2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
CAPE1010 Introduction to Process Engineering
30 creditsClass Size: 160
Module manager: Dr D Harbottle
Email: d.harbottle@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2023/24
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Objectives
ProcessOn completion of this module, students will be able to:
- translate process descriptions into block diagrams;
- use block diagrams as the basis to solve material balance problems;
- identify and use standard symbols to represent unit operations in process flow diagrams;
- construct a process flow diagram of a chemical plant using virtual reality tools;
- describe the function of common process unit operations;
- apply the principles of HAZOP around a single unit operation;
- describe different methods of process control for temperature, pressure and level control in common unit operations;
- from a site visit, discuss the operation of the chemical plant and the health and safety practices of the site;
- assess the merits of different chemical processing routes and choose a process using sound engineering judgement;
- evaluate the economic cost and sustainability (order of magnitude estimates) of a chemical plant.
Energy
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
- describe the underpinning principles of power generation and thermal power plants;
- propose strategies to reduce CO2 emissions in the context of energy transition for a specific country.
Reaction
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
- apply concepts of chemical kinetics and stoichiometry to reaction engineering problems;
- apply material balances to ideal batch and continuous reactors to derive performance equations to determine reactor volume;
- operate a continuous stirred tank reactor under a chosen set of reaction conditions and critically analyse the resulting experimental data.
Biochemical
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
- solve biochemical problems based on enzyme catalysis and microbial growth kinetics;
- describe different unit operations in upstream and downstream bioprocessing.
Learning outcomes
- Be aware of the range of applications of chemical engineering in the domains of process, energy, reaction and biochemical engineering.
- Have a knowledge of underpinning scientific principles (physics, chemistry and biology) for the understanding of process, energy, reaction and biochemical engineering.
- Understand the principles of material balances and be able to apply them to chemical engineering problems.
- Understand the principles of batch and continuous operation, and chemical and biochemical reaction and reactor engineering.
- Understand the most widely used unit operations of separation and mixing, particle technology and biological systems.
- Apply systematic methods for identifying process hazards (HAZOP).
- Understand and apply the principles of process economics and sustainability to analyse global energy transition scenarios and the interaction of chemical processes with the environment.
- Have an understanding of laboratory practice and ability to operate a bench-scale continuous stirred tank reactor.
- Be able to design, plan and undertake experimental work and critically interpret, analyse and report on experimental data.
- Be able to find and apply, with judgement, information from technical literature and other sources.
- Understand that design is an open-ended process, which requires working creatively as a team managing the processes of peer challenge and planning to make choices on the basis of incomplete information.
- Be able to communicate effectively to present the outcomes of design, including flowsheets and stream data, and defend chosen design options and decisions taken.
Skills outcomes
1. Have developed a range of effective communication skills including written reports, presentations and engineering drawings.
2. Recognise the importance of working effectively with others and have acquired a range of experience in achieving this.
3. Be effective users of IT.
4. Recognise the importance of project planning and time management and have acquired a range of experience in achieving this.
Syllabus
Process Engineering - Introduction to chemical engineering; developing chemical processes; basic principles of unit operation; physical quantities; materials balances; process control; mass transfer; introduction to HAZOP; economics; life cycle assessment.
Energy - Energy resources and consumption trends; properties, specifications and sources of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels, introduction to refinery processes; introduction to combustion theory; basic principles of a thermal power plant; renewable sources of energy; electricity generation and energy storage.
Reaction Engineering - Introduction to ideal reactors; chemical reaction and rate of reaction; mass balance and process performance in reactors; reactor size evaluation; experimental approach to rate of reaction.
Biochemical engineering - Introduction to biochemical engineering including principles of bioreactor design and operation, upstream bioprocessing and bioprocess unit operations, for a range of biotechnology applications.
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Presentation | 1 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Visit | 1 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Supervision Meetings | 3 | 2.00 | 6.00 |
| Class tests, exams and assessment | 2 | 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Lecture | 6 | 3.50 | 21.00 |
| Practical | 1 | 2.50 | 2.50 |
| Tutorial | 17 | 1.50 | 25.50 |
| Independent online learning hours | 32.00 | ||
| Private study hours | 201.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 67.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300.00 | ||
Private study
Review of weekly lectures and tutorial problemsDirected reading of recommended texts
Compilation and submission of specified coursework
Revision for written examinations
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Process control simulationsDeveloping process flow diagrams
Energy optioneering study
CSTR lab practical
Design project: process engineering
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Case Study | Biochemical Engineering | 20.00 |
| Assignment | Process Flow Diagram | 10.00 |
| Assignment | Energy Optioneering | 10.00 |
| Assignment | CSTR Practical | 10.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 50.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Exams
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
| Unseen exam | 2 hr | 25.00 |
| Unseen exam | 2 hr | 25.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 50.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 28/04/2023 14:55:29
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