CHEM ENG 3034 - Kinetics and Reactor Design

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2020

This course aims to establish fundamental knowledge of reaction engineering and kinetics for students in chemical engineering and pharmaceutical engineering. Chemical reactions occur in different phases including the gas phase, in solutions with different solvents, between interfaces including gas-solid and liquid-solid, and other interfaces in solid and liquid states. Presentation of the course starts by introducing the chemical reaction engineering algorithm and then utilises it to solve problems in both steady and unsteady state isothermal and nonisothermal reactors. Collection and analysis of reaction rate data, complex mechanisms and bioreactors are also discussed. At the end of the course catalysis is introduced as well as the effects of combined diffusion and reactions on catalyst particles.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code CHEM ENG 3034
    Course Kinetics and Reactor Design
    Coordinating Unit School of Chemical Eng and Advanced Materials(Ina)
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 4 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible CHEM 3017
    Course Description This course aims to establish fundamental knowledge of reaction engineering and kinetics for students in chemical engineering and pharmaceutical engineering. Chemical reactions occur in different phases including the gas phase, in solutions with different solvents, between interfaces including gas-solid and liquid-solid, and other interfaces in solid and liquid states. Presentation of the course starts by introducing the chemical reaction engineering algorithm and then utilises it to solve problems in both steady and unsteady state isothermal and nonisothermal reactors. Collection and analysis of reaction rate data, complex mechanisms and bioreactors are also discussed. At the end of the course catalysis is introduced as well as the effects of combined diffusion and reactions on catalyst particles.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Philip van Eyk

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

     
    1 Interpret and analyse chemical and biochemical reaction kinetics data;
    2 Apply reaction kinetics principles in chemical and biochemical reaction engineering;
    3 Identify and formulate problems in chemical and biochemical reaction engineering and find appropriate solutions; and
    4 Specify and size the most common industrial chemical and biochemical reactors to achieve production goals for processes involving homogeneous or heterogenous reaction systems.

     
    The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer.
    The course is designed to develop the following Elements of Competency: 1.1   1.2   1.3   1.4   1.5   1.6   2.1   2.2   2.3   2.4   3.2   3.3   3.4   3.5   3.6   

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    2, 4
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1-4
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1-4
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    2-4
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1-4
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1-4
  • Learning Resources
    Recommended Resources
    Textbook

    Fogler, HS, 2005, Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering, 4th Edition, Prentice Hall

    Reference Book

    Schuler, ML & Kargi, F, 2002, Bioprocess Engineering, 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall.

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    No information currently available.

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Activity Contact Hours Workload Hours
    Lectures 22 44
    Tutorials 16 32
    In-class test 2 10
    TOTAL 40 86
    Learning Activities Summary
    Topic 1: Introduction and Design Fundamentals

    ·           Process design of reactors: relationship between laboratory data, pilot-plant data and commercial plant.  Classification of reactors: method of operation, shape, and phases in the reaction mixture.  Examples of industrial chemical and biochemical reactors. Terminology: rate, order, molecularity, conversion, yield, and selectivity.  Mole balances, rate laws and stoichiometry.

    Topic 2: Isothermal batch reactor

    ·           Derivation of the design equation.  Calculation of reactor size for known kinetics and specified production rate.

    Topic 3: Isothermal tubular plug-flow reactor (PFR)

    ·            Derivation of the design equation for steady-state plug flow.  Comparison with batch reactors.  Space velocity, space time, mean residence time.   Operation of multiple reactors.

    Topic 4: Isothermal continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR)

    ·           Derivation of the design equation for steady-state well-mixed flow.  Operation of multiple reactors.  Comparison of PFR and CSTR.

    Topic 5: Reactor design for multiple reaction systems

    ·           Parallel, series, and reversible reactions, and combinations thereof.  Elimination of time as an independent variable. Optimisation of product distribution via control of concentration and contacting patterns.

    Topic 6: Bioreactions and bioreactors

    ·          Reaction mechanisms, pathways and rate laws; details of enzyme reactions; pharmacokinetics.  Bioreactor fundamentals and design equations.

    Topic 7: Non-isothermal reactor design

    ·           Influence of temperature on kinetics.  Factors affecting choice of reactor operating temperature land range.  Means of keeping a reaction mixture at designed temperature levels.  Adiabatic and non-adiabatic reactors.  The non-isothermal CSTR: heat generation and heat removal for different reaction types; autothermal operation – “ignition” and “extinction”; relationship between conversion and temperature; energy-balance and mass-balance combination. The non-isothermal batch reactor: calculation of conversion by graphical and integration methods. The non-isothermal PFR: conversion as a function of temperature and reactor length for simple and complex reactions.  Runaway reactions.

    Topic 8: Catalysis and catalytic reactors

    ·       Catalysts, catalysis and catalytic reaction steps.  Rate law, mechanism and rate-limiting step for catalytic reactions.  Heterogeneous data analysis for reactor design. Porous and nonporous catalysts: internal and external diffusion effects on heterogeneous reactions. Heterogeneous reactor design: packed bed and fluidized bed reactors.  Pressure drop.  Catalyst poisoning.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Weighting (%) Individual/ Group Formative/ Summative
    Due (week)*
    Hurdle criteria Learning outcomes
    On-line Theory Quizzes 5 Individual Formative 2-12 1. 2. 3. 4.
    Tutorials 20 Group Formative 3 -7, 9-13 1. 2. 3. 4.
    Mid-Semester Test 15 Individual Summative 7 1. 2. 3. 4.
    Final Exam 60 Individual Summative 13 1. 2. 3. 4.
    Total 100
    * The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.
     
    This assessment breakdown complies with the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy.

    Due to the current COVID-19 situation modified arrangements have been made to assessments to facilitate remote learning and teaching. Assessment details provided here reflect recent updates.

    To support the changes to teaching, the following revisions to assessment have been made:-

    Quizzes: these will remain online quizzes based on the theory content. The percentage these are worth will increase to 10% of the final grade.

    Tutorials: these will remain the same written solutions to problems posed each week. The percentage these are worth will stay at 20% of the final grade.

    Mid Semester Test: this will be a timed online test in Week 7 of the course and will cover the first half of the content. Because it is
    online it will necessitate it being Open book. You will be required to submit attachments for working as well as some spreadsheets using Excel. Methods are currently being developed to ensure it is your own individual work. The percentage this will be worth will go to 20% of the final grade.

    Final Exam: this will be a timed online exam in the exam period and will cover the whole course content. Because it is online it will
    necessitate it being Open book. Similar to the Mid-Semester Test, you will be required to submit attachments for working as well as some spreadsheets using Excel. Methods are currently being developed to ensure it is your own individual work. The percentage this will be worth will reduce to 50% of the final grade to account for the different style of exam than conventional exams.
    Assessment Detail

    No information currently available.

    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.