Technical chemistry, 15 Credits

Contents

This course introduces the core principles and foundational concepts of chemical engineering, with a particular emphasis on chemical reaction engineering and unit operations. Students will explore chemical processes in the context of industrial applications, while gaining the skills needed to address future challenges in sustainable chemical engineering. The course aims to equip students with the knowledge and tools necessary to tackle more advanced topics as they progress in their studies.This course covers the fundamental principles and concepts of chemical engineeringengingeering, providing the student with the tools and knowledge needed to address future technical challenges. The course focuses on material and energy balances, the basic principles of transport phenomena from both a microscopic and macroscopic perspective, unit operations and separation processes, apparatus and reaction technology with ideal reactors, and basic process diagrams. The course will consist of two modules, consisting of both distance-based lectures and problem-solving exercises, as well as computer based and on campus laboratory sessions. The course will prepare the students for more advanced topics in chemical engineering as well as real-world applications, and showcase provide insight to relevant industrial facilities offering insights into industrial production, process design and the scaling up of chemical processes. 

The course is structured into two modules:  

Module 1: Theory (12 ECTS)  
This theoretical module focuses on the material and energy balances, along with the core principles of transport phenomena - including mass, heat, and momentum transfer. These topics will be examined from both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives, with particular attention to the implication for common unit operations, apparatus, and reaction technologies. Students will also learn to visualize and the relationship between chemical reactions and unit operations by interpreting basic process diagrams. 

Module 2: Laboratory Exercises in Chemical engineering (3 ECTS). 
This module involves hands-on and virtual laboratory work, focusing on examples of chemical reaction engineering and common unit operations. The students will gain practical experience in planning, conducting and analysing experiments and how to formally present the results in written and oral formats.     

Expected learning outcomes

After completing the course the student should be able to:  

Knowledge and Understanding: 

The student should be able to   

• Formulate material and energy balances for basic chemical processes. 
• Explain the fundamental principles of transport of mass, heat, and momentum both on a macroscopic and microscopic scale, and quantitatively apply Newton's law of viscosity, Fourier's law of heat conductivity, and Fick's law of mass diffusion. 
• Explain the physical principles of typical unit operations, including distillation, absorption, and filtration. 
• Describe the technology and design principles of chemical reactors and apparatus.  
• Create and interpret basic process flow diagrams. 
• Discuss and justify the choice of reactor type in a chemical process based on factors such as cost, production volume, yield, reaction order, and side reactions. 
• Define and explain basic principles and laws of thermodynamics in chemical engineering contexts. 
• Identify various forms of energy and describe mechanisms of energy transfer and transformation in chemical processes. 
• Use thermodynamic principles to determine energy and exergy in closed and open systems. 
• Use thermodynamic principles to evaluate efficiency, feasibility, and sustainability. 
• Understand the concept of entropy and use it to predict spontaneity of chemical processes.  

Skills and Abilities: 

The student should be able to   

• Apply and solve material and energy balances, including their application to reactive and non-reactive systems. 
• Understand the concepts of fluid flow, heat transfer, and mass transfer, and their relevance to transport phenomena in chemical engineering. 
• Describe the operation, design, and performance evaluation of common unit operations such as distillation, absorption, and filtration. 
• Analyse kinetic data with ideal reactor models to calculate reaction time, reactor volume, and yield. 
• Effectively communicate results from the labs in written and oral formats. 
• Analyze thermodynamic processes, such as phase changes, based on physical properties of pure substances. 

Evaluative Ability and Approach: 

The student should be able to:   

• Assess the performance of different reactor types based on factors such as yield, selectivity, safety, and economic considerations. 
• Be able to integrate chemical reaction engineering principles and unit operations to develop comprehensive solutions for complex chemical processes, ensuring sustainability and efficiency. 
• Demonstrate an ability to approach problem-solving with a consideration of technical, economic, and environmental factors, ensuring responsible engineering practices in terms of safety and sustainability.Communicate complex thermodynamic concepts and their implications for sustainable and efficient engineering solutions. 

Required Knowledge

<p> 30hp including Fundamentals of chemistry 15hp and Sustainable development for engineers 7.5hp. English 6/B and Swedish are general entry requirements (if the course is offered in swedish)</p>

Form of instruction

The course will be given as a distance-based course, and will consist ofpart-time study (50%). It contains: 

Digitall Lectures: Introduce theoretical concepts and principles. 

Digitalt Tutorials: Problem-solving sessions focused on applying concepts to real-world scenarios. 

Laboratory Work: Both in-person laboratory eExperiments and virtual computer simulations will be used to  demonstrateing key concepts thermodynamic principlesin chemical engineering., with an emphasis on sustainability. The laboratory work will be performed in groups and summarized in a written reports and in an oral seminar. 

Group Project: Design of a sustainable process or system, applying thermodynamic principles presented orally. 

Examination modes

Examinations consist of individual written exams, as well as written and oral presentations of laboratory work.  

For the written exam, engineering students receive one of the following grades: Fail (U), Pass (3), Pass with Merit (4), or Pass with Distinction (5). All other students receive one of these grades: Fail (U), Pass (G), or Pass with Distinction (VG). Laboratory work is graded as either Pass (3 or G) or Fail (U). To pass the course, students must pass all examinations and complete both modules. The final grade is based on the results of the written exam. 

Examinations are conducted through written exams, written presentations of laboratory work, and group projects. For the written exam, students are given one of the following grades: Fail (U), Pass (G), or Pass with Distinction (VG). Laboratory work is graded Pass (G) or Fail (U) based on the written report. Group projects are graded Pass (G) or Fail (U) based on the group presentation. The written exam is assessed based on the written response to a given question in the final exam and is graded Fail (U), Pass (G), or Pass with Distinction (VG). To pass the course, all examinations and the above-mentioned compulsory sections must be passed. The final grade is based on the results of the written exam. In the case of absence from any compulsory section of the course, the examiner will decide whether the student will be given compensatory assignments or will have to redo the missing parts at a later time. 

Examiners may decide to deviate from the modes of assessment in the course syllabus. Individual adaption of modes of assessment must give due consideration to the student's needs. The adaption of modes of assessment must remain within the framework of the intended learning outcomes in the course syllabus. Students who require an adapted examination must submit a request to the department holding the course no later than 10 days before the examination. The examiner decides on the adaption of the examination, after which the student will be notified. 

Other regulations

In the event that the syllabus ceases to apply or undergoes major changes, students are guaranteed at least three examinations (including the regular examination opportunity) according to the regulations in the syllabus that the student was originally registered on for a period of a maximum of two years from the time that the previous syllabus ceased to apply or that the course ended.