Advanced Thermo & Reactor Engineering (CHEN90007)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
AIMS
This subject is divided into advanced thermodynamics (approximately 9 weeks) and advanced reactor engineering (approximately 3 weeks).
The laws of thermodynamics, which govern energy and the direction of energy flow, are amongst the most important fundamentals of chemical engineering that students learn during their course. This subject revises and expands the students’ understanding of the conservation of energy, learnt through subjects such as Chemical Process Analysis. In addition the students learn about the concepts of entropy and equilibrium, which form the basis for the topics of phase equilibrium, mixture properties, mixture equilibrium, reaction equilibrium and interfacial equilibrium – topics that stretch across the entire chemical engineering curriculum.
The reactor engineering component of the course focuses on heterogeneous reactions and the influence of mass transfer on chemical reactions and reaction design. The topics are solid-catalysed reactions, fluid-fluid reactions and fluid-solid reactions. During the subject, students learn about the effect of mass transfer on the overall rate of reaction and how to account for heterogeneous systems in reactor design.
The concepts covered by this subject provide the fundamental basis for chemical and process engineering and are utilised throughout all sectors of industry by engineers. This subject provides students with the ability to perform detailed calculations of complex systems to predict the performance and thus design process unit operations.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
The advanced thermodynamics component focuses on the definitions and applications of the laws of thermodynamics, especially the implications of entropy and equilibrium on phases, mixtures, chemical reactions and interfaces:
- 1st Law of Thermodynamics: Closed and open systems, Unit operations, Thermodynamic cycles
- 2nd Law of Thermodynamics: Entropy, Reversibility and Spontaneity, Gibb’s Equations, Thermodynamic Identities and Maxwell Relations
- Phase Equilibria of Pure Substances: Equilibrium Criteria, Fugacity
- Mixtures and Phase Equilibria of Mixtures: Partial Molar Properties, Gibbs-Duhem equation, Chemical Potential, Species Fugacity, Activity Coefficients, Vapour-Liquid equilibrium, Colligative Properties, Liquid-Liquid equilibrium
- Chemical Reactions and Reaction Equilibria: Equilibrium Constant, Species Activity
- Interfacial Thermodynamics: Surface Tension, Adsorption Isotherms.
The advanced reactor engineering component focuses on mass-transfer limitations in multi-phase chemical reactions and reactor design:
- Non-ideal flow in reactors
- Rate controlling mechanisms (film resistance control, chemical reaction control, surface and pore diffusion control, ash layer diffusion, shrinking core mechanisms, effectiveness factors and Thiele modulus)
- Kinetic regimes for fluid-fluid and gas-fluid reactions
- Fluid-particle reaction design
- Catalytic reactor systems.
Intended learning outcomes
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs)
On completion of this subject the student is expected to:
- Apply the laws of thermodynamics to closed and open systems including thermodynamic cycles
- Discuss a range of approaches to estimate fluid phase equilibria in one and two component systems
- Estimate the physical properties of mixtures, especially non-ideal mixtures
- Predict the equilibria of chemical reactions
- Understand and identify the different rate controlling mechanisms in reactor design
- Solve problems in the design of heterogeneous reacting systems and in particular catalytic reactor systems.
Generic skills
During this subject the student will practice the ability to:
- Provide in-depth technical competence in engineering fundamentals
- Undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
- Utilise a systems approach to design and operational performance.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEN30001 | Reactor Engineering | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
(Prior to 2010 CHEN40003 Reactor Engineering)
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEN20011 | Chemical Process Analysis | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
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: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- 10 x weekly online quizzes worth 10 marks each (10%). Each quiz reinforces the week’s lectures. Assessed weeks 2 -11. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1 to 6 are addressed
- One hour written mid-semester test (10%). Held around week 7. ILO’s 1 to 4 are addressed in the test
- One written team assignment not exceeding 1000 words per team member (10%). Time commitment of approximately 13-15 hours of work per team member. Due week 9. ILO’s 1 and 2 are addressed in the assignment
- One three-hour written closed book examination (70%). Held end-of-semester exam period. ILO’s 1 to 6 are addressed in the exam.
Hurdle requirement: A mark of 40% or more in the end of semester examination is required to pass the subject
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Gabriel da Silva Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 1 x 2 hour lecture + 2 x 1 hour lecture + 1 x 1 hour tutorial per week Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 24 July 2017 to 22 October 2017 Last self-enrol date 4 August 2017 Census date 31 August 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 22 September 2017 Assessment period ends 17 November 2017 Semester 2 contact information
Email: gdasilva@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
Estimated 200 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS
The subject is delivered through a combination of lectures and tutorials. The tutorials include aspects of student-centred learning. Regular online quizzes are used to assist student progress and understanding. Students also complete an assignment which reinforces the material covered in lectures.
INDICATIVE KEY LEARNING RESOURCES
Students have online access to lecture slides and lecture recordings through the subject LMS site. The site also contains tutorials and worked solutions for tutorials and past exams.
The key texts for the subject are:
- Sandler, S.I., 2006,Chemical, Biochemical, and Engineering Thermodynamics, 4th Edition,
- Levenspiel, O., 1999,Chemical Reaction Engineering, 3rd Edition, Wiley
CAREERS / INDUSTRY LINKS
The skills and knowledge learnt in this subject are crucial to the understanding of chemical engineering and the careers of chemical engineers. They provide the basis for solving problems of interest in nearly all industries, including petrochemical, mining and minerals processing, energy generation and pharmaceuticals, to name a few.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Doctor of Philosophy - Engineering Course Master of Philosophy - Engineering Course Ph.D.- Engineering Specialisation (formal) Chemical with Business Specialisation (formal) Chemical Informal specialisation Master of Engineering (Chemical) Informal specialisation Master of Engineering (Biochemical) Specialisation (formal) Biochemical Informal specialisation Master of Engineering (Chemical with Business) - 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.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
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: 3 November 2022