Designing a chemical process is a complex task that requires complex algorithms and procedures as well as a large body of knowledge acquired through experience. However, the available computer-based chemical process design software tends to be analytically-based and does not take advantage of the knowledge of the designer, nor are most systems capable of explaining to the designer the reasons that a particular decision was made in the design. The goal of this research is to create an interactive computer-based design aid for chemical processes that will reason with partial descriptions; that will be capable of explaining the factors resulting in a particular decision; that will be able to learn from the designer; and that will take advantage of the large body of analytical programs that are already available.
