Course Title: Chemical Engineering Computer Design

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Chemical Engineering Computer Design

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

PROC2121

City Campus

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023

Course Coordinator: Prof Kalpit Shah

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 1109

Course Coordinator Email: Kalpit.Shah@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Availability: Email for appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You should have satisfactorily completed the following courses before you commence this course.

  • Chemical Engineering Fundamentals (PROC2077)
  • Mathematics For Engineers (MATH1122)
  • Reaction Engineering (PROC2083)
  • Process Thermodynamics (PROC2080)
  • Process Principles (PROC2078)

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.


Course Description

This unit will establish an understanding on the use of advanced simulation platforms in process design and control. It will help students in developing necessary computational skills to use simulation platforms for solving number of chemical engineering design and control problems for a range of industrial sectors such as oil and gas, power, petrochemicals, mining, fertilizer and pharmaceuticals. The students will develop software knowledge and skills by spending all of their time with software as well as through open-ended individual tutorial problems and industry mentoring sessions. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) (Honours) and associated double degrees for students who commenced their program prior to 2023:

1.1 Comprehensive, theory based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline.
1.2 Conceptual understanding of the, mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline.
1.3 In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
2.1 Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving.
2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) (Honours) and associated double degrees for students who commenced their program in 2023:

  • PLO1: Demonstrate an in-depth understanding and knowledge of fundamental engineering and scientific theories, principles and concepts and apply advanced technical knowledge in specialist domain of engineering. 
  • PLO2: Utilise mathematics and engineering fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to design engineering systems for complex engineering challenges.    
  • PLO4: Apply systematic problem solving, design methods and information and project management to propose and implement creative and sustainable solutions with intellectual independence and cultural sensitivity. 


On completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Apply process engineering knowledge to solve problems related to range of unit operations and plant operations.
  2. Apply the fundamentals of process modelling using numerical and computer aided design methods and techniques.
  3. Build block diagrams, process flowsheets and process models of plant operations based on conservation laws.
  4. Develop necessary skills and confidence to work with various commercial modelling packages.
  5. Make necessary decisions related to reactor design, catalyst volume, operating parameters, energy and raw materials requirement etc. based on design considerations such as product quality and throughput.


Overview of Learning Activities

You will participate in lectorials and related tutorials. You will need to work individually to perform tutorials and related questions and assignments.

The course is supported by the online learning management system.

Details of Learning Activities

Lectorials in Chemical Engineering Computer Design course are conducted to cover basics of process modelling, conservation laws, construction of block diagram and process flowsheeting and development of unsteady and steady state mass and energy balance models for various utilities and unit operations. A thorough understanding on the basics behind the construction and operation of various simulation platforms will be described. Lectorials and tutorials will be presented in problem based learning form.

Working, nearly all time with software, will provide hands-on experience and develop basic skills among students to use ASPEN Plus and similar simulation packages in process modelling area. Each lectorial and tutorial will cover a short lecture explaining the problem, its significance and theory to be used followed by performing an exercise to solve the problem. Tutorials will be followed by lectorials where students will be given a problem related to what they have been taught in the lecture. At an end of the tutorial, students will need to answer question sheet (i.e., multiple choice questions) related to the tutorial problem. The objective here is that you develop problem solving, systems thinking, teamwork and communication skills in the context of solving and analysing process engineering problem. 

 

Notes of computer-labs and tutorials and assignments answers will be provided to the students via Canvas for revisions in their own time.

 


Overview of Learning Resources

Lectorials and tutorials.


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

The assessment in this course is comprised of several assignments.    Assessment Tasks  

Assessment Task 1: Mid-semester Test (timetabled assessment) - (Multiple Choice Questions, Short Questions and Computer Based Simulation Problems) 

Weighting 30% (Multiple Choice Questions – 5%, Short Questions - 5% and Computer Based Simulation Problems – 20%)

This assessment task supports CLOs 2, 3, 4 and 5

Assessment Task 2: Assignment 2 (Computer Based Simulation Problems) 

Weighting 30%

This assessment task supports CLOs 2, 3, 4 and 5

Assessment Task 3: Final Test (timetabled assessment) - (Multiple Choice Questions, Short Questions and Computer Based Simulation Problems) 

Weighting 40% (Multiple Choice Questions – 5%, Short Questions - 10% and Computer Based Simulation Problems – 25%)

This assessment supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5