MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering

Year of entry: 2025

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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

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	Weighting with unit
Test	20%
Continuous assessment	30%
Final Exam	50%

Feedback methods

Within 15 working days

Study hours

Independent study hours
Independent study	150

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Hosameldin Anwar Mohamed Abdel Aleem	Unit coordinator
Dongda Zhang	Unit coordinator

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