currence and origin of oil and gas, geo- ployed to solve so many diverse problogical structures, exploratory methods,

lems.
drilling, production and recovery-each
The latest edition is still surprisingly
(1972). 346 pages. $19.50.
in highly technical detail. However, of managable size and reasonable cost.
This book is a collection of 18 papers it is not necessary to be a geophysicist It is exceptionally well indexed with
many clear and simple plots or
presented at the Symposium of Poly- or petroleum engineer to understand it.
The next half dozen chapters cover sketches. Those who were in charge of
mer Science and Engineering in October, 1972, at Rutgers University. Al- the refining of oil to finished products. the individual sections are, in most inthough the book has a rather fashion- The operations of a refinery are cov- stances, well-recognized experts in
able title, Advances in Polymer Sci- ered in some detail from typical or- their fields.
No detailed review of the voluminences and Engineering, readers with a ganizational structures to safety conous contents could even be contemsiderations
and
from
tank
farms
to
polchemical engineering background may
lated and none will be attempted. Sufbe disappointed that a majority of the lution control and maintenance. Many
i c e it to say that this new Perry-Chilprocesses
are
discussed-from
typical
papers discuss polymer physics and
ton Handbook is a superb, updated
morphology and that very few deal yields to hardware design. Some of the version of the Handbook chemical enprocesses
covered
are
distillation,
therwith the engineering aspects of polygineers have used for so long and so
meric materials. In other words, it mal and catalytic cracking, visbreaking,
usefully.
coking,
catalytic
reforming,
hydrodewould be fair to say that the title of
ROBERTC. REID
the book is misleading to the extent sulfurization, and alkylation. In addiDEPARTMENT
OF CHEMICAL
tion,
many
finishing
processes
are
covthat it totally lacks a presentation of
ENGINEERING
solered
including
Merox
sweetening,
recent advances in polymer engineerMASSACHUSETTS
INSTITUTE
vent extraction, dewaxing, and hydroOF TECHNOLOGY
fining.
Petrochemical
manufacture
is
in%he book, however, contains several
MASSACHUSEITS
02139
CAMBFWGE,
good papers which discuss in detail covered in a separate chapter.
A list of some of the chapter titles
the surface morphology and crystalline
structure of polymers in the solid state in the rest of the book will give an inas affected by deformation and tem- dication of how thoroughly this book A Guide to Process Engineering with Ecoperature. These papers assume that covers the petroleum industry, for ex- nomic Objective, G. L. Wells, John Wiley,
readers have some background in crys- ample, petroleum gas, aviation fuels, New York (1973). 168 pages. $10.75,
tallography, x-ray diffraction, and elec- motor gasoline, diesel engine fuels,
Professor Wells prepared this text for
tron microscopy. This book would be a domestic fuels, industrial fuels, lubri- a second-year course in chemical engicating
oils,
petroleum
waxes,
bitumen,
helpful reference worth including in a
neering at Sheffield. His early introduclibrary for polymer physicists as a col- automatic control and instrumentation, tion of economics is commendable, with
transport
by
pipeline,
transport
by
sea,
lection of research monographs in the
some excellent examples of cost estirapidly growing field of polymer sci- and transport by road and rail. Each mates and applied microeconomics. Afsubject
is
covered
authoritatively
and
ences and engineering.
ter some study, this reviewer found
in depth.
CHANGDAEHAN
This book is well written and should that there were perhaps some overDEPT.OF CHEMICAL
ENGINEERINGbe in easy reach of anyone working in simplifications and almost superficialities in such introductory economics, as
POLYTECHNIC
INSTITUTE
OF BROOKLYNthe petroleum industry. It would serve
BROOKLYN,
N. Y. 11201 as a basic reference for answering ques- might be expected.
The book is well organized and well
tions about the industry.
written, but definitely a guide as is inMILFORD
DARLINGTONdicated on the title page. It leans heavFOSTER
WHEELERCORPORATIONily on Rudd and Watsons Strategy of
Modern Petroleum Technology, 4th Edit.,
LIVINGSTON,
NEWJERSEY Process Engineering and includes exG. D. Hobson and W. Pohl, (ed.) John
amples for optimization by linear proWiley & Sons, New York (1973). 996
gramming and dynamic programming.
pages. $45.00.
Apparently the intent is an early prepI can highly recommend this book Chemical Engineers Handbook, R. H. Perry aration for utilizing computer calculaand C. H. Chilton (eds.), McGraw-Hill, New
to any engineer working in the pe- York (1 973). $35.00.
tions for design, simulation, and proctroleum or related industries. It covers
ess control.
the full breadth of the industry from
The Fifth Edition of the Chemical
The book may prove useful in stimuexploration and production to trans- Engineers Handbook has now been lating an early interest in process engiport and from refining to distribution published. Dedicated to the late neering and related economics. Unforin terms that one not well versed in Cecil H. Chilton, it is a fitting memorial tunately, there are about two years of
the petroleum field can easily under- to a man who devoted so much time study in chemical engineering before
stand and yet covers the subject in and effort to this revision.
an undergraduate is able to understand
While handbooks of this type are Chapter 6 on Process Charts. Hence, its
such depth that a person with expertise in the field will find the book never satisfactory replacements for shortcoming seems to lie in almost no
of great value. If one would own but well-written, specialized texts, they treatment of the creative portions of
one book on the industry which is prove to be of invaluable assistance for process development and process deboth authoritative and encyclopedic, a rapid perusal of an unfamiliar area sign, which is to raise the question:
this would be it.
and of most value for the collection of How do chemical engineers proceed to
The early chapters discuss the oc- data and correlations that may be em- develop and design a reactor and sepAdvances in Polymer Sciences and Engineering, K. D. Pae, D. R. Morrow, and
Y. Chen (eds)., Plenum Press, New York

AlChE Journal (Vol. 20, No. 1)

January, 1974

Page 205