The engineering of chemical reactions

ChE-340 / 4 crédits

Enseignant: Chappuis Thierry

Langue: Anglais

Summary

This course applies concepts from chemical kinetics and mass and energy balances to address chemical reaction engineering problems, with a focus on industrial applications. Students develop the ability to analyze and design chemical reactors of industrial importance.

Content

  1. Introduction
    Profile of Chemical Industry
    Chemical Processes
    Basics of Chemical Reaction Engineering
    Chemical reactions, mole balance equations
    Ideal chemical reactors

     

  2. Reaction kinetics and Rate Laws
    Reactant conversion in closed and open systems
    Influence of expansion Basic rate laws-formal reaction kinetics
    Transformation in closed and open systems
    Determination of reaction kinetics
    Quasi steady state assumption for complex reaction systems
    Homogeneous catalysis  / enzyme kinetics

     

  3. Isothermal Reactor Design-Simple reactions
    Batchwise operated stirred tank reactor (BR)
    Continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR)
    Plug flow reactor (PFR)
    Cascade of CSTR
    Combination of PFR and CSTR
    PFR with recycling
    Semi batch stirred tank reactor

     

  4. Isothermal Reactor Design-Multiple reactions
    Introduction
    Parallel reactions, one reactant
    Parallel reactions several reactants
    - semi-batch reactors
    - cross flow reactors
    Consecutive reactions
    Consecuttive competing reactions

     

  5. Nonisothermal Reactor Design
    Batchwise operated stirred tank reactors
    introduction, energy balance
    adiabatic reactors
    reactor with heat exchange, zero order (Semenov criteria)
    - time to maximum rate
    - reactor with heat exchange, isoperibolic reactors (n>0)
    reactor stability, parametric sensitivity,  reactor run-away (n>0)
    semi-batch reactors for highly exothermic reactions
    Plug-flow reactors
    Continuous stirred tank reactors

 

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

  • Introduction to Chemical Engineering (ChE-201),
  • Introduction to Transport Phenomena (ChE-204),
  • Chemical Thermodynamics (CH-241),
  • Chemical Kinetics (CH-342)

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

  • Compute reactor size for required conversion
  • Compute reactor space time
  • Compare perforace of different reactors
  • Assess / Evaluate effect of concentration and temperature on reactor performance
  • Design reactors for stable operation
  • Design reactors for high product yield and selectivity

Transversal skills

  • Assess progress against the plan, and adapt the plan as appropriate.
  • Set objectives and design an action plan to reach those objectives.
  • Use a work methodology appropriate to the task.
  • Evaluate one's own performance in the team, receive and respond appropriately to feedback.
  • Give feedback (critique) in an appropriate fashion.
  • Demonstrate a capacity for creativity.
  • Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
  • Make an oral presentation.

Teaching methods

Powerpoint lectures

Clicker questions during lecture

Example and team exercises

Practice homework problems

 

 

Assessment methods

Course Project: 25%
Mid-term: 25%
Final Exam: 50%

Resources

Bibliography

Ressources en bibliothèque

Notes/Handbook

copy of the presented slides

copy of exercises and solutions

Moodle Link

Dans les plans d'études

  • Semestre: Printemps
  • Forme de l'examen: Pendant le semestre (session d'été)
  • Matière examinée: The engineering of chemical reactions
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Exercices: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: obligatoire
  • Semestre: Printemps
  • Forme de l'examen: Pendant le semestre (session d'été)
  • Matière examinée: The engineering of chemical reactions
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Exercices: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: obligatoire

Semaine de référence

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