Course syllabus for Thermochemical conversion technology

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-15 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameTermokemisk omvandling
  • CodeMEN031
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPSES
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyEnergy and Environmental Systems and Technology, Chemical Engineering with Engineering Physics, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
  • DepartmentSPACE, EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 39121
  • Maximum participants40 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0197 Examination 7.5 c
Grading: TH		 7.5 c
  • Contact examiner

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second 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

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
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

Engineering thermodynamics (including reaction processes), Energy technology, Heat transfer, Fluid mechanics, Numerical methods (including computational skills

Aim

The aim is to introduce the student to thermochemical conversion processes in applications important for industrial processes in todays and tomorrow’s society. The course covers processes like pyrolysis, gasification, cracking and combustion where the conversion aims to produce material, heat, electricity or steam. The understanding of those processes is of great importance today and a key competence in the transformation towards a future resource efficient production, waste handling and recycling.

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

  • Account for the most important fuels, their characteristics and different factors that decide their use.
  • Demonstrate basic understanding of the chemistry associated with thermochemical conversion, which includes stoichiometry, chemical equilibrium, chemical kinetics, kinetic or diffusion controlled processes and adiabatic temperature.
  • Demonstrate basic understanding of the physics associated with thermochemical conversion, which includes the conservation equations of total mass, specific species and energy, dimensionless numbers and the influence of turbulence and ways to handle it.
  • Establish and solve a scheme of basic chemical reactors for a given combustion situation.
  • Understand the criteria for ignition and extinction.
  • Understand relevant analytical concepts for basic estimations of relevant properties, and have the capability to use these for analyzing issues related to the conversion of various types of different fuels.
  • Account for the major emissions associated with combustion, their generation and destruction paths and measures to minimize pollutant emissions in different combustion devices.
  • Account for the design of different combustion devices, such as gas turbines, internal combustion engines, boilers and furnaces.
  • account for the principle design of different thermochemical conversion processes, such as gasification, pyrolysis and cracking
  • Be able to take forward a design prospect for the optimal design of a large-scale furnace given a fuel type, thermal power, design temperature and allowed emission levels.

Content

The course consists of two parts: the first, Conversion science, is related to the conversion process itself while the second, Conversion devices, is related to its applications.

Conversion science represents the main part of the course, since it is fundamental for the general understanding of the design and operation of the various devices existing. In first place, basic knowledge is given on chemistry, physics and the various fuels. This is used thereafter in the teaching of phenomena such as criteria for combustion, combustion of various fuels and generation and destruction of emissions.

Conversion devices acquaint the student with the most common techniques and designs in use today for combustion and give an overview of emerging technologies. The knowledge acquired is applied in alignment with the lectures through the calculation by students of the design of a boiler and the application of the design principles onto an emerging conversion technology.

Organisation

The course comprises four activities:

  • Lectures
  • Exercises on the separate parts of the course
  • Group exercise project on a combustion system
  • A concluding written examination

Literature

A compendium in Combustion Engineering is given to all registered students.

Examination including compulsory elements

Written examination and passed group assignments

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.