The focus of this module is on the principles of conceptual design and flowsheet development, which often represent the most 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.

On completion of this module, the student is expected to be able to:

• carry out a systematic approach to design selection according to the chosen assessment criteria
• undertake a structured approach to designing the reaction, separation and recycle aspects of a flow sheet
• employ “Pinch Technology” methods to the overall targeting of hot and cold utility requirements and to heat exchanger capital costs, which would then involve the design of a simple heat exchanger network (HEN)
• apply a methodical approach to “retrofit” designs as well as to "new" designs (including an understanding of the special features of batch processes)

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 an appreciation of the broader context or macro level in which process design takes place, and in particular look 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 between CPD and process design.

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; the role of process simulators in process design; the importance of project life-span; the distinction between “commodity” chemical and chemical product.

On completion of this module, the student is expected to be able to:

• show an understanding of the structured approach to the design of batch and semi-batch processes
• recognise the importance of wider implications, such as geographical location and stakeholder roles
• appreciate the linkage of “key principles”: green engineering, ethics, professionalism and sustainability
• demonstrate knowledge and apply the principles of chemical product design

This module covers essential skills and knowledge for project scoping, with a focus on the University’s Strategic Themes and Values leading to preparation for the individual research project. It will include the following topics:

Introduction to Ethics and Sustainability

• including sessions on plagiarism and the use of AI tools
• library skills including databases such as web of science, Scopus; referencing tools such as Endnote

Workshops on Literature Searching and Academic Writing

• library skills including databases such as web of science, Scopus; referencing tools such as Endnote

Project Planning

• resource planning, Gantt charts and scoping
• including sessions on writing skills 

Proposal Writing

• including sessions on writing skills

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

• an examination of some major incidents which have occurred over recent years and the breaches of the management systems in each case
• 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. 

This module aims to provide students with foundational knowledge of hydrogen technologies and their role in the transition towards a sustainable energy future, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Students will explore the technological, economic, and environmental aspects of hydrogen production, storage, distribution, and utilization. The course will emphasize the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration, data-driven and AI-assisted decision-making, and self-directed learning.

By the end of the module, students will have gained the theoretical knowledge, skills, and understanding of national and global contexts necessary to contribute to the development and implementation of hydrogen technologies in various sectors, as well as to broader challenges in decarbonization and sustainable development. They will also develop an understanding of the future job market and be prepared to identify opportunities for further training and specialization in the field of hydrogen engineering.

This module aims to introduce the fundamentals of combustion engineering, and the concepts and applications of clean combustion technologies. On completion of the module, the student is expected to be able to:

The module will teach the following:

• combustion chemistry
• gaseous fuel combustion
• premixed Flames; Diffusion Flames
• solid fuel combustion
• gasification & Syngas upgrading
• pollutant Emissions and Control
• advanced combustion technologies

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of hydrocarbon production processes from the reservoir through to a well. As petroleum engineering covers a very broad range of interdependent topics, this module focuses on introducing students to the fundamental concepts of reservoir engineering and well performance that underpin the production of hydrocarbons from subsurface reservoirs. Students will be introduced to how these same concepts can be applied to energy transition-related subjects, such as carbon storage.

The module will teach the following:

• introduction to petroleum reservoir engineering
• hydrocarbon phase behaviour and fluid properties
• production mechanisms and material balance
• fluid flow through porous media
• introduction to well test analysis
• well inflow performance
• well vertical lift performance
• applications in the energy transition

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 module introduces the methods used to predict environmental impacts, and evaluates how these may be used to integrate environmental factors into decisions. The module 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 module discusses how EIA can be used a pro-active design tool for projects and how it can contribute to the enhancement of environmental, social and health issues. The module 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.

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, galvanic cells and the Nernst equation
• 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

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

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

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

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 in applying and using risk analysis methods during his time with Scottish Power and Natural Power.

The module will be assessed in two ways. First, a group assignment will test student’s ability to develop a full risk analysis for a technological system. Second, an exam will assess student's understanding of key concepts and methods discussed in the course.

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; and corporate business and financial strategies, including mergers, acquisitions and restructuring as aspects of financial engineering and corporate business management. The module will also look into the implications of the occurrence of financial crises at corporate, national and global levels for the financial engineering practice. 

Learning Objectives

• understand issues in financial engineering and ability to analyse the significance of financial engineering in terms of the macro and micro aspects of economic activities
• identify and analyse issues arising from the financial accounts and reports of companies
• identify sources and methods of raising project finance and the implications of these for business and financial risk
• analyse the principles underlying the operation of financial/capital markets
• identify and evaluate financial strategies and instruments for corporate risk management
• explain business sustainability in terms of the imperatives of financial engineering

This module aims to develop students 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 teach the following:

• an introduction to environmental engineering for solving industrial challenges
• environmental legislation
• circular economy
• resource efficiency
• pollution control technologies

This module will teach the following:

• From micro to macro – the need for microstructural characterisation.
  
  • The what, why and the how microstructures control everything about material properties
• 2D Characterisation methods
  
  • SEM, EPMA and other 2D methods, chemical and physical properties, non-destructive vs. destructive analysis.
• Topic 3: Diffraction based techniques
  
  • XRD and compositional/structural analysis.
• 3D Characterisation methods
  
  • X-ray tomography, 2D analysis through time, other 3D techniques.
• Image based quantification for materials characterisation
  
  • Image analysis and quantification methods for 2D and 3D.
• Synchrotron based materials characterisation
  
  • How synchrotrons work, applications of synchrotron science for materials characterisation.
• In situ analysis – Understanding changes
  
  • 2D, 3D and 4D Non-destructive in situ testing methods.
• Using modelling in materials characterisation
  
  • Overview of FEM, DEM, CFD techniques and how they can be applied to microstructural characterisation.
• Microstructural Solutions for Sustainability Challenges