CHEMMAT 302 : Advanced Process Engineering

Engineering

2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An in-depth analysis of selected topics that influence the design, operation, and performance of process plants. Topics include: particulate technology, particle mechanics and particle motions, non-Newtonian fluid flow, two-phase solid-liquid and gas-liquid flow, computational fluid dynamics, flow through porous media and packed beds, filtration, centrifugation, fluidisation, variable-analysis of variations in materials and product processing, membrane separation methods and optimisation techniques.

Course Overview

This course covers a range of material related to advanced fluid mechanics, particle-fluid systems and particulate technology, all of which are relevant to industrial processes. For example, beer brewing involves grinding of hops, mixing of yeast and wort, fermentation, flow of mixture through filters and transport of beer across the plant through pipes.

An overview of key sections of the course are presented below:

Module A: Non-Newtonian Fluid Flow
  • Classification of non-Newtonian flow: Shear-thinning, Shear-thickening, Bingham plastic and Viscoplastic fluids.
  • Time-dependent fluid rheology (Thixotropy).
  • Viscoelasticity: storage, loss and complex modulus.
  • Deborah number.
  • Influence of microstructure on fluid rheology.
  • Measurement of fluid rheology (capillary, rotational and parallel plate viscometers).
  • Models for fluid flow and viscoelasticity.
Module B: Characterisation of Particles
  • Presentation of particle size data, mean particle size, particle size distributions, particle morphology, particle packing characteristics, bulk properties of particles.
  • Sampling of particulate materials, particle size analysis techniques.
  • Particle mixing, mixing statistics, and segregation mechanisms.
Module C: Production of Particles
  • Size reduction (comminution): classification, particle fracture, fracture mechanisms, energy and power requirements for size reduction processes, size limitation in comminution, and equipment for comminution.
  • Size enlargement (agglomeration): binding mechanisms, strength of agglomerates, agglomeration in the food industry, moist agglomeration, dry agglomeration, spray drying, and freeze drying.
Module D: Multiphase Flow
  • Non-Newtonian fluid flow in pipes: laminar flow in circular tubes, transition from laminar to turbulent flow, friction factors in transitional and turbulent conditions. 
  • Two-phase systems: solid-liquid flow and gas-liquid flow (bubbles).
  • Basics of mixing and mixing practices.
Module E: Particle-Fluid Systems
  • Particle suspensions: Motion of a single particle in a fluid, calculating terminal velocity, nonspherical particle settling, boundary effects.
  • Multiple particle systems: Hindered settling and batch settling.
  • Flow through packed beds and porous media.
  • Fluidisation: Minimum fluidisation velocity, Carman-Kozeny and Ergun equations, flow in fluidised beds.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: CHEMMAT 203 or 213 Restriction: CHEMMAT 313, 316, 411

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify, explain and evaluate non-Newtonian fluid behaviours using rheological models. (Capability 1.1)
  2. Analyse the flow of non-Newtonian and multiphase fluids in circular pipes for process design. (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 3.2)
  3. Understand the principles behind comminution and agglomeration, and apply these principles to make recommendations about equipment design. (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1)
  4. Analyse characteristics of particulate samples and populations, and explain the different methods used for sampling particulate. (Capability 1.1 and 2.1)
  5. Apply principles of particle motion through a fluid to determine rate of settling in suspensions. (Capability 1.1 and 2.1)
  6. Analyse flow through porous media, packed beds and fluidised beds in different particle-fluid systems. (Capability 1.1 and 2.1)
  7. Create technical reports that adequately cover aspects of the design, operation and performance of process plants by working together as a team. (Capability 2.1, 4.1 and 4.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Tests 20% Individual Test
Lab Assignment 10% Individual Coursework
Group Assignment 20% Group Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Tests
Lab Assignment
Group Assignment
Final Exam
Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

During a typical teaching week, there will be 3 hours of lectures and a 1-hour tutorial. For the 12 teaching weeks, this totals to 48 hours. The lab assignment is expected to require 10 - 12 hours of work, and the project about 30 hours. Since the course as a whole represents approximately 150 hours of study, that leaves 60 hours across the entire semester for independent study, e.g. reading, reflection, and preparing for assessments (tests and exam).

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials and labs to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials and labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events such as group discussions.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Recommended textbooks:
  1. Chhabra, R.P. and Richardson, J.F. Non-Newtonian Flow and Applied Rheology: Engineering Applications. (2008) Elsevier Ltd, Oxford.
  2. Rhodes, M.J. Introduction to Particle Technology, 2nd edition. (2017) Wiley.
  3. Zlokarnik, M. Scale-up in chemical engineering. (2002) Wiley-VCH, Cambridge.

Health & Safety

Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Health and Safety section of the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Changed the weighting of the assessments based on 2021 SET feedback so that the tests are not as high-stakes. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.