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Biochemical Engineering Design Project (BIEN90002)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 25On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Dr Colin Scholes
Email: cascho@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
AIMS
This unit requires the students to undertake a major design task utilising the knowledge gained throughout the Biochemical engineering course. This comprises the following tasks: design of a process to meet a specified requirement; feasibility study of alternative processes which meet the specification; determination of sequence for investigation of a chemical manufacturing project and preparation of a report; consideration of environmental impacts and sustainability issues; preparation of flowsheets; confirmation of effects of market forecasts; economic evaluation; preparation of estimates for the minimisation of capital and production costs; specification of equipment; selection of construction materials; and specification of instrumentation location, staff and labour requirements and safety precautions. The HYSYS simulation package will be utilised where appropriate. There will also be a series of lectures on various aspects of design.
This subject forms the major capstone design project for the Chemical engineering Discipline and closely simulates the design procedures the graduate students will undertake in chemical industry process and design engineers. The pre-requisites ensure that the students bring together all of the undergraduate knowledge and skills imparted in earlier years of the degree program. All aspects of the safe and environmentally responsible design of a chemical process plant are covered in this unit through project based learning. Through a careful sequential approach, the students develop a feasibility study, an initial process scoping and development report, and finally, a detailed design report. Team work is emphasized throughout to mimic the typical team environment the students will encounter in the work place.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
No new topics of a technical nature are introduced into this unit. The unit requires the students to integrate their skills and knowledge from earlier units into a single, design project executed in a team environment. The content therefore includes:
- A feasibility study which includes market analysis, plant location and health and safety assessment and preliminary economic evaluation of the proposal
- A process development report which includes the assessment of technology options to produce the required product, a mass and energy balance of the proposed process, as evaluation of the environmental impact of the process, a safety analysis, and a detailed process flow diagram of the proposed process
- A detailed design report including the detailed process and mechanical design of a unit operation with the process, the full process control and operation as well as process and instrumentation diagram of the process, specification of all minor equipment items in the process, a full HAZOP of a section of the plant, a full economic analysis and sensitivity study of the proposed plant.
This subject has been integrated with the Skills Towards Employment Program (STEP) and contains activities that can assist in the completion of the Engineering Practice Hurdle (EPH).
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject the student is expected to:
- Complete a chemical engineering feasibility study for a proposed product/process
- Conduct a process development assessment and mass and energy balances to determine the overall scope and intent of the project
- Carry out the integrated process and equipment design for an industrial chemical process, which is initially poorly-defined and for which much of the design data is not available
- Function as part of a team and manage their time effectively
- Apply all of the hard and soft skills acquired in earlier units in an integrated way to develop a full chemical plant design package
Generic skills
- Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
- Ability to apply principles of chemical engineering to the design and specification of equipment and/or processes which have not previously been encountered
- Ability to utilise a systems approach to design and operational performance
- Ability to function effectively as an individual and in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, with the capacity to be a leader or manager as well as an effective team member
- Understanding of the principles of sustainable design and development
- Capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning
- Openness to new ideas and conventional critiques of received wisdom.
Last updated: 5 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
One of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
CHEN90012 | Design and Construction of Equipment | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
CHEN40005 Process Equipment Design (prior to 2010)
AND
One of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
CHEN90013 | Process Engineering | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
CHEN40007 Process Engineering (Prior to 2010)
AND
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
CHEN90007 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
CHEN90022 | Chemical Engineering Design Project | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
25 |
CHEN40009 Design Project
BIEN40002 Biomolecular Engineering Design Project
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 5 April 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
First Report: Team report submission of a feasibility study of up to 30 pages. Peer assessment is required and considered in the marking of these reports. Intended learning outcomes (ILOs) 1 to 5 are addressed in this report. Due approximately one third of the way through the semester (on or around week 4)
| Week 4 | 15% |
Second Report: Team report submission of up to 100 pages (not including supporting material such as appendices, diagrams, tables, computations and computer output). Peer assessment is required and considered in the marking of these reports. ILOs 1 to 5 are addressed in this report. Due approximately two thirds of the way through the semester (on or around week 8)
| Week 8 | 30% |
Final Report: Individual report submission of up to 100 pages (not including supporting material such as appendices, diagrams, tables, computations and computer output). Report includes components generated as a team. ILOs 1 to 5 are addressed in this report.
| End of semester | 55% |
Hurdle requirement: An aggregate mark of 50% or more is required to pass the subject. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Last updated: 5 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Colin Scholes Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 1 x 2 hour lecture + 1 x 3 hour consultation session per week Total time commitment 400 hours Teaching period 22 July 2024 to 20 October 2024 Last self-enrol date 2 August 2024 Census date 2 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 September 2024 Assessment period ends 15 November 2024 Semester 2 contact information
Dr Colin Scholes
Email: cascho@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
Estimated 400 hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
A self-learning engineering design project, conducted as a team, aided by lectures and consultation sessions.
Last updated: 5 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
None
Recommended texts and other resources
None
- Subject notes
LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS
The subject is developed through team work and through a series of lectures, guest speakers, and weekly consultancy sessions. The deliverables in the project are managed carefully and teams are expected to meet deadlines as required during the unit. The consultancy sessions include meetings with industry engineers to provide real-work input into the students design and decision making process.
INDICATIVE KEY LEARNING RESOURCES
Prior to the start of this unit, a substantial database of technical reports, journal articles, web sites and patents is set up. These are all relevant to the particular chemical/biological process being evaluated. Students have access to this database through the subject LMS site upon the start of the project. In addition, lecture notes and weekly consultancy sessions with experienced engineers provide additional resources for their learning. All lecture notes, discussion, progress updates etc are communicated through the project LMS site.
CAREERS / INDUSTRY LINKS
The unit is run in close consultation with industry engineers both with respect to setting up the project as well as weekly consultancy sessions with industry engineers. Guest lecturers from industry are also invited to convey the industry relevance of the project undertaken.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Specialisation (formal) Biochemical - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 5 April 2024