ENGR4001: Engineering Science
- Terms Taught: Michaelmas
- US Credits: 5 US Semester credits
- ECTS Credits: 10 ECTS
- Pre-requisites: A Level / high school equivalent maths, physics, subject to agreement of School of Engineering
The following modules are available to incoming Study Abroad students interested in Engineering.
Alternatively you may return to the complete list of Study Abroad Subject Areas.
This module aims to help students to develop an understanding of the basic principles of chemical engineering with respect to chemical reaction in homogeneous systems; enhance their problem solving skills; they will be able to develop their analytical skills, improving their ability to extract useful "information" from "data"; they will learn how to synthesise the information gained into new knowledge and designs; communicate their conclusions to both an expert and non-expert audience; and to apply this knowledge to real world situations.
Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
This module provides the students fundamental skills on formulate rate laws of chemical reaction engineering, covering key concepts and practical applications essential for designing and analysing reactors. Students will explore reaction kinetics, including simple integer and non-integer order reaction rates, and gain an understanding of how to classify reactions based on their characteristics. The course delves into ideal reactor systems such as batch and continuous reactors, with a focus on graphical interpretation of design equations and the principles of reactor sizing. Through the study of homogeneous reactions, students will examine systems of continuous reactors, including those arranged in series, parallel, or with recycle streams.
Emphasis is placed on the analysis of multiple reactions, exploring crucial concepts such as conversion, selectivity, and yield. Students will learn to design and evaluate reactors for various reaction systems, including series, parallel, independent, and mixed reactions, integrating energy balance considerations for isothermal and adiabatic reactors. Practical applications are further extended to continuous reactors.
The module addresses non-ideal reactor behaviours, offering insights into the complexities of real-world systems. Students will study advanced topics, such as the pseudo-steady-state hypothesis (PSSH), as well as main differences of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, equipping them with a comprehensive understanding of the reaction engineering principles and their applications.
The module employs a balanced assessment approach comprising a progress test, two-hour end-of- term examination and an individual coursework project. This strategy reflects the module's dual emphasis on assessing practical applications of chemical reactors with homogeneous reactions.
The progress test covers the fundamentals delivered in the first five weeks of the module, and the examination evaluates students' grasp of fundamental principles and analytical problem-solving capabilities, assessing all outcomes, but focusing on learning outcomes related to analysis. The coursework projects complement this by evaluating practical competence and application skills. The project focuses on chemical reactors design and modelling using computational tools and software packages. The coursework allows students to demonstrate their ability to solve reaction engineering problems using industry-standard tools whilst developing essential professional skills in analysis, design, and technical communication.
This assessment strategy ensures comprehensive evaluation of all learning outcomes while maintaining academic rigour and professional relevance, reflecting the practical and theoretical demands of modern chemical engineering practice.