Outline

Overview

This unit of study focuses on the understanding of the key concepts of reaction engineering in process design. It covers key principles of reaction kinetics, including reaction mechanisms, temperature and concentration dependence of chemical reactions, and catalysis effect in reactor design. This course employs an integrated approach in combining the basic principles of material and energy balance, thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, and fluid mechanics with those of chemical reaction kinetics to help students select and design the most suitable reactor for a particular reaction system. It provides an introduction to reactor design through topics, such as ideal batch reactors (constant and varying volume), stoichiometry and reaction mole balance equation, single and multiple reaction systems, catalysts and catalytic reactions, and using experimental reaction data to estimate rate laws. Students will learn how to design continuous isothermal and nonisothermal reactors, variable density reactors, multiple reactors in series and parallel, mixed flow reactors in series, recycle reactors, and carry out size comparisons of ideal reactors and optimisation of operating conditions.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	CHNG9303
Academic unit	Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	CHNG3803 OR CHNG5803
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	CHNG9201 and CHNG9202 and CHNG9204. Mass and energy balances, physical chemistry, physics.
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Raffaella Mammucari, raffaella.mammucari@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam	Final exam	50%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Lab report	10%	Multiple weeks	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Weekly assignments	16%	Multiple weeks	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Small project	4%	Week 06	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
In-semester test	In-session exam	20%	Week 08	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Weekly assignments: These assignments will consist of mostly calculative exercises. Students are encouraged to engage in collaborative learning during allocated tutorial times.

No late submissions of weekly assignments are accepted.

Small project: Calculative exercise on the optimization of a reaction system.

In-session exam: Students will be required to complete a summative assessment of ability to identify, formulate and solve reaction engineering problems from 1st principles.

Students that fail to attend the in-session exam and are granted Special Consideration will be required to sit a replacement exam (no marks adjustments).

Lab report. Students will work in teams of 3 on a reaction engineering practical exercise. Each team is required to attend one laboratory session and will submit a report on the experiment conducted. Lab reports are due the week after the corresponding lab session.

Final exam: The final exam will test the student’s ability to solve questions of a similar nature to the projects, and to apply the techniques learnt in this course to new problems.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

When allowed, late submissions attract 5% late penalty/day. Submissions over 10 days late get 0. No late submissions are accepted for weekly assignments.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to reaction engineering	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 02	Reaction Equilibrium and Kinetics	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 03	Single Ideal Reactors	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 04	Size comparison/combination of ideal reactors	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 05	Multiple Reaction Systems	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 06	Non-isothermal reactions	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 07	Non-isothermal reaction systems (2hrs)	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	recap (Lecture) Mid session exam (Tutorial time)	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 09	Non-isothermal systems part 2	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 09	Estimate rate laws by using experimental reaction data	Practical (1 hr)
Week 10	Non-ideal reactors	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 10	Estimate rate laws by using experimental reaction data	Practical (1 hr)
Week 11	Solid catalysed reactions-Packed bed reactors	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 12	Process intensification	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 13	Recap Practice exam	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance at and participation in lectures and tutorials is required.

Attendance requirements are waived for students impacted by travel restrictions.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Readings for this unit can be accessed in electronic format through the university Library and the eReserve available on Canvas.

Texbook:

Octave Levenspiel, Chemical reaction engineering. Wiley, 9781601199218.

Recomended reference:

Fogler, H. Scott, Elements of chemical reaction engineering. Boston, Prentice Hall, 9780133887822.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. Apply key concepts and principles of reaction engineering to evaluate reactor designs and operating conditions for given reaction systems
LO2. Determine equilibrium conditions in reactive systems from thermodynamic criteria
LO3. Model reaction engineering systems
LO4. Carry out size comparisons of ideal reactors
LO5. Optimize operating conditions for ideal reactors
LO6. Estimate rate laws by using experimental reaction data
LO7. Communicate effectively in writing

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

since this unit was last offered more worked out examples have been provided throughout the semester

Additional information

More information related to this unit will be provided in class and on the Canvas site

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this unit

Site visit guidelines

There are no site visit guidelines for this unit

Work, health and safety

There are no specific work health and safety requirements for this unit

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

CHNG9303: Reaction Engineering

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect