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CHNG5706: Foundations of Materials Purification and Recovery (2014 - Semester 2)

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Unit: CHNG5706: Foundations of Materials Purification and Recovery (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Postgraduate
Faculty/School: School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Unit Coordinator/s: A/Prof Valix, Marjorie
Session options: Semester 2
Versions for this