Early clearing information

This course is available through clearing for home and international applicants

If you already have your exam results, meet the entry requirements, and are not holding an offer from a university or college, then you may be able to apply to this course.

Contact the admissions team

Master of Engineering (MEng)

MEng Chemical Engineering with Energy and Environment

Engineer a future with a special focus on energy and environment.

  • Duration: 4 Years
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: H8F4 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Study abroad
  • Scholarships available
  • Accredited course

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Course unit details:
Process Synthesis

Course unit fact file
Unit code CHEN30031
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 3
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

The unit builds on knowledge & skills of core chemical engineering concepts (material & energy balances, chemical reaction engineering, chemical thermodynamics) & of chemical process design (process simulation, economic evaluation & inherently safer design).

The unit provides an overview of product & process design challenges and of approaches for process synthesis and optimisation. There is focus on reaction pathways, selecting reaction & separation technologies & on heat integration & application of the principles for inherently safer design for chemical process synthesis.

A group exercise provides a case study for initial appraisal of a design.

  • Introduction to process synthesis
  • Reaction process selection
  • Separation process selection
  • Heat integration and the utility system
  • Development and evaluation of reaction–separation–recycle flowsheets
  • Inherently safer design – application to process synthesis
  • Process design optimisation

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Process Design & Simulation CHEN21112 Pre-Requisite Compulsory

Aims

This unit aims to:

  • Help students develop understanding of and skills in chemical process synthesis, design, evaluation and optimisation
  • Support integration of chemical process design knowledge and skills already acquired
  • Provide an opportunity for students to propose a design concept for further exploration within the Design Project course unit (CHEN30012&CHEN30132)

 

Learning outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • Develop, simulate, evaluate, analyse and improve process flow sheets using appropriate methods and tools.
  • Analyse important interactions and trade-offs in process synthesis and design
  • Identify hazards and propose inherently safer design solutions
  • Explain key decisions to be made during process synthesis, evaluation and optimisation
  • Use a logical approach to select technologies, operating conditions and flowsheet configurations for continuous processes
  • Apply heat integration techniques in process design
  • Appraise process flowsheets, considering safety and relevant performance criteria
  • Explain the role of optimisation in chemical process design and set up relevant problems

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures - 24 hours

Assessment (Revision/Preparation) - 32 hours

Independent Study - 44 hours

Assessment methods

Assessment task

Length

Weighting within unit

Mid-semester Exam Style Assessment

-

20%

Final Exam

-

80%

Feedback methods

Marked test returned 2 weeks later

Project selection (start of Sem. 2)

Recommended reading

Core Reading

Smith, R., Chemical Process Design and Integration, 2nd edition, 2016, Wiley, ISBN-13: 978- 1119990130 [Kortext]

Essential Reading

Towler, G.P. and Sinnott, R.K., Chemical Engineering Design: Principles, Practice and Economics of Plant and Process Design, 5th edition, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2012, ISBN-13: 978-0080966595 [Online via Elsevier Science Direct Books]

All reading lists now must be managed through the library tool at: https://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/using-the-library/staff/reading-lists/ 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 24
Independent study hours
Independent study 44

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Wennie Subramonian Unit coordinator
Xiaolei Fan Unit coordinator

Return to course details