MEng Chemical Engineering with Energy and Environment

Students work in groups, normally of four, undertaking a selection of seven hands-on experiments:

• One 2-Day preliminary experiment (formative-only)
• Two 1-Day experiments (individual report)
• Three 2-Day experiments (groupwork report)
• One DCS experiment

 

The 1-Day and 2-Day experiments include:

- Mixing and emulsification,

- Froth flotation tanks,  

- Electrochemical water treatment,  

- Gas absorption,

- Continuous distillation,

- Rotary Filtration,

- Cooling tower,  

- Boiling heat transfer,  

- Refrigeration/heat pump,

- Thin film evaporator,

- Bioreactor

 

All students take part in a DCS experiment – a demonstration of an industrial distributed control system (DCS) – either using it for 3-tank level control or to control a semi-batch reactor. A number of the experiments listed above also involve the use of the DCS.

Relevant support material on topics such as industrial temperature measurement and analysing data are is provided. 

The unit aims to:

Develop understanding of real equipment, data analysis, and problem solving, and industrial distributed control systems through hands-on use of small-scale demonstration equipment and large-scale experimental rigs in the pilot plant, followed by followed by analysis of the data obtained.  It also aims to develop teamwork and report writing skills.

Students will be able to:  

ILO1. Identify the safety and environmental hazards presented by a laboratory and specific experiments and deal with the risks responsibly.

ILO2. Given a problem to be addressed by operating a large-scale chemical engineering rig or piece of laboratory equipment, devise an experimental approach.

ILO3. Demonstrate competence in the operation of large-scale engineering rigs and laboratory equipment.

ILO4. Record experimental results in a laboratory notebook to a professional standard, giving an appropriate level of detail

ILO5. Use instruments and the human senses to gather information and make sound (order-of-magnitude) engineering judgements about the quality and uncertainties of the experimental results and form conclusions.

ILO6. Identify unsuccessful outcomes due to faulty equipment, and where possible devise effective solutions.

ILO7. Analyse data accurately, propagating errors using appropriate methods and make order-of-magnitude estimates of the results to check the reliability of calculations.

ILO8. Identify and describe the sources of systematic and random error and estimate their magnitude.

ILO9. Identify the strengths and limitations of the theoretical model for an experiment as a predictor of the measured behaviour.  

ILO10. Communicate the work effectively to the intended audience, describing the methodology, presenting the results, and interpreting them.

ILO11. Work effectively in teams, forming a structure and accepting joint accountability; assigning roles, responsibilities and tasks, monitoring progress; meeting deadlines and integrating individual contributions to the final report.

ILO12. Demonstrate exemplary professional behaviour through high ethical standards of conduct, including the objective reporting of information and interacting with integrity and respect.

 

Based on: L. Feisel and G. Peterson, A Colloquy on Learning Objectives For Engineering Education Laboratories, American Society for Engineering Education, 2002.

Teaching Activities

Introductory Lecture - 1 hour
Feedback tutorial on the initial laboratory report - 1 hour
Laboratory work - 44 hours
Independent study (preparing for experiments/temperature worksheet) - 15 hours
Coursework (electronic worksheets, writing reports) - 139 hours

Total for module - 200 hours

 

Assessment task	Weighting within unit
Experimental reports and electronic worksheets	97%
Work with the Distributed Control System	3%

Reading lists are accessible through the Canvas system linked to the library catalogue.

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2027 will be £10,050 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £39,700 per annum.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

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