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CHE
393
Chemical Process Synthesis
This course provides students with essential knowledge that they will subsequently apply in their capstone design course, description of the chemical process industries, product design, process creation, process assessment (health and safety, environmental protection, economic aspects), management of engineering projects, preparation of the design report, process heuristics, separation trees, pinch technology, heat exchanger networks, HAZOP.
Prerequisites:
0600209,0640291,0640324,0640345
0640393
(3-0-3)

Prerequisites by Topic:

  • Heat and mass transfer
  • Chemical reaction kinetics
  • Thermodynamics
  • Engineering economics

Textbook(s):

Analysis, Synthesis, and Design of Chemical Processes. Turton, Bailie, Whiting, Shaeiwitz, Bhattacharyya, 4^th edition, Prentice Hall PTR, 2014.

Reference(s):

Product & Process Design Principles. Seider, Seader, Lewin, and Widagdo, 3^rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2009.

Topics Covered:

  • Review of ChE 291 topics (3 hrs)
  • Chemical Product Design - Chapter 4 (4 hrs)
  • Understanding Process Conditions -- Chapter 6 (4 hrs)
  • Heuristics for Process Synthesis -- Chapter 11 (6 hrs)
  • Synthyesis of PFD from Generic BFD -- Chapter 12
    • Information Needs and Sources -- 12.1 (1 hr)
    • Reactor Section -- 12.2 (1 hr)
    • Separation section -- 12.3 (4 hrs)
    • Other sections of generic BFD (3 hrs)
  • Advance topics using process simulators -- Chapter 16 (6 hrs)
  • Reactor performance -- Chapter 23 (4 hrs)
  • Engineering ethics -- Chapter 25 (3 hrs)
  • Process safety -- Chapter 26:
    • Fires and explosion -- 26.3 (1 hrs)
    • Process hazard analysis -- 26.4 (3 hrs)
    • Process safety: Complete selected topics in level 2 of SAChE online courses.

Assessment Criteria:

  • Assignments/mini-Projects 20%
  • Term Exams/Projects 40%
  • Final Exam/Project 40%

Course Objectives:

  1. To equip students with prerequisite skills needed to undertake their capstone design projects [1,2,3 ].
  2. To develop an understanding of the principal technical factors underlying the selection of a chemical process required to meet specified product requirements [1,2].
  3. To enable students to assess a chemical process from the viewpoints of safety, environmental impact and economics [3].

Performance Criteria:

Objective 1:

Students will be able to:

1. Source and report technical and commercial information relevant to chemical plants and processes (2, 7)

2. Enable to use advance process simulation tools such as real reactors and rigorous distillation to design a close to real processes. (2)

3. Enable to use economic tools in process simulators. (2, 4)

Objective 2:

Students will be able to:

1. Create basic product and process specifications (1, 2, 4, 7).

2. Evaluate factors that determine the choice of process route (1, 2, 4, 7)

3. Understand the importance of utilities and efficient energy and materials utilization in chemical plant design (1, 2)

4. Design a plant layout starting from a simple flowsheet (1, 2).

Objective 3:

Students will be able to:

1. Assess the principal hazards associated with a chemical plant (1, 2, 4)

2. Apply the capital and operating costs and profitability of a complex chemical process alternatives (1, 2, 4)

ABET Category Content

Engineering Design 3 Credits or 100%

Course Classification

Student Outcomes Level (L, M, H) Relevant Activities
1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics. Apply basics of chemistry and engineering to design a reactor, and set its optimized operating conditions. Apply basic sciences and engineering to develop PRF from BFD
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors. Design reactors with safety considerations Design separation sequence based on heuristics and economic considerations. Simulate a chemical process with performing economical analysis. Design several alternatives and compare based on several factors include safety, public health, economics
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences. Project reports and presentations
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts. Summarize several engineering codes of ethics and compare between them. Present a case study and explain the different ethical arguments based on understanding of: Moral autonomy, Mobile truth, Whistle -- Blowing, Other ethical heuristics, and more.
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives. Perform projects and report its results as a team.
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies. Obtain technical and commercial information relevant to chemical products, plants, and processes. Obtain SAChE online course certificates (level 2): namely 1. Toxicological Hazards 2. Chemical Reactivity Hazards 3. Fire Hazards 4. Explosion Hazards 5. Source Models