Course syllabus for Bioreaction engineering

Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-07 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameBioreaktionsteknik
  • CodeKKR092
  • Credits9 Credits
  • OwnerTKBIO
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyBioengineering, Chemical Engineering
  • ThemeEnvironment 1 c
  • DepartmentBIOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 48129
  • Maximum participants70
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0124 Laboratory 1.5 c
Grading: UG
1.5 c
0224 Written and oral assignments 1.5 c
Grading: UG
1.5 c
0324 Examination 6 c
Grading: TH
6 c
  • 15 Jan 2025 am J DIG
  • 16 Apr 2025 am J DIG
  • 22 Aug 2025 am J DIG

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Physical chemistry, applied microbiology and transport phenomena.

Aim

The aim of the course is that students should gain fundamental knowledge about chemical and biotechnological process and reaction engineering, especially the effects of reactor design, mode of operation and mixing characteristics on chemical and biological reactions. Furthermore, the course aims to facilitate quantitative analysis and optimisation of reacting systems, which are necessary for sustainable and environmentally benign utilisation of natural resources.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

After completing the course, the students should be able to

  • calculate stoichiometry, yields, turnover, and reaction kinetics in chemical and biotechnological reactors
  • estimate the effects of different factors on mass and heat transfer, and explain the theoretical basis for these effects
  • optimise reactor systems in terms of reactor size, modes of operation, temperature, flow rates, and recirculation
  • simulate cell growth, substrate consumption and product formation in batch, fed-batch and continuous reactors, using mathematical modelling on a microscopic (reactions and cell metabolism) as well as a macroscopic (bioreactor) level
  • reflect on how dynamic mass and energy balances and optimisation of reactors and reactor systems influence the use of resources like water, raw materials and energy
  • plan and perform experiments in bioreactors using good laboratory practice. Critically analyse experimental results and conclusions

Content

  • chemical and biotechnological reactors
  • dynamic and stationary mass and energy balances in ideal stirred tank and plug flow reactors
  • microbial cultivation techniques
  • mathematical modelling (micro- and macroscopic)
  • kinetics of growth and product formation
  • optimisation
  • mass transfer
  • biotechnical monitoring techniques
  • industrial processes
  • non-ideal reactors
  • residence time distributions

Organisation

The course consists of lectures, tutorials, assignments, computer simulations, and laboratory work. The lab deals with aerobic and anaerobic batch cultivation of yeast. The assignments and computer simulations deal with mathematical modelling and simulation of biotechnical processes, partly using Matlab.

Literature

Refer to course homepage.

Examination including compulsory elements

The final grade is based on the written final exam, which contains calculations (ca. 90%) and descriptive (ca. 10%) questions.

Students must also pass the compulsory assignments, simulations and laboratory work. The lab is examined via the assignments and a lab report in which students describe the experiments and calculate, for example, reaction rates and yields from their own experimental results. Detailed instructions will be given during the course.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.