Peer-Reviewed Journal Details
Mandatory Fields
Foley G.
2011
August
Education for Chemical Engineers
Three classic ultrafiltration problems solved with the Exponential Integral
Published
()
Optional Fields
Exponential Integral Logarithmic Integral Special function Ultrafiltration
6
3
e90
e96
Three problems from ultrafiltration process design and analysis, typically solved using numerical methods, are solved analytically with the aid of the Exponential Integral special function. The lesson for the chemical engineering student is to always consider the possibility that analytical solutions involving special functions might exist for problems previously thought to be solvable with numerical methods only. When encountering new integrals, even ones that seem intractable, students should consider the use of a symbolic integrator to check if an easily implementable analytical solution exists, even one based on unfamiliar functions. © 2011.
1749-7728
10.1016/j.ece.2011.07.001
Grant Details