Recommended Books for GATE Preparation: Chemical Engineering | Chemo Concept

Today I am going to give you a list of recommended books for your GATE preparation. If you are struggling to find good books to prepare for the GATE examination, This list provides you with an extensive list of textbooks that are recommended by many toppers. 

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Note: All the books that I have recommended in this articles are my personal favorites, I am currently preparing for GATE examination and these books helped in my studies. This list of books is for GATE chemical engineering aspirants. 

General AptitudeFirst of all, let's list out subjects that are part of the examination.

• Engineering Mathematics
• Fluid Mechanics
• Mechanical Operations
• Heat Transfer
• Mass Transfer
• Chemical Reaction Engineering
• Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
• Process Dynamics and Control
• Process Calculations
• Process Technology
• Plant Design and Economics

Now let's discuss preparation strategy for individual subjects

General Aptitude

The general aptitude section doesn't require extensive preparation. You can easily score good marks in this section by using common sense in the numerical part and basic English for the verbal part. But there are very few chances you get a question from the practice you have done. So I don't recommend extensive training of aptitude. Because there are other important subjects like Reaction Engineering, Heat Transfer, Mass Transfer, etc, you should focus more. 

Books Recommended: 

• Bundle of R. S. Agarwal's Aptitude Set
• Reasoning & Aptitude by Made Easy
• Wiley Acing the GATE: Engineering Mathematics and General Aptitude 

Engineering Mathematics

Engineering mathematics is also one of the most important parts of the GATE paper. Engineering mathematics has the highest weightage of all other subjects. The questions that are asked in engineering mathematics are normally concept based not a long calculation based so you require a basic understanding of concepts.

So if you are just starting your preparation and has enough time to prepare, I recommend you to use books like

• Higher Engineering Mathematics by B. S. Grewal - This book is a textbook on mathematics in our university. So I have learned most of the concept from this book. One drawback of this book is that this book contains topics that are not in our syllabus. So you need to be selective on topics to learn if you choose to use this book. 
• Advanced Engineering Mathematics by H. K. Dass - One very good book of mathematics with theory and examples. I have used this book for some topics. Great for building concept and apply it.

If you have basic knowledge of mathematics and just want a brush-up and examples, I recommend you to solve examples from 

• Made Easy - Engineering Mathematics - Very good book has lots of examples. Unfortunately, there is an edition for Chemical Engineering till now. So I recommend you to use civil engineering's or mechanical engineering's because they are equally good. I personally use this book for my GATE preparation. 
• Wiley Acing the GATE: Engineering Mathematics and General Aptitude - Contains both Aptitude and Mathematics part with a decent amount of theories and practice examples. I have used this book to revise some theory portions. 

Now let's talk about our core subjects: 

Fluid Mechanics

In fluid mechanics, For GATE and for University, I have used two books because both have different portions very well explained individually.  

• Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering by Warren McCabe, Julian Smith - Best to learn basic concepts of fluid mechanics. This book also contains heat and mass transfer, But personally, I have not gone through that part so I don't recommend that. I have many other options for these subjects which you will find below. 

• Recommended chapters to study: 
• Chapter 1 Definitions and Principles 
• Chapter 2 Fluid Statics and Its Applications
• Chapter 3 Fluid Flow Phenomena
• Chapter 4 Basic Equations of Flow
• Chapter 5 Flow of Incompressible Fluids
• Chapter 7 Flow Past Immersed Bodies 
• Chapter 8 Transportation and Metering of Fluids 
• Chapter 9 Agitation and Mixing of Liquids
• Fluid Mechanics - Fundamentals and Applications: I have used this book to learn a specific portion: Properties of Fluid (Chapter 2). Also, some readers have recommended this book to learn Fluid Kinematics and Equations of Fluid Flow. 
• Unit Operations Part 1 by K. A. Gavhane: One of the most recommended books with clear and concise theory. Covers both Mechanical Operations and Fluid Mechanics Part in Part 1. 

Heat Transfer

In heat transfer, For GATE and For University, I have used only one book. 

• Heat and Mass Transfer - Fundamentals and Applications by Yunus A. Cengel: This book is one the well explained books, I have ever read. Clear explanation of topics and have complete theory and problems that are required for GATE. This book contains the mass transfer part but I haven't gone through it. There are many great books that I have listed below that I have used. 
• Unit Operations Part 2 by K. A. Gavhane: This book also contains both heat and Mass Transfer. This book is recommended for beginners to grasp some basic concept of heat and mass transfer. Even if you are a diploma, This book is recommended. 

Mass Transfer

Mass Transfer is three of the most important part of chemical engineering and I am going to recommend one of the classic books on Mass Transfer. 

• Mass Transfer Operations by Robert Traybal: This book is one of the oldest books for Mass Transfer and One of the best for GATE preparation. This books many concepts which are not in the syllabus so you need to be selected sometimes.
• Principles of Mass Transfer and Separation Processes by Binay K. Dutta: This book is very great for GATE preparation. I have used this book to refresh some of my concepts of mass transfer. 
• Mass Transfer: Theory and Practice by Anantharaman: I have used to learn some concepts which are not in the book I have recommended before. 

