CHE2162 · Material and energy balances

Overview

This unit introduces the fundamentals of material and energy balances through a structured exploration of chemical process systems. Topics include steady-state and transient processes, single- and multiple-unit operations, reactive and non-reactive processes, recycle and bypass operations, extent of reaction, equations of state, vapour–liquid and solid–liquid phase equilibria, and internal energy and enthalpy changes associated with variations in temperature, pressure, phase, reaction, and chemical composition. Computer-aided process simulation is incorporated to support the analysis of material and energy balances for more complex chemical processes.

Areas of study: E3001 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Specialisation: Chemical engineering E6011 Master of Professional Engineering - Specialisation: Chemical engineering

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

Continuous assessment: 60% Final assessment: 40% This unit contains threshold hurdle requirements that you must achieve to be able to pass the unit. You are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final assessment component. The consequence of not achieving a hurdle requirement is a fail grade (NH) and a maximum mark of 45 for the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Apply the basic concepts of conservation of mass and energy, including phase equilibrium, reaction equilibrium and non-ideal gas behaviour to mass and energy balances.
2. Apply the concepts of unit operations to combine them into a block flow diagram and process flow diagram of a chemical process.
3. Interpret physical property charts and diagrams to solve problems based on phase equilibrium, refrigeration and heat pump cycles.
4. Analyse the mass and energy balances of any chemical process, for both steady and unsteady state situations.
5. Simulate processes using a process simulation software to analyse the mass and energy balance of complex chemical processes and report the results in a technical report.
6. Interpret experimental measurements of mass, energy and chemical composition and report the results in a lab report.

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.