THE PARADIGMS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Abstract

For the evolution of chemical engineering is useful the definition proposed by Kuhn, which defines a scientific paradigm as: "universally recognized scientific achievements that, for a time, provide model problems and solutions for a community of practitioners” (Kuhn, 1996).11 From the ancient times applied chemistry meant an art, a trade for obtaining salt, caustic soda, soap, sulfuric acid, sugar, glass-things in rudimentary workshops. Traditional recipes have been transferred with minor, empirical improvements gained from observation. This period can be considered as the empirical stage of chemical engineering. The development of the variety and the amounts of the chemical products, mainly in the last quarter of the 19th century, imposed a new stage, respectively the rational stage of chemical engineering. The empirical rules and practices were abandoned for rational scientific methods. The transition to this stage is especially owing to the great progresses of physical chemistry. In 1885 prof. H.E. Amstrong has taught at Central College of London the first chemical engineering course. In this course fundamental scientific training was combined with technical practice for design of chemical industry equipment. It may be considered that at this moment the rational stage of chemical engineering begins. In 1887 prof. Geoge Davies from Manchester Technical College has taught a lot of chemical engineering lessons. These lessons were the roots of his further Handbook of Chemical Engineering published in 1901. The practical value of Davies lessons from this book consists in the variety and abundance of the technical end economical data. Due to the lack of scientific explanations, in fact this book belongs to empirical stage and is a document of what meant chemical engineering at that stage Bratu.1.