Numerical Methods for Chemical Engineering in MATLAB

Chemical engineering problems often rely on complex differential equations that cannot be solved by hand. Understanding how to model transport phenomena and reaction kinetics numerically is a critical skill for modern process engineers. This course provides a clear, step-by-step pathway to translating physical chemical systems into robust numerical code. You will transition from a conceptual understanding of transport phenomena to writing functional MATLAB scripts that simulate real-world reactor behavior. By focusing on the mathematical foundations first, you will learn how to structure system equations so that computer solvers can process them efficiently. What you'll learn: - Understand the foundational physics of 1D tubular reactor models and heat transfer dynamics - Formulate source terms and their corresponding Jacobian matrices for stable numerical solving - Code custom MATLAB m-files to simulate jacketed heat transfer contributions - Apply numerical discretization techniques to solve steady-state and transient reactor profiles - Implement modern MATLAB debugging and code optimization practices for engineering simulations This course begins with core definitions of transport equations and chemical kinetics before guiding you through the step-by-step construction of a reactor model. You will learn to construct the system's Jacobian matrix, which is essential for solving stiff ordinary differential equations numerically. This course is designed for chemical engineering students, researchers, and practicing process engineers who want a practical, text-based guide to numerical modeling. No advanced programming background is required, though a basic familiarity with algebra and MATLAB syntax is helpful. Start modeling complex chemical systems with precision today.