2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

CAPE1310 Process, Biochemical and Reaction Engineering Fundamentals

20 creditsClass Size: 150

Module manager: Dr M Ravi
Email: m.ravi@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

Admission to an undergraduate programme in the School of Chemical and Process Engineering

Module replaces

CAPE1010

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module introduces the core chemical and process engineering concepts that underpin the design and operations of chemical processes.

Objectives

On 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.
* 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.
* Solve biochemical problems based on enzyme catalysis and microbial growth kinetics.
* Describe different unit operations in upstream and downstream bioprocessing.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Be aware of the range of applications of chemical engineering in the domains of process, reaction and biochemical engineering.
2. Have a knowledge of underpinning scientific principles (chemistry and biology) for the understanding of process, reaction and biochemical engineering.
3. Understand the principles of material balances and be able to apply them to chemical engineering problems.
4. Understand the principles of batch and continuous operation, and chemical and biochemical reaction and reactor engineering.
5. Understand the most widely used unit operations of separation and mixing, particle technology and biological systems.
6. Apply systematic methods for identifying process hazards (HAZOP).
7. Understand and apply the principles of process economics, sustainability and the ability to apply techniques for analysing the interaction of chemical processes with the environment.
8. Have an understanding of laboratory practice and ability to operate a bench-scale continuous stirred tank reactor.
9. Be able to design, plan and undertake experimental work and critically interpret, analyse and report on experimental data.
10. Be able to find and apply, with judgement, information from technical literature and other sources.
11. Understand the commercial, economic and social context of engineering processes.
12. Be aware of the concept and implications of ‘professional’ (Chartered) engineers and the role of Professional Engineering Institutions.
13. Have a basic understanding of relevant principles from engineering disciplines commonly associated with chemical engineering.

Skills Learning Outcome
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills:
.a. Technical skills
.b. Problem solving & analytical skills
.c. Commercial Awareness
.d. Ethics
.e. Academic writing

Syllabus

Process: Introduction to Chemical Engineering – applications; Engineering challenges – link to UNSDGs; Chemical processes and flowsheets (block and PFD – virtual environment); Dynamic simulations (TSC); Physical quantities; Unit operations; Batch and continuous processing; Intro to process control; Intro to process safety; Intro to project costing; Life cycle assessment.

Reaction: Yield, conversion, concentration/pressure, molar, mass, volumetric flow rates; Rate of reaction; Kinetic gas theory, Activation energy, Arrhenius law; Stoichiometry, reaction order and rate constant, elementary and non-elementary reactions; Ideal reactors (constant density) – Batch, CSTR, PFR, general material balance; CSTR lab practical; Integral method, differential method of analysis of data.

Biochemical: Biology basics; Examples of biochemical processes, upstream and downstream bioprocessing; Bioprocess flowsheet. Enzyme kinetics; Microbial batch growth; Yield coefficients; chemostat; product separation techniques in biochemical processes.

Fundamentals of process chemistry.


Methods of Assessment

We are currently refreshing our modules to make sure students have the best possible experience. Full assessment details for this module are not available before the start of the academic year, at which time details of the assessment(s) will be provided.

Assessment for this module will consist of;

Maximum 2 coursework
Maximum 2 exams

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lectures	22	2.00	44.00
seminars	22	1.00	22.00
Practicals	3	2.00	6.00
Fieldwork	1	5.00	5.00
Private study hours			123.00
Total Contact hours			77.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Opportunities for formative feedback include in-class discussions, polling/quizzes during lectures and tutorial problems.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 22/08/2024

Disclaimer

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