MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering with Information Technology and Management degree

The aims of this module are to develop your data acquisition and analysis skills, and provide familiarity with the use of industry-standard software tools for the development of virtual instruments and operator interfaces. You will be introduced to the use of modern computer based techniques for the mass and energy balance aspects of process design using steady state process simulators.

This module may include teaching on the following topics:

• Data acquisition in chemical engineering
• Typical measurement techniques and signal types in process engineering
• Signal processing and data acquisition systems
• Use of LabVIEW for the development of virtual instruments and operator interfaces
• Representation of processes by blocks and streams
• The relationship between simulator blocks and process unit operations
• The representation of unit operations by block combinations
• The difference between steady state and dynamic simulation
• The use of simulators as properties databases
• Block types including feed and products, mixers, splitters, 2 and 3 phase flash, short cut distillation, multistage separation and reactor models
• Practical training in the use of UniSim for steady state simulation and prediction of properties

This module is designed to develop your understanding of basic principles of dynamic modelling of chemical systems. You will gain a critical appreciation of state-of-the-art software tools available for modelling and analysis of complex chemical engineering systems.

This module may include teaching on the following topics:

• Introduction to dynamic modelling of processes: material and energy balances, general form of a dynamic model (state, input and output variables, parameters, vector notation), explicit solution to dynamic models, first principles vs. empirical models
• Complex chemical engineering systems (multiple reactions, crystallisation)
• Introduction to batch reactor design and simulation
• Principles of conversion, reactor sizing and chemical kinetics
• Optimisation and control of chemical processes
• Numerical techniques in MATLAB for the solution and analysis of dynamic models
• Development of empirical models and parameter estimation in MATLAB
• Principles of control, design and tuning of a PID controller, using simulation and laboratory experiment

This module is designed to help you understand the role of logistics and supply chain management within various business contexts. We will uncover the complexities and uncertainties affecting global supply chains and you will gain a critical appreciation of the emerging trends and concepts in logistics and supply chain management.

This module may include teaching on the following topics:

• Basic concepts of logistics and supply chain management
• Supply chain strategies, including lean and agile supply chains
• Procurement and outsourcing
• Managing the global supply chain
• Supply chain relationships
• The role of logistics in supply chain management
• Transportation and distribution management
• The role of technology in supply chain management
• Performance measurement and evaluation
• Supply chain vulnerability, risk and resilience
• Sustainable logistics and supply chain systems
• Emerging trends, including new supply chain designs and ethical issues

The aim of this module is to introduce you to the fundamental concepts of strategic management and the tools required to formulate and implement management strategies in the construction sector.

This module may include teaching on the following topics:

• The development of organisational plans
• An Introduction to strategic management concepts
• Strategy formation and implementation
• External and internal environment analysis
• Financial strategies
• Decision and analytical Tools
• Corporate strategic events
• Strategic risk management
• Leadership and decision-making
• The role of team charters and framework agreements
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Case Analysis of Corporate Strategy

This module is designed to prepare you for the MSc Project module. The overall aim of the module is to enhance your general skills in technical communication, project development and planning. You will be able to identify appropriate sources of information related to your research project and critically evaluate that information. You will learn how to form a research question and gain an appreciation for how a research proposal should be designed. In addition, you will develop enhanced transferable skills in oral and written communication, and understand how to effectively communicate your research to different audiences. 

This module may include teaching on the following topics:

• How to undertake a research project
• Planning a research project, including how to generate a Gantt chart and formulate/write a research proposal
• Introduction to library services, searching for literature and referencing literature
• Different methods for communicating your research, including how to write a journal article
• Critically reviewing literature
• How to put research into context, including identifying who the key stakeholders are and how to engage them in your research
• Ethical issues in research
• Keeping a log book

The aim of this module is to provide an opportunity to undertake a research project that will explore a defined problem or research question. You will learn how to apply the appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative methods and will enhance your ability to undertake data capture and analysis. Throughout the module, you will receive training on how to effectively analyse and present your research results in an appropriate manner.

This module may include teaching on the following topics:

• Project selection
• Project planning including key milestones and literature survey
• Original research of a theoretical, experimental or computing nature leading to the achievement of objectives
• Preparation of a project report
• Producing a poster presentation to communicate the results of the work

This module provides an understanding of solid/fluid separation processes and their application to a range of industrial processes. By studying this module, you will develop knowledge and an understanding of filtration processes and gain experience of the selection, scale-up and process design of filters. You will also study detailed concepts of analysis, selection, design, sizing and scale-up in relation to physical separations, principally filtration.

This module may include teaching on the following topics:

• Making a specification of equipment from a set of data and understand how to obtain/measure such data
• Identifying the types of solid/fluid separation equipment and their principal uses, differences and ranges of applicability
• Mathematically analysing the individual selection, design, sizing and scale-up processes that enable specification of solid/liquid separation equipment
• Practically planning and executing computer laboratories
• Analysing data and incorporating the results in simulations to predict equipment performance
• Integrating theory and practice in the subject
• The use and application of methodologies and IT software dedicated to the specification of separation equipment
• Problem analysis and problem-solving

The aims of this module are to examine the various stages in the design of chemical products and to consider a generalised methodology for identifying needs, generating and selecting ideas, designing a manufacturing process for chemical products, and getting a product to market.

