Advanced Chemical Engineering with Information Technology and Management MSc

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.

In this module, you will cover:

• An introduction to 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
• Relationship between simulator blocks and process unit operations and the representation of unit operations by block combinations
• Difference between steady state and dynamic simulation
• Use of simulators as properties databases
• Discussion of block types such as 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

Assessment

• Computer based assignment LabVIEW (50%)
• Computer based assignment UniSim (50%)

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.

In this module, you will cover:

• 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
• Examples in 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

Assessment

• Group modelling and design project (50%)
• Optimisation project (50%)

The overall aim of the module is to enhance the student's general skills in technical communication, project development and planning. Students will be able to identify appropriate sources of information related to their research project and critically evaluate that information, appreciate how a research question is formulated and a research proposal is therefore designed, develop transferable skills in oral and written communication, and appreciate how to effectively communicate their research to different audiences. This module is preparation for the MSc Project module.

In this module, you will cover:

• Undertaking a research project
• Planning a research project (including how to generate a Gannt chart and formulate, and then 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 the literature
• Putting your research into context, including identifying who the key stakeholders are and how to engage them in your research
• Ethical issues in research
• How to keep a log book

Assessment

• Research Proposal (30%)
• Literature Review (70%)

The aims of this module are:

• To understand the role of logistics and supply chain within various business contexts
• To identify and analyse the complexities and uncertainties affecting global supply chains
• To have a critical appreciation of the emerging trends and concepts in logistics and supply chain management
• To develop relevant transferable skills

In this module, you will cover:

• Basic concepts of logistics and supply chain management
• Supply chain strategies, 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

Assessment

One coursework assignment comprising of a written report (25%) and a two-hour written examination (75%)

The aim of this module is to introduce the student to the fundamental concepts of strategic management and the tools for formulating and implementing strategies within the construction sector.

This module will provide an introduction to Strategic Management within a construction context. This will involve 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.

Assessment

• Examination (50%)
• Coursework (30%)
• Presentation (20%)

On completion of this module, you should have a knowledge and understanding of the design of a research project to explore a defined problem or research question, as well as the application of appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative methods and techniques of 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.

In this module, you will cover:

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

Assessment

Coursework (100%)

This module provides a detailed understanding of solid/fluid separation processes as applied to a range of industrial processes. Throughout the module, you will develop knowledge and 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.

On completion of the module, students should have sufficient knowledge to:

• Make a specification of equipment from a set of data and understand how to obtain/measure such data
• Identify the types of solid/fluid separation equipment and their principal uses, differences and ranges of applicability
• Mathematically analyse the individual selection, design, sizing and scale-up processes that enable specification of solid/liquid separation equipment
• Practically plan and execute computer laboratories
• Analyse data and incorporate the results in simulations to predict equipment performance
• Integrate theory and practice in the subject
• Use and apply methodologies, IT and software dedicated to the specification of separation equipment
• Demonstrate problem analysis and solving.

Assessment

• Coursework (100%)

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

In this module, you will cover:

• Product design methodology Introduction and industry drivers
• Changes to the chemical industries and the move towards specialty product
• 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, eco-design.

Assessment

• Coursework (100%)

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.

In this module, you will cover:

• Power consumption, flowpatterns 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 systems

Assessment

• Coursework (20%)
• Exam (80%)

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.

In this module, you will cover:

• 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)

Assessment

• Exam (100%)

This module has bee designed to develop your understanding of the application of Colloid Science in a range of Chemical Engineering processes.

In this module, you will cover:

• 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

Assessment

• Coursework (100%)

This module has been designed to 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.

Assessment:

• Coursework (25%)
• Exam (75%)