Difference between revisions of "Python"

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* The MPR module uses [https://www.continuum.io/downloads Anaconda]. This is a distribution which supplies a full scientific programming environment. There is a local mirror of that [http://ftp.ee.up.ac.za/pub/windows/python/ here]. Use Anaconda3.
 
* The MPR module uses [https://www.continuum.io/downloads Anaconda]. This is a distribution which supplies a full scientific programming environment. There is a local mirror of that [http://ftp.ee.up.ac.za/pub/windows/python/ here]. Use Anaconda3.
  
=== Python 2 vs Python 3 ===
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==== Python 2 vs Python 3 ====
  
Python 3 came out in 2008. The problem was that it was not backwards compatible with all Python 2 programs. This delayed adoption, especially in the scientific community. There is probably no reason to use Python 2 any more.
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Python 3 came out in 2008. You should not use it.
  
 
=== Scientific computing ===
 
=== Scientific computing ===
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The department also maintains a small [https://github.com/alchemyst/chemengcookbook cookbook notebook].
 
The department also maintains a small [https://github.com/alchemyst/chemengcookbook cookbook notebook].
 
=== Thermo-Physical Properties of Materials ===
 
 
Have a look at [http://coolprop.org CoolProp]. It is a thermo-physical property database with properties of many common pure substances. It has a python package as well as an Excel add-in.
 
  
 
=== Symbolic computing ===
 
=== Symbolic computing ===
  
 
The [http://www.sympy.org sympy module] is a very capable symbolic module for Python. It plays well with the [http://ipython.org/notebook.html IPython notebook]
 
The [http://www.sympy.org sympy module] is a very capable symbolic module for Python. It plays well with the [http://ipython.org/notebook.html IPython notebook]
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=== Extra modules useful to chemical engineers ===
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* [http://coolprop.org CoolProp] is a properties database. It is a thermo-physical property database with properties of many common pure substances. It has a python package as well as an Excel add-in.
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* [https://github.com/CalebBell/thermo#thermo Thermo] facilitates the retrieval of constants of chemicals, the calculation of temperature and pressure dependent chemical properties (both thermodynamic and transport), the calculation of the same for chemical mixtures (including phase equilibria), and assorted information of a regulatory or legal nature about chemicals.
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* [https://github.com/CalebBell/fluids#fluids Fluids] is open-source software for engineers and technicians working in the fields of chemical, mechanical, or civil engineering. It includes modules for piping, fittings, pumps, tanks, compressible flow, open-channel flow, and more.

Revision as of 05:36, 27 April 2018

Python

Python is a popular scripting language. It is on the top 5 of the TIOBE index, and is very popular in scientific computing, in some fields more popular than commercial platforms like Matlab or Mathematica.

  • Check out the Python website for more information about Python itself, but don't download Python from that website!

Installation

  • The MPR module uses Anaconda. This is a distribution which supplies a full scientific programming environment. There is a local mirror of that here. Use Anaconda3.

Python 2 vs Python 3

Python 3 came out in 2008. You should not use it.

Scientific computing

Numeric calculations are done using the NumPy or SciPy modules. Here is a handy starting point for someone used to Matlab/Octave to get into NumpPy/Scipy.

Plotting is done using the matplotlib library. The website contains documentation as well as a large gallery of examples.

The SciPy website also has a lot of examples in their Cookbook. Topical ones include

The department also maintains a small cookbook notebook.

Symbolic computing

The sympy module is a very capable symbolic module for Python. It plays well with the IPython notebook

Extra modules useful to chemical engineers

  • CoolProp is a properties database. It is a thermo-physical property database with properties of many common pure substances. It has a python package as well as an Excel add-in.
  • Thermo facilitates the retrieval of constants of chemicals, the calculation of temperature and pressure dependent chemical properties (both thermodynamic and transport), the calculation of the same for chemical mixtures (including phase equilibria), and assorted information of a regulatory or legal nature about chemicals.
  • Fluids is open-source software for engineers and technicians working in the fields of chemical, mechanical, or civil engineering. It includes modules for piping, fittings, pumps, tanks, compressible flow, open-channel flow, and more.