CHE 520Process Modelling and Simulation

Units: 0.50
Faculty: Engineering
Subject: Chemical Engineering

When it runs

Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

An introduction to chemical process modelling and simulation tools. Review of relevant chemical engineering concepts including material/energy balances, thermodynamics of mixtures, and unit operation models. Review of numerical methods for linear/nonlinear equation systems. Overview of numerical methods for thermodynamic, flash, and distillation models. Modular versus equation-oriented process model solution methods, recycle tearing, and partition. Applications including heat exchanger networks, multistage multicomponent separation processes, and chemical reactor networks. Practical skills will be developed through the application of available process simulation software.

Prerequisites

Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 4B
- Enrolled in H-Chemical Engineering

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
Section	Class	Enrolled	Meets
LEC 001	4897	0 / 60	M 08:30–10:20 W 08:30–09:20
LEC 701	1975	24 / 9999	Online or by arrangement
TUT 101	4898	0 / 60	W 09:30–10:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

0% liked it50% easy25% useful

From 1 rating and 1 comment on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

I would say DO NOT take this course. It is entirely centred on modelling the ethylene to ethanol process, which made the course feel too specific to really apply to industry. The assignments were incredibly long, difficult, and tedious. Working with Aspen Plus was a total nightmare; it was not even possible to achieve the desired results on the software, and it was annoying to have to explain why in our reports. The lectures became more and more indigestible and irrelevant as the term progressed, which made going to class feel pointless.

Aug 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW Flow Remove this

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them