This module may include teaching on the following topics:

• Product design methodologies
• Introduction and industry drivers
• Changes to the chemical industries and the move towards specialty products
• A generic product design process: variants of product development, driving forces; the generic design process, product vs process design, corporate organisations
• Product planning: opportunity funnel, timing: when to develop products, product technology road map, product portfolio Identifying customer needs: gathering information, interviews, preparing for interviews, interpreting and organising information, ranking the needs
• Product specifications: needs breed metrics, revising metrics, consumer products
• Generation of product ideas: collecting ideas based on chemistry and engineering, initial screening of ideas, concept screening
• Selection of ideas: chemistry ingredient substitution, chemical triggers, reaction path strategy, engineering selection, dealing with multiple criteria, decision matrix
• Manufacturing: IP, patents & trade secrets, obtaining missing info, final specifications
• Economics: comparisons of product / process economics
• Designer rheology
• Shear deformation: response of ideal solid and ideal liquid, types of non-Newtonian response, yield stress concept
• Constitutive models: Power-law fluids and Bingham plastic
• Cross equation, shear thinning caused by reduction in structure, shear induced normal stresses, extensional deformation, viscoelasticity
• Flow patterns: with different rheologies, velocity profiles
• Structured products: microstructures, particulate suspensions, emulsions, foams, polymers - types of polymer chain, crosslinking, polymer solutions and melts, reputation Gels - change in rheology during formation of polymer gels, types of crosslinking in Gels
• Factors influencing rheology of supensions: Dispersed phase properties, continuous phase properties, surface active agent properties
• Health care products vs. commodity chemicals: biotechnology & bioengineering, molecular medicine, cell & tissue engineering, drug delivery and targeting
• Drug delivery and targeting: diffusion, controlled drug release technologies, controlled release by solute diffusion, reservoir systems, coated hemispheres, controlled release by solvent diffusion, osmotic pumps
• Sustainable Design
• Green Chemistry, green engineering, life cycle assessment and eco-design

The aims of this module are to understand the basic theory of fluid and particle mixing, consider the ways in which mixing affects the formation of structure in fluid and solid products, and to examine the processes by which particle size distributions may be altered by batch processing.

This module may include teaching on the following topics:

• Power consumption, flow patterns and blending in single phase systems
• Mixedness of fluid and particulate mixtures
• Gas-liquid dispersion and mass transfer
• Liquid-liquid dispersion with applications in emulsion formation
• Solids suspension and distribution in agitated flows
• Non-Newtonian flow effects
• CFD modelling of impeller driven agitators
• Mixing effects on product structure
• Selection of mixers for multi-purpose batch operations
• Characterisation of particulate systems: size, shape, surface properties, static failure behaviour
• Compressibility and flow; mixing and segregation of dry and wet particulates
• Particle size reduction: size enlargement through agglomeration, granulation, flocculation in agitated system

By studying this module, you will develop an in-depth understanding of the theory and practice of batch and continuous downstream unit operations employed by the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and bioindustrial sectors.

This module may include teaching on the following topics:

• Downstream processing in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries
• Cell removal (filtration)
• Cell disruption (power intensive processing with mills and high pressure homogenisers)
• Primary isolation (aqueous two phase liquid extraction, adsorption, precipitation)
• Product enrichment (chromatography)
• Final isolation (crystallisation drying)

This module has been designed to develop your understanding of the application of Colloid Science in a range of Chemical Engineering processes. By studying this module, you will develop a good understanding of molecular interactions and their manifestation in the colloidal domain. You will also learn how colloidal phenomena are manifested in the macroscopic world.

This module may include teaching on the following topics:

• Surface chemistry and monolayers
• Micelles, structure and properties
• Interactions in colloidal systems
• Bilayer systems
• Forces in colloidal systems
• Collodial stability
• Polymers and emulsions in colloidal systems

This module will enable you to gain an in-depth knowledge of the science and engineering principles of clean chemical energy conversions, primarily the electro-chemical energy storage and conversion, including batteries, capacitor, hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and bioenergy utilisation.

You will discover the applications of battery, fuel cell and hybrid systems as an enabling clean energy technology for a wide range of applications including transportation, stationary and portable power applications. You will also gain insight into the sustainability of the processes, particularly the life-cycle assessment.

This module may include teaching on the following topics:

• Introduction to clean chemical energy conversions, primarily the electro-chemical energy storage and conversion
• Major types of fuel cells including polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC), alkaline fuel cells (AFC), phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)
• Fuel cell performance behaviour, analysis and modelling
• The balance of fuel cell power plant, thermal systems design and safety, analysis of the parameters that affect the power generation
• Delivering electric power generated from the fuel cell, battery and hybrid system
• Green engineering, sustainability and life cycle assessment of bioenergy utilisation, carbon dioxide utilisation, fuel cell, battery and hybrid system integration: concepts and applications