- Academic Registry
Programme & Unit Catalogues


CE40127: Advanced chemical engineering

[Page last updated: 06 September 2022]

Academic Year: 2022/23
Owning Department/School: Department of Chemical Engineering
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: EX 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Examination (EX 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: After successfully completing this unit the student should be able to
* analyse reactions, mass transfer effects and deactivation in catalytic processes;
* analyse and design and wide variety of reactors, apply residence time distribution techniques,
* apply fundamental scientific and engineering principles to determine optimum separation sequences for complex multicomponent feedstocks;
* design and analyse the performance of separations processes such as adsorption-based separations, membrane-based separations or advanced solvent extraction processes.

Aims: To give a critical analysis of chemical and physical interactions in catalytic processes, to introduce analysis tools and models for a variety of reactors employing catalysts in solid form and to present the basis and value of residence time distribution (RTD) techniques. To introduce the principles and practices underlying, (a) the selection and sequencing of complex separations, and, (b) the design and operation of advanced separation processes such as adsorption, membrane, and reactive separation.

Skills: Advanced numerical, theoretical and computational methods. Problem solving. Taught/facilitated and assessed.

Content:
* Steps in catalytic reactions; rate expressions for catalytic reactions: Langmuir-Hinshelwood and Ely-Rideal; mass transfer in catalysis; catalyst deactivation and regeneration; analysis of reactor types: fixed bed, fluidised bed, slurry, monolith.
* Residence time distribution techniques and application to CSTR and PF reactors; non-ideal flow models: martial stagnation, by-pass, short-circuiting, segregated flow. CSTR and PF reactors in series and parallel, laminar flow and axial dispersion models.
* Selection and evaluation of alternative separation process routes and sequences. Selective adsorption; adsorbents; thermodynamic equilibria; kinetics. Batch, cyclic, continuous and pseudo steady-state processes. Examples of pressure and thermal swing gas and liquid phase separations. Adsorption column dynamics. Formulation of conservation and rate equations. Dilute, isothermal, plug flow and equilibrium-based assumptions. Non-equilibrium systems; constant pattern and linear driving force solutions.
* Membrane units and their applications in the process industries; reverse osmosis and nanofiltration. Ultrafiltration, microfiltration and the analysis of fouling. Membrane processes for gas separation; pervaporation. Electrodialysis and related processes.
* Chemistry and engineering of reactive separation processes.

Programme availability:

CE40127 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)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2022/23.
  • 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.