MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Reaction Systems Design

Course unit fact file
Unit code CHEN64442
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

The Unit starts with an overview of reactor systems and their role in the hierarchy of process design, then discusses reactor performance criteria. It then moves on to the fundamentals of chemical Reactions and chemical reaction kinetics. The fundamentals of reactor design are then given through idealised chemical reactor models, and Conceptual reactor design is emphasised for the modelling of catalytic & multi-phase reactors. Detailed reactor design concepts are taught through the modelling of fixed bed reactors. Finally aspects of reactor safety as well as advanced concepts of hybrid reaction separation systems are discussed

 

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Computer Aided Process Design CHEN64291 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Students need to have undertaken the pre-requisite unit, CHEN64291 Computer Aided Process Design, to be eligible to enrol.

Aims

The unit aims to:

• Introduce the students to the conceptual design of reaction systems

• Teach how to design reaction systems using a combination of theoretical and computational tools.

• Teach how to build models for different types of reactors including batch, semi-batch, and continuous reactors as well as polymerisation and biochemical reactors

• Teach how to use computer-based software to obtain numerical results from complex non-linear reactor models

• Teach how to choose the most appropriate reactor configurations and to inter-connect them to synthesise a reaction system for a practical engineering process.

Learning outcomes

 

Category of outcome

Students should/will (please delete as appropriate) be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

To design reaction systems using a combination of theoretical knowledge and computational tools.

  • To acquire knowledge to evaluate design methods for simple and complex reactors
  • To Select and evaluate appropriate reactor type, operating conditions and reactor network configuration.
  • To understand and evaluate methods available for the separation of homogeneous mixtures
  • To understand and evaluate design options for reaction-separation systems for continuous processes

 

Intellectual skills

Enable students to apply their knowledge of chemical reaction engineering for design and analysis of reaction systems

  • Acquire knowledge to evaluate reactor models and to critically assess the appropriate reactor geometries and operating conditions that can ensure the best constructerd designs for a variety of reaction systems
  • Acquire the ability to critically assess reactor model predictions with respect to reality.

 

Practical skills

  • Ability to integrate methodologies and technologies to pursue desired outcomes
  • Ability to evaluate the appropriateness and practicalities of various methodologies for different design purposes
  • Ability to use commercially available software to achieve required reaction system designs

 

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • To develop an understanding of how reaction processes can be modelled, and simulated numerically through the use of appropriate software. 
  • Ability to use commercially available software for model building and design purposes 
  • To be able to manage time and workloads effectively
  • Ability to communicate efficiently and effectively orally and in writing

 

 

 

 

Teaching and learning methods

The lecture notes, along with computer-based tutorials, solved problems and course work, will be uploaded on Bb9. A number of demonstrators will also be able to answer practical questions during tutorials and at their office hours. Also, a discussion forum is created as a quick sharing point of questions and answers.

 

Knowledge and understanding

To design reaction systems using a combination of theoretical knowledge and computational tools.

  • To acquire knowledge to evaluate design methods for simple and complex reactors
  • To Select and evaluate appropriate reactor type, operating conditions and reactor network configuration.
  • To understand and evaluate methods available for the separation of homogeneous mixtures
  • To understand and evaluate design options for reaction-separation systems for continuous processes

 

Intellectual skills

Enable students to apply their knowledge of chemical reaction engineering for design and analysis of reaction systems

  • Acquire knowledge to evaluate reactor models and to critically assess the appropriate reactor geometries and operating conditions that can ensure the best constructerd designs for a variety of reaction systems
  • Acquire the ability to critically assess reactor model predictions with respect to reality.

Practical skills

  • Ability to integrate methodologies and technologies to pursue desired outcomes
  • Ability to evaluate the appropriateness and practicalities of various methodologies for different design purposes
  • Ability to use commercially available software to achieve required reaction system designs

 

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • To develop an understanding of how reaction processes can be modelled, and simulated numerically through the use of appropriate software. 
  • Ability to use commercially available software for model building and design purposes 
  • To be able to manage time and workloads effectively
  • Ability to communicate efficiently and effectively orally and in writing

 

Assessment methods

 

Assessment task

Length

Weighting within unit (if relevant)

 

Examination

 

 

Coursework

 

 

2.0hr

 

 

2-3 weeks

By appointment if needed

 

Personal feedback on Blackboard 15 working days weeks after submission

75%

 

 

25%

 

 

Feedback methods

Within 15 working days

Recommended reading

  • Chemical Reactor Analysis and Design, G.F. Froment and B. Bischoff
  • Chemical Reactor Analysis and Design Fundamentals, J.B. Rawlings and J.G. Eckerdt
  • Bioreactor System Design J.A. Asenjo and J.C. Merchuk (eds)
  • Papers from the current literature given as references in the corresponding lectures

Study hours

Independent study hours
Independent study 150

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Konstantinos Theodoropoulos Unit coordinator

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