University of Technology Sydney

41117 Introduction to Chemical Process Engineering

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Engineering: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 65111 Chemistry 1 OR 60101 Chemistry and Materials Science

Description

This subject covers the theory and practice of chemical process engineering, which transforms raw materials and energy into products that are useful to society, at an industrial scale. The subject provides an overview of three key areas of process engineering: basic theoretical concepts such as mass and energy balance, thermodynamics, and transport phenomena; industrial unit operations such as momentum, mass, and heat transfer, and chemical and biochemical reaction; and process design, control, and automation, computer-aided design, and plant design and operation.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Identify the main drivers and future development of chemical process engineering to achieve sustainability. (B.1)
2. Demonstrate computational skills to conduct mass and energy balance of standard unit operations. (D.1)
3. Develop material processing flowsheets with a defined set of engineering constraints (e.g., energy, space, and time). (C.1)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

  • Socially Responsible: FEIT graduates identify, engage, interpret and analyse stakeholder needs and cultural perspectives, establish priorities and goals, and identify constraints, uncertainties and risks (social, ethical, cultural, legislative, environmental, economics etc.) to define the system requirements. (B.1)
  • Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design and decision-making methodologies to develop components, systems and processes to meet specified requirements. (C.1)
  • Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply abstraction, mathematics and discipline fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to evaluate, implement and operate systems. (D.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject will be facilitated using case studies and practical exercises in clearly defined and real-life contexts. Learning activities in this subject will be supported by an industry expert and a recently released recommended textbook. Each week, students will work on a case study drawn from industry. Before each class, students will complete an online quiz that defines the context and learning objectives of the week. These online quizzes are not formally assessed but will provide opportunities to provide feedback to students. In small groups, students will work on an open-ended design problem as part of the case study. Each student is required to keep an e-portfolio of their design activities in the subject.

Content (topics)

Basic engineering:

  • mass and energy balance
  • thermodynamics
  • transport phenomena

Unit operations

  • momentum
  • mass and heat transfer
  • chemical and biochemical reactions

Design and operation:

  • process control and automation
  • computer-aided design
  • plant design and operation.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Quiz

Intent:

To consolidate technical knowledge and specific computational skills to bring together engineering equipment and processes for unit operations.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 2 and 3

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1 and D.1

Type: Quiz/test
Groupwork: Group, group assessed
Weight: 10%
Length:

30 min

Assessment task 2: Practical exercise and lab report

Intent:

To develop skills and creativity to solve specific design and engineering problems in unit operation

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

2 and 3

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

C.1 and D.1

Type: Laboratory/practical
Groupwork: Group, individually assessed
Weight: 20%
Length:

3 lab sessions of 2 hours each. The lab report is limited to four A4 pages in length.

Assessment task 3: Mid-term test

Intent:

To consolidate understanding of the equipment, processes and methodology associated with chemical process engineering

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

2

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

D.1

Type: Exercises
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 30%
Length:

60 min

Assessment task 4: Design the flowsheet of a defined and real-world chemical process

Intent:

To design a complete chemical engineering flowsheet, starting from conceptualisation to define the problem and design constraints, planning, and applying aided drawing software to present the design, and client presentation.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 2 and 3

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1 and D.1

Type: Demonstration
Groupwork: Group, group and individually assessed
Weight: 40%
Length:

In class and self-learning time

Minimum requirements

In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.

Recommended texts

Michael Duncan and Jeffrey A. Reimer (2019) “Chemical Engineering Design and Analysis - An Introduction” Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 9781108421478.