Course syllabus for Introductory chemical engineering

The course introduces concepts in Chemical Engineering process design and analysis. The course focuses on strategies for process design and the evaluation of process alternatives by assessing their economic feasibility, achievable product quality, energy efficiency, safety and environmental impact.

• Combine reaction, separation and heat exchange steps to form a simple process flowsheet based on limited information.
• Formulate and use material and energy balances and carry out degree of freedom analysis for a process consisting of reaction, separation and heat exchange steps.
• Formulate material and energy balances for a reaction carried out in an ideal batch or continuous reactor.
• Compare and evaluate the operating conditions and capacity of ideal reactors.
• Dimension ideal reactors for both liquid and gas phase reactions where density variation can occur.
• Describe the operation of distillation columns for both stage-wise and continuous contact between phases as well as the design of suitable heat exchangers for reboiling and condensation
• Define the concept of ideal stage and the conditions that must be satisfied for the concept to apply.
• Formulate the relationship for equilibrium between gas and liquid phase for ideal and nonideal systems.
• Define the concepts of free and hindered sedimentation.
• Define and explain the concept of System Engineering within the field of Chemical Engineering.
• Describe the operation of pumps and heat exchangers.
• Calculate turbopump capacity and its constraints in a process context.
• Calculate heat exchanger capacity and dimensions, even from a process economic stand point.
• Develop a process flowsheet based on information regarding component properties as well as carry out design calculations for the process flowsheet and its unit operations.
• Calculate the dimensions and capacity of Chemical Engineering unit operations.
• Evaluate different process flowsheets with a System Engineering approach.
• Carry out a simple economic analysis of a process.

The course introduces strategies for process design, conventions for depicting processes, fundamental concepts in process mass and energy balances, engineering economics concepts and important process equipment. The design equations for examples of simple process unit operations are developed such as reactors, separators, heat exchangers. Mass and energy balances for continuous and batch ideal reactors will be introduced and compared to the performance of some industrial reactors. Design calculations and analysis of separation units will be handled either as stagewise operations or as continuous contacting devices. Separation performed in single stage or multistage units will be exemplified by unit operations such as flash and distillation. The operating principles of some important process equipment will also be covered such as pumps and valves. Through examples used in the course students will gain some knowledge about industrial chemical processes especially those that are important in Sweden. Assignments will deal with specific portions of the course, but students will also integrate their knowledge from the course in a process design project. Methodology for mathematical solution of complex project models will be included.

Lectures, assignments and a project.

Chemical Reactions and Chemical Reactors, George W. Roberts, John Wiley and Sons Inc. (2008)
Henley, E. J., Seader, J., D., Roper, D.K., Separation process Principles. Third Edition. ISBN; 978-0-470-64611-3
Complimentary course material on Energy Technology available on the course homepage.

The examination comprises a written exam, two laboratory sessions, a study visit and approved workshops and projects. To pass the course passed achievements in these moments. The exam consists of theoretical and computational tasks. About 40% of the exam consists of theory tasks. To pass the exam required 50% of the exam total score of 60 points. Student receives bonus points during the year, students are first-time registered on the course that can only be used for grades 4 and 5.