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CE40168: Micro-process engineering

[Page last updated: 15 October 2020]

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2020/1
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Chemical Engineering
Further information on credits Credits: 6      [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 120
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: EX 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Examination (EX 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Description: Aims:
To provide students with in-depth knowledge of the various aspects of Micro Process Engineering ranging from the fundamentals of engineering methods, transport processes, reactions, and fluid dynamics to device conception, modelling, and issues of modularity and compatibility. To give a critical analysis of how transport phenomena and reactions are affected by confinement in micrometre size channels, and how to exploit this for the development of highly efficient and controlled reactors and devices for the bulk and fine chemicals and pharmaceutical industry. To introduce fabrication strategies and techniques focusing on the fabrication of suitable microcomponents from various materials such as metals, polymers, silicon, ceramics and glass.

Learning Outcomes:
After successfully completing this unit students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and theories relating to fluid behaviour when confined in micrometre scale channels; be able to derive the key transport equations used to describe fluid flow in microchannels; demonstrate an understanding of the different methods used to mix and separate fluids in microchannels, and of the principles of electro-hydrodynamic transport of fluids in microchannels. Students should be able to analyze and design single, multiphase, and integrated micro-reactors, as well as to provide the optimal microfabrication solution for various micro-reactor designs.

Skills:
Acquisition and critical assessment of technical information in micro-process engineering. Taught, facilitated and assessed.

Content:
Introduction to microfluidics, scaling laws in microfluidics, hydrodynamics of microfluidic systems, diffusion, mixing and separation in microsystems, electro-hydrodynamics of microfluidic systems, and introduction to nanofluidics. Fundamentals of methods and materials for microfabrication. Heat transfer by conduction and convection in microstructures (conductive and convective heat transfer of laminar flow in microchannels of various geometries), design issues for microstructured heat exchangers (fouling of microchannels, and thermal conductivity of the walls between microchannels). Chemical engineering methods for continuous flow micro-reactor design (parallel competitive-concurrent reactions, and particle technology in microchannels, reactions with mass and heat transfer).
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

CE40168 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Chemical Engineering
  • UECE-AFM05 : MEng(Hons) Chemical Engineering (Year 4)
  • UECE-AKM05 : MEng(Hons) Chemical Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 5)

CE40168 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Chemical Engineering
  • UECE-AFM01 : MEng(Hons) Biochemical Engineering (Year 4)
  • UECE-AKM01 : MEng(Hons) Biochemical Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 5)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2020/21 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2021/22 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2020/21.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.