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Unit of study_

CHNG4802: Chemical Engineering Design A

In the overall design process, chemical engineers must clearly understand the (often complex) interactions and trade-offs that occur between technical, economic, social and environmental considerations. The capstone design projects are spread over two units of study (Chemical Engineering Design A and B) run in first and second semester. These units of study build on concepts in each of these areas introduced in previous years but with an emphasis on their successful integration within a comprehensive design activity. The primary aim of the first unit of study (Chemical Engineering Design A) is to consider the challenge of process selection and feasibility including both technical and broader issues- with an emphasis on creating and evaluating a range of alternative options that exist at both the unit operation and complete flowsheet levels. The primary emphasis in the subsequent unit of study (Chemical Engineering Design B) is on process design and including how non-technical considerations affect the final process design and its operation. By the end of both units of study a student should be able to develop a wide range of alternative conceptual designs for a given product specification and market analysis, have an appreciation of how to evaluate process alternatives at the conceptual level with a view to creating a 'short-list' worthy of more detailed technical investigation, be familiar with the use of process flowsheeting software to compare alternative designs , appreciate the fact that technical considerations are only one component in an overall successful design project and be able to clearly present the results from both individual and group work in oral/written formats. This unit of study is part of an integrated (two semester) fourth year program in chemical engineering design whose overarching aim is to complete the 'vertical integration' of knowledge- one of the pillars on which this degree program is based.

Code CHNG4802
Academic unit Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
? 
CHNG3801 AND CHNG3804 AND CHNG3806
Corequisites:
? 
CHNG3802 AND CHNG3803 AND CHNG3805
Prohibitions:
? 
CHNG4203

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. work as a team to produce a process design
  • LO2. recognise the fact that technical considerations are only one component in an overall successful design project
  • LO3. illustrate the links between process selection, commercial feasibility and environmental impact
  • LO4. clearly present the results from both individual and group work in oral/written formats
  • LO5. identify the technical and financial trade-offs that exist in complex flowsheets
  • LO6. apply theory of hazard assessment and hazard operability studies
  • LO7. develop a wide range of alternative conceptual designs for a given product specification and market analysis
  • LO8. evaluate process alternatives at the conceptual level with a view to creating a ‘short-list’ worthy of more detailed technical investigation
  • LO9. use process flowsheeting software to compare alternative designs, including the potential benefits of both process modification (e.g. by heat integration) and process optimisation and factorial cost estimation.