Engineering design problem definition

Provide clear definition of the design problem. Collect sufficient engineering data. Get a comprehensive picture of chemistry and reaction conditions, thermal effects and chemical equilibrium, as well as about safety, toxicity and environmental problems. Examine the availability of physical properties for components and mixtures of significance, identify azeotropes and key binaries. Define the key constraints. 

Before a problem can be defined, it must first be identified. Engineers themselves often do not identify the problem. Problems are typically noted first by society, which typically sees a need, not a problem. A need may refer to a group of people s desire, a shortage of a product or service, or possibly a luxury item. For the engineering design process, this need may then be termed a problem. Problem identification may come from research, from media exposure, or from client input to a company. The engineering design team must clearly define this problem in simple terms. The definition should not include a solution. 

Downey, G. (2005). Are engineers losing control of technology From problem solving to problem definition and solution in engineering education. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 8S(A6), 583-595. 

Creative participation in collaborative problem definition thns includes but extends beyond figuring out how to translate a societal problem into a design problem for the engineering sciences. It can include but also extends beyond the use of systems analyses to link some economic and social dimensions to the technical problem solving process. 

The projects executed by the students in their final year have a primary objective of giving an integrated experience to solve complex engineering problems. Typical expectations from these projects are identification of the problem, researching the literature, problem definition, concept level design, and functional level design, implementation, demonstration, and report writing. The students have the flexibility... 

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