Chemical Reaction Engineering

For Chemical Reaction, Personally, I have used one book

• Chemical Reaction Engineering by Octave Levenspiel: This book is the best and contains almost all the concept in the syllabus. Theory and Examples are decent. 

Some of my colleagues have recommended Scott Fogler's Book for Reaction engineering but I have not gone through it also so I dont recommend that book. Also that books contain some advanced topics that are not in the syllabus. 

Also, books by K. A. Gavhane is very good and contains solutions to problems given in Levenspiel. 

Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

• For Chemical Engineering thermodynamics, I have gone through "Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics by K. V. Narayana". But for more clarity, Some of my colleagues have suggested "Introduction To Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics by J. M. Smith, H. C. Van Ness"

Process Dynamics and Control

• For Process Dynamics and Control, I have used "Process Systems Analysis and Control by LeBlanc Coughanowr" for preparation. 

Process Calculations

• For Process Calculations: I am using "Process Calculations by K. V. Narayana" and "Process Calculations by K. A. Gavhane". Also for our university, I have used "Basic Principles and Calculations in Chemical Engineering by David M. Himmelblau and James B. Riggs". 

Process Technology

For Process Technology: I am using NPTEL Notes of Given courses: 

• Chemical process industries by Dr Nirmal K. Patel - IIT Madras
• Fuel and Combustion Technology by Prof. Sonali Sengupta and Prof. Jayanta Kumar Basu IIT Kharagpur
• Chemical Technology - I by Dr I.D.Mall IIT Roorkee
• Petroleum Refinery Engineering by Dr K.K. Pant and Prof. Deepak Kunzru IIT Delhi
• Fertilizer Engineering by Dr Amit Dhiman IIT Roorkee
• Chemical Technology - II by Dr U. Ramagopal IIT Guwahati

Mechanical Operations

• For Mechanical Operation there are three books that I have used are "Mechanical Operations by G. K. Roy", "Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering by Warren McCabe, Julian Smith" and "Unit Operations 1 by K. A. Gavhane". 

Plant Design and Economics

For Plant Design and Economics, I am using "Plant Design and Economics for Chemical Engineers by Max Peters, Klaus Timmerhaus" for economics and part and for the design part you can use "IS 2825 (1969): Code for unfired pressure vessels" or "Introduction to Chemical Equipment Design: Mechanical Aspects by B.C. Bhattacharya". 

Also, I have taken GATEFLIX video courses for the preparation part of these books. 

Also, I recommend "An Insight in Chemical Engineering by M. Subbu" for quick revision of all subjects. Also, you can refer to "GATE Chemical Engineering by Ram Prasad". 

Conclusion

Here is the final list of books recommended for a quick look. 

Subject	Books
General Aptitude	R. S. Agarwal's Aptitude Set Reasoning & Aptitude by Made Easy Wiley Acing the GATE: Engineering Mathematics and General Aptitude
Engineering Mathematics	Higher Engineering Mathematics by B. S. Grewal Advanced Engineering Mathematics by H. K. Dass Made Easy - Engineering Mathematics Wiley Acing the GATE: Engineering Mathematics and General Aptitude
Fluid Mechanics	Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering by Warren McCabe, Julian Smith Unit Operations Part 1 by K. A. Gavhane Fluid Mechanics - Fundamentals and Applications by Yunus Cengel
Mechanical Operations	Mechanical Operations by G. K. Roy Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering by Warren McCabe, Julian Smith Unit Operations 1 by K. A. Gavhane
Heat Transfer	Heat and Mass Transfer - Fundamentals and Applications by Yunus A. Cengel Unit Operations Part 2 by K. A. Gavhane
Mass Transfer	Mass Transfer Operations by Robert Traybal Principles of Mass Transfer and Separation Processes by Binay K. Dutta Mass Transfer: Theory and Practice by Anantharaman
Chemical Reaction Engineering	Chemical Reaction Engineering by Octave Levenspiel Chemical Reaction Engineering 1 and 2 by K. A. Gavhane
Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics	Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics by K. V. Narayana Introduction To Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics by J. M. Smith, H. C. Van Ness
Process Dynamics and Control	Process Systems Analysis and Control by LeBlanc Coughanowr
Process Calculations	Process Calculations by K. V. Narayana Process Calculations by K. A. Gavhane Basic Principles and Calculations in Chemical Engineering by Himmelblau
Process Technology	NPTEL Courses I Recommended Above
Plant Design and Economics	Plant Design and Economics for Chemical Engineers by Max Peters, Klaus Timmerhaus IS 2825 (1969): Code for unfired pressure vessels Introduction to Chemical Equipment Design: Mechanical Aspects by B.C. Bhattacharya

These are my recommendations, I am eagerly waiting to know your feedback and also give your recommendation in a comment below. Your comments will help other peoples in their preparation.