, #49, #51, #53, and #54. Due Tuesday Nov ??.

8. Homework Set 8: #62, #63, #66, #68, and #71. Due Tuesday Nov ??.

9. Homework Set 9: #72, #73, #75, and #77. Due Nov ??. 

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References and Papers

1. Download: A+ Getting Started - Building and Running a Process Model (Version 8.4)

2. Download: Is Process Simulation Used Effectively in ChE Courses?

3. Download: Don't Gamble with Your Physical Properties?

4. Download: Don't Let Recycle Streams Stymie Your Simulations

5. Download: Uncovering the Realities of Simulation, Part 1

6. Download: Uncovering the Realities of Simulation, Part 2

7. Download: A Guide to MATLAB for ChE Problems Solving by Prof. Kip Hauch

8. Download: Introduction to MATLAB by Prof. Robert Pinnick

9. Download: MATLAB Applications in Chemical Engineering by Prof. James A. Carnell

10. Download: Decomposition of Nets by Barkley and Motard

11. Download: Tear Stream Convergence by Dr. Hong-ming Ku

12. Download: Summary of Barkley & Motard Algorithm (B&M) by Dr. Hong-ming Ku

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Timetable of Oral Presentations (2 Parallel Sessions)

Proposal Presentations - Thursday, Sept 10, 1:30 pm

Progress Presentations - Thursday, Oct 8, 1:30 pm

Final Presentations - Thursday, Nov 5, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Final report due - Sunday, Nov 30, by midnight

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List of 8 Plant Design Projects

Download the group, project, and English advisor assignments here.

Download the common project problem statement here.

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Project 1: Production of KA Oil from Cyclohexane

Project 2: Production of Hydrogen via Steam Methane Reforming (SMR)

Project 3: Production of Cyclohexane via Benzene Hydrogenation

Project 4: Production of Benzene from Toluene

Project 5: Production of Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK)

Project 6: Production of Acetic Acid

Project 7: Production of Isopropyl Alcohol

Project 8: Production of Acrylonitrile

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Here is a booklet on Technical Report Writing Guidelines.​

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