Numerical Methods for Chemical Engineering: Solving PDEs

Chemical engineering processes, from heat transfer to mass transport and fluid flow, are governed by partial differential equations (PDEs). Understanding how to set up and solve these equations numerically is a foundational skill for any modern engineer. This text-based course guides you from basic mathematical definitions to writing clean, structured code that simulates real-world chemical systems. You will transition from theoretical equations to practical numerical solutions. By studying clear, step-by-step mathematical explanations and clean code implementations, you will develop the intuition needed to tackle complex transport phenomena. What you'll learn: - Understand the classification of PDEs and their physical applications in chemical engineering - Apply finite difference methods to discretize spatial and temporal derivatives - Implement numerical schemes using modern Python libraries for scientific computing - Configure stable boundary conditions for heat conduction and mass diffusion problems - Practice analyzing numerical stability and convergence to ensure simulation accuracy - Build structured solvers for transient and steady-state engineering systems We begin with essential mathematical terminology, foundational definitions, and the classification of equations. From there, we progress to discretization techniques, boundary conditions, and step-by-step code implementations for classic chemical engineering scenarios. This course is designed for chemical engineering students, researchers, and practicing engineers who want a clear, beginner-friendly introduction to numerical modeling without needing advanced prior programming experience. Start modeling your chemical engineering systems with confidence today.