MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering

The focus of this module is on the principles of conceptual design and flowsheet development, which often represent the most difficult and challenging aspects of process design. The first stage is to define “design” and the associated terminology, and to show how this can be applied to both equipment and process selection. The second stage is to develop an appreciation of the hierarchical and structural methods of developing conceptual designs including the effective design of utility systems to reduce energy use.

The module will teach the following:

• terminology of design
• hierarchy of process design: block flow diagrams (BFDs), process flow diagrams (PFDs)
• input-output structures of flowsheets
• choice of reactors and separators
• reaction, separation and recycle systems
• hot and cold utility systems
• energy utilisation to minimise utility and overall capital costs
• retrofit design
• batch process design

Lecturer: TBC
Assessment: exam (70%) and course work (30%)

The focus of this module is on the wider implications of process design. The first stage is to consider how batch and semi-batch processes are represented and described, including special factors when compared with continuous processes. This will also include start-up and shut-down procedures in continuous processes. 

The second stage will provide appreciation of the broader context or macro level in which process design takes place, and in particular looking at the conceptual phase which stakes cognisance of geography, stakeholders, politics, access to infrastructure, economic drivers, logistics, legislation etc., as some of the factors which influence the major process design decisions. The second stage will also provide a framework for how major projects are executed from conceptual to detailed design.

The third stage is to define chemical product design (CPD) and show the similarities/differences. The module will teach the following:

• terminology of batch and semi-batch processes
• design procedures for batch and semi-batch processes
• consider case studies in which the geographical location is a key design factor
• energy utilisation in batch and semi-batch processes
• role of process simulators in process design
• importance of project life-span
• distinction between “commodity” chemical and chemical product
• CPD and process design

Assessment: Project Proposal 100%

The module will cover the following items relevant to project scoping. These discussions will be embedded in supervisory discussions:

Safety, risk assessment and COSHH

Scientific document preparation using software and IT technologies relevant to the project: i.e. Microsoft office, imaging and statistical software, data presentation with relevant error  analysis, mathematical tools such as Matlab, Mathcad, LaTeX

Library skills

Databases such as e.g. web of science, web of knowledge, Scopus

Referencing using e.g. BibTeX

Proposal writing

Gantt charts and how to prepare them using e.g. xfig

Project costing

Ethical issues such as academic good practice and academic malpractice – ethics, plagiarism and sustainability

Assessment: Project 100%

The module will teach the application of core and advanced chemical engineering principles within a research setting.

On completion of the module you're expected to be able to:

1. demonstrate an ability to work across subject boundaries in response to specific technical problems
2. have an critical awareness of how to develop a research model and have an ability to apply analytical and modelling tools and techniques appropriately to  a specific research problems
3. be able to present a business case in support of proposals generated by research

This module aims to provide students with an appreciation of how chemical engineering processes operate at a molecular scale and how the molecular scale eventually determines what happens at the process scale. It will emphasise the usefulness of Molecular Simulation in a chemical engineering context and discuss its power as a predictive tool. The module will cover the theoretical framework that underlies molecular simulations, thermodynamics, and hence most of chemical engineering, namely basic statistical mechanics; it will also deepen students’ concepts of modelling engineering processes, in this case through molecular modelling and intermolecular potentials. Last, but not least, the module will further develop several transferrable skills that will be useful in students’ subsequent careers: technical writing, team work, oral communication, data analysis, critical thinking.

The module will teach the following:

• introduction to molecular simulations, including typical molecular simulation conventions, such as periodic boundary conditions, pair potentials, potential and kinetic energy, local ‘microscopic’ density, and equilibration
• an introduction to molecular dynamics simulation including the ‘Velocity Verlet’ integration algorithm, simulation thermostats, and how to set-up an MD simulation
• molecular modelling, including; when to use classical models of molecules (as opposed to quantum simulations), typical force-fields used for simulating molecules
• fundamental concepts in statistical mechanics including; microstates and the fundamental postulate of statistical mechanics, the definition of entropy and free energy, the Boltzmann weight, standard ensembles and ensemble averages, the link and difference between statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, the Maxwell-Boltzmann velocity distribution, the equipartition theorem, and the virial theorem
• how to use Etomica molecular dynamics applets
• fundamental aspects relevant to the etomica applet applications, including thermodynamic aspects of adsorption, osmosis, interfacial tension and surfactant adsorption
• data analysis, especially analysis of time-series and statistical error, including; ensemble averages, standard deviation, block averages, correlation in data, standard error, propagation of error, linear regression
• the role of entropy in ‘driving’ chemical engineering processes

Lecturer: Mr Dedis
Assessment: coursework

This module aims to give students a good understanding of some fundamental aspects of the petroleum industry by covering the following topics:

• reservoir characterisation and classification
• properties of reservoir fluids
• properties of reservoir rocks
• flow through porous media
• well performance
• single and multi-phase pipe flow
• artificial lift systems

This module aims to provide an advanced level exposure to the role of management and management systems in Safety and Loss Prevention.

An examination of some major incidents which have occurred over recent years and the breaches of the management systems in each case are explored. Introduction to the role of managers in Safety and the Environment and the meaning of Managing for Safety. Review of the general structure of Safety Management Systems and a general approach to Auditing Safety Management. How to develop a Site Emergency Plan and the skills needed to Investigate Accidents. The role of Human Factors in the process and the concept of Inherently Safety/Less Environmental Harmful Design. A review of the legal structure in Britain and of some of the Major Acts and Regulations.

On completion of this module you're expected to be able to:

• understand the concept of audit of systems/process/operations
• carry out advanced hazard identification exercises
• produce a simple safety case for a process plant

This module aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of scientific programming and in particular its application to optimisation in engineering applications.

The module will teach the following:

• getting started with Excel 2007 and the Visual Basic Editor
• fundamentals of programming: if, do loops, arrays etc
• algorithm development
• house-keeping: communicating with spreadsheets
• stochastic searches in one dimension
• local versus global maxima
• constraints
• optimisation in higher dimensions
• engineering applications

Lecturer: Dr Li
Assessment: exam (80%) and coursework (20%), including a presentation

This module aims to introduce the fundamentals of combustion engineering, and the concepts and applications of clean combustion technologies. The module will teach the following:

• combustion chemistry and calculation of the adiabatic flame temperature
• laminar & turbulent flames - the concepts of ignition, flame extinction and instabilities
• getting started with solid fuel combustion, theoretical analysis of carbon particle combustion at the surface and intraparticle driven by mass and heat transfers
• theory of gasification & pyrolysis - learn to build pyrolysis/gasification model of a single particle at various boundary conditions
• key factors that affect gasification process and syngas upgrading technologies
• combustion associated pollutant emissions, and their formation mechanisms and prediction
• boiler designs, including CFB boiler and PC boiler & their performances
• theory of the high temperature air combustion technology & its application

You will also get chances to conduct self-learning on three combustion-relevant advanced technologies:

• integrate gasification combined cycle process
• selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR)/selective catalytic reduction (SCR)
• chemical looping combustion

Lecturer: Dr Brightman

This module provides an overview of electrochemical energy conversion devices, including batteries, fuel cells and electrolysers for energy storage and generation.

The course will introduce important concepts in electrochemistry as applied to energy devices and will discuss engineering solutions for devices and systems.

The module will teach the following:

• Thermodynamics - equilibrium electrochemistry and galvanic cells
• Kinetics - Faraday’s Law and current-voltage relationship
• Energy devices - overview of different battery, fuel cell and electrolysis technologies, including commercial/industrial applications and their place in the energy landscape
• Device design, diagnostic methods and modelling
• Technoeconomic aspects of the hydrogen economy and grid scale energy storage

Assessment: coursework (20%) and exam (80%)

Lecturer: Dr Wong
Assessment: coursework (50%) and project (50%)

This module aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge to be able to undertake the following learning outcomes:

• demonstrate a good understanding of project management practices and practical skills to manage project scope
• gain intellectual skills to apply various project planning, scheduling and controlling methods with respect to the project triple constraints: time, cost and quality
• develop a good understanding of the inter-dependency between various project management knowledge areas
• understand the importance of project stakeholders and their impact on project management

This will be achieved through the following key areas:

• introduction to project management principles, concepts and processes
• project management and organisations: organisational influences, project stakeholders, project team, and project life cycle
• project scoping: project definition, project objectives, project deliverables, and work breakdown structure
• project planning and scheduling: definition of events, activities and nodes, network diagram, analysis of critical path, PERT method, and use of industry standard software packages
• project controlling: cost estimate, budget setting, risk identification and assessment, and contingency planning
• case studies/practical examples in project management

Lecturers: Dr Megiddo & Professor Walls
Assessment: coursework (50%) and examination (50%)

This module aims to introduce the fundamental techniques of risk management and risk-informed decision making.

Under health and safety legislation, and under the wider European Post-Seveso Directives, it is mandatory for many industries to carry out risk assessments with the aim of showing that risk is “as low as reasonably practicable”. Students will have the opportunity to learn the general principles of methods and their place in risk management, as well as the chance to develop skills in applying these methods to a variety of engineering examples.

The module is split into two distinct sections:

• initially the focus will be on learning the modelling approaches and methods used by industry currently to manage risk
• latterly we shall consider tools and techniques that are gaining popularity in industry but are not yet widespread

Throughout the module, the basic principles of uncertainty and consequence modelling are considered together with the tools and techniques required to apply these principles. Industry standard processes and software tools are discussed, and illustrated by relevant case studies.

Euan Fenelon, Director of Asset Management for Natural Power will present his experiences on applying and using risk analysis methods during his time with Scottish Power and Natural Power.

Lecturer: Dr João
Assessment: examination (50%), coursework (3%) and project (47%)

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) relates to the process of identifying, evaluating, and mitigating the biophysical, social, economic, cultural and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made.

This class provides an introduction to the methods used to predict environmental impacts, and evaluates how these may be used to integrate environmental factors into decisions. The class draws principally on the UK planning context of environmental impact assessment of individual projects (project EIA), but also takes account of EIA experience in other countries and international organisations.

Participants evaluate the quality of environmental statements and of the EIA process using the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Management (IEMA) methodology. The class discusses how EIA can be used a proactive design tool for projects and how it can contribute to the enhancement of environmental, social and health issues. The class has the contribution of key practitioners in the field and includes different case studies such as mining, roads, and on-shore and off-shore windfarms.

Lecturer: Dr Zawdie
Assessment: coursework (50%) and examination (50%)

This module explores financial options and strategies for ensuring the solvency and financial sustainability of business ventures. It covers topics including financial reporting and financial accounting in relation to the wider issues of corporate behaviour and corporate governance. Also covered are:

• financial instruments
• asset valuation
• capital project financing and methods of raising capital
• capital structure and gearing
• financial risk management
• elements of portfolio management
• corporate business and financial strategies, including mergers, acquisitions and restructuring as aspects of financial engineering and corporate business management

Lecturer: Derek McNab

Assessment: 100% Coursework

This module aims to develop your understanding of environmental engineering for solving industrial challenges. Environmental engineering, in this module, is defined as the branch of engineering that is concerned with protecting the environment from the potential deleterious effects of industrial activity, protecting human populations from effects of adverse environmental factors, and improving environmental quality for human health and well-being.

The module will achieve these aims through providing you with:

• an introduction to environmental engineering for chemical engineers working in industry
• an understanding of the key pieces of environmental legislation for industry
• an understanding of the resource efficient practices industry can adopt to reduce their environmental impact and operational cost
• an understanding of the opportunities to industry from embracing the circular economy. An understanding of the pollution control technologies available to industry to reduce their environmental impact

On completion of the module you're expected to be able to:

1. Understand and describe the main environmental and legislative issues for chemical engineers working in the industrial sector.
2. Understand the role of resource efficiency and the circular economy in making the industrial sector more sustainable.
3. Understand and describe the main environmental technologies used for pollution control (and the scientific and engineering principles used) to reduce the environmental impact from contaminants arising from industrial activity in the air, land and water.

Recommended reading:

• Fuel Cell Fundamentals (Ryan O'Hayre, Suk-Won Cha, Whitney Colella, Fritz B. Prinz)
• Oxford Chemistry Primers: Electrode potentials (Richard G. Compton and Giles H. W. Sanders)
• Electrochemical engineering (Thomas Francis Fuller and John Naim Harb)