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  2. Reaction Engineering [ENS3113]

School: Engineering

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Reaction Engineering

  • Unit Code

    ENS3113

  • Year

    2017

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    3

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

    N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Hongqi SUN

Description

Reaction engineering deals with the performance analysis and design of equipment for carrying out chemical reactions. The analysis involves principles of chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer as well as fluid mechanics. In this unit the basic principles of chemical kinetics and reaction equilibrium are covered, and then various ideal reactors in which the complexities arising from resistances associated with fluid flow as well as heat and mass transfer are sequentially introduced. Both homogeneous as well as heterogeneous catalytic systems are considered.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass ENS2160 AND one unit from ENS3110 OR ENS5556

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Calculate the thermodynamic limit of a given reaction at given conditions.
  2. Write reaction rate equations for common types of homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions.
  3. Calculate the conversion for an ideal isothermal reactor starting from a general mass balances.
  4. Formulate a residence time distribution from tracer experiment results and use it to predict conversion in a non-ideal reactor.
  5. Combine mass and energy balances to calculate the conversion in an ideal non-isothermal reactor.
  6. Identify the mechanisms involved in a heterogeneous reaction and formulate an effective rate equation.
  7. Calculate the impact of changing solid (or fluid) properties on the conversion of a heterogeneous reaction.
  8. Specify/design the configuration of a reactor to achieve optimal fluid flow, mixing, heat transfer and mass transfer for a given reaction(s).

Unit Content

  1. The chemical reactor and the concept of reaction rate.
  2. Reaction equilibrium, rates and stoichiometry.
  3. Analysis and design of batch reactors.
  4. Plug-flow and continuous stirred tank reactors.
  5. Isothermal flow reactors and non-ideality: design and behaviour.
  6. Non-ideal reactor behaviour: mixing and residence time distributions.
  7. Non-isothermal chemical reactors: energy balances and temperature changes.
  8. Catalysis and heterogeneous reactors: analysis of reaction rates in single catalytic particles and the design of catalytic reactors.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, tutorials and group based laboratory work.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentCoursework assignments (to solve problem sets)20%
Laboratory WorkLaboratory work and reports15%
TestMid-semester test25%
Examination ^End of semester examination40%

^ Mandatory to Pass

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

ENS3113|3|1

School: Engineering

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Reaction Engineering

  • Unit Code

    ENS3113

  • Year

    2017

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    3

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

    N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Hongqi SUN

Description

Reaction engineering deals with the performance analysis and design of equipment for carrying out chemical reactions. The analysis involves principles of chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer as well as fluid mechanics. In this unit the basic principles of chemical kinetics and reaction equilibrium are covered, and then various ideal reactors in which the complexities arising from resistances associated with fluid flow as well as heat and mass transfer are sequentially introduced. Both homogeneous as well as heterogeneous catalytic systems are considered.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass ENS2160 AND one unit from ENS3110 OR ENS5556

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Calculate the thermodynamic limit of a given reaction at given conditions.
  2. Write reaction rate equations for common types of homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions.
  3. Calculate the conversion for an ideal isothermal reactor starting from a general mass balances.
  4. Formulate a residence time distribution from tracer experiment results and use it to predict conversion in a non-ideal reactor.
  5. Combine mass and energy balances to calculate the conversion in an ideal non-isothermal reactor.
  6. Identify the mechanisms involved in a heterogeneous reaction and formulate an effective rate equation.
  7. Calculate the impact of changing solid (or fluid) properties on the conversion of a heterogeneous reaction.
  8. Specify/design the configuration of a reactor to achieve optimal fluid flow, mixing, heat transfer and mass transfer for a given reaction(s).

Unit Content

  1. The chemical reactor and the concept of reaction rate.
  2. Reaction equilibrium, rates and stoichiometry.
  3. Analysis and design of batch reactors.
  4. Plug-flow and continuous stirred tank reactors.
  5. Isothermal flow reactors and non-ideality: design and behaviour.
  6. Non-ideal reactor behaviour: mixing and residence time distributions.
  7. Non-isothermal chemical reactors: energy balances and temperature changes.
  8. Catalysis and heterogeneous reactors: analysis of reaction rates in single catalytic particles and the design of catalytic reactors.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, tutorials and group based laboratory work.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentCoursework assignments (to solve problem sets)20%
Laboratory WorkLaboratory work and reports15%
TestMid-semester test25%
Examination ^End of semester examination40%

^ Mandatory to Pass

Core Reading(s)

  • Fogler, H. S. (2016). Elements of chemical reaction engineering. (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River N.J: Prentice Hall.

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

ENS3113|3|2