Note: This unit is an archived version! See Overview tab for delivered versions.

CHNG5704: Foundations of Chemical and Biological Systems Behaviour (2014 - Semester 2)

Download UoS Outline

Unit: CHNG5704: Foundations of Chemical and Biological Systems Behaviour (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Postgraduate
Faculty/School: School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr Montoya, Alejandro
Session options: Semester 2
Versions for this Unit:
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: None.
Prohibitions: CHNG2804.
Brief Handbook Description: Chemical Engineering requires an understanding of material and energy transformations and how these are driven by molecular interactions. The rate of such transformations is dependent on driving forces and resistances, and these need to be defined in terms of fundamental physical and chemical properties of systems.

This course seeks to provide students with a sound basis of the thermodynamics of chemical and biological systems, and how these, in turn, define limits of behaviour for such real systems. The thermodynamic basis for rate processes is explored, and the role of energy transfer processes in these highlighted, along with criteria for equilibrium and stability. Emphasis is placed on the prediction of physical properties of chemical and biological systems in terms of state variables. The course delivery mechanism is problem-based, and examples from thermal, chemical and biological processes will be considered, covering molecular to macro-systems scale.

In addition, there will be considerable time spent during the semester on advanced topics related to the analysis of the behaviour of chemical and biological systems, and recent associated technological developments.
Assumed Knowledge: CHEM1101 AND CHEM1102 AND CHNG1103 AND MATH1001 AND MATH1002 AND MATH1003 AND MATH1005. Ability to conduct mass and energy balances, and the integration of these concepts to solve real chemical engineering problems Ability to understand basic principles of physical chemistry, physics and mechanics Ability to use mathematics of calculus (including vector calculus) and linear algebra, and carry out computations with MATLAB and MS EXCEL.
Lecturer/s: Dr Montoya, Alejandro
Dr Gomes, Vincent
Timetable: CHNG5704 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture 2.00 1 13
2 Tutorial 2.00 1 13
3 Project Work - own time 4.00 13
4 Independent Study 4.00 13
T&L Activities: Project Work - own time: Projects and self assisted learning.

Independent Study: Students are expected to spend about 4 hours of `self-learning` outside the specified contact periods.

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
Practice in solving basic problems in design of chemical and biological systems and processes (Tutorials, quiz, assignments and exam). Design (Level 1)
Analysing and modelling the performance of devices and systems that operate on thermodynamic principles (Tutorials, quiz, assignments and exam). Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 2)
Applying knowledge of thermodynamic principles to analyse energy and material transfer processes in biological and chemical systems (Tutorials, quiz, assignments and exam). Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2)
Practice in report writing and technical discussions (Lab report, assignments, tutorials). Communication (Level 2)
Team activities (Assignments, lab report). Project and Team Skills (Level 2)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Design (Level 1)
1. Participate in problem- solving to gain critical and generic thinking skills.
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 2)
2. Perform advanced numerical calculations of mass, energy and entropy balance under steady and unsteady state conditions
3. Use advance thermodynamic property relationships to analyse systems under ideal and real conditions
4. Understand the thermodynamic working principles of refrigerators and turbines
5. Perform advance thermodynamic calculations on motive power devices
6. Develop a deep understanding of the thermodynamic basis of biological processes
7. Predict equilibrium and stability of chemical and biological systems from thermodynamic information
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2)
8. Understand the thermodynamic basis of physical processes
9. Understand the thermodynamic basis of chemical processes
10. Understand the thermodynamic basis of biological processes
Communication (Level 2)
11. Work in cooperation with peers and participation in group projects and workshops
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Assignment No 35.00 Multiple Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
2 Quiz No 20.00 Week 7 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10,
3 Final Exam No 30.00 Exam Period 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
4 Lab Report Yes 15.00 Multiple Weeks 1, 4, 8, 11,
Assessment Description: Assignment: Tutorials, assignments

Lab Report: A lab report on turbines and heat pumps

One quiz on physical and biological thermodynamics and one final examination. Each lecturer will advise on specific assessments for

the particular module. All module assessments will be combined for assessing the final grade.
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Policies & Procedures: See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.
Prescribed Text/s: Note: Students are expected to have a personal copy of all books listed.
Note on Resources: Course notes

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

Week Description
Week 1 Advance Mass and energy balance
Week 2 Advance entropy balance
Week 3 Advance thermodynamic properties
Week 4 Refrigeration and power production
Week 5 Advance topics in property interrelations
Week 6 Advance topics in motive power
Week 7 Advance topics in biological thermodynamics
Assessment Due: Quiz
Week 8 Advance topics in biological thermodynamics
Week 9 Phase equilibrium
Week 10 Nonideal gas mixtures
Week 11 Real liquid mixtures
Week 12 Advance topics of phase equilibrium in Nonideal systems
Week 13 Advance topics of phase equilibrium in Nonideal systems
Exam Period Assessment Due: Final Exam

Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Master of Professional Engineering (Chemical & Biomolecular) 2013, 2014

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Design (Level 1) Yes 7.69%
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 2) Yes 58.59%
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2) Yes 26.05%
Communication (Level 2) Yes 7.69%
Professional Conduct (Level 2) No 0%
Project and Team Skills (Level 2) Yes 0%

These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.