Teaching chemical engineering product design

This paper addresses the challenges in teaching product design, given the continued need to emphasize process design in the crowded undergraduate chemical engineering curriculum. Experiences are related using new teaching materials. Also, the importance of creating case studies that permit students to carry out engineering design calculations is emphasized.

► The key question, how to introduce product design, while teaching classical process design, is answered. ► The roles of industrial consultants, expert in process design, and young faculty, who often work at the nano-scale, are covered. ► Penn design courses, which illustrate the blending of product design with process design, are reviewed. ► The need for more engineering problem solving, by ChE seniors in product design, is established. ► For modern product designs, faculty must introduce seniors to more complex technology platforms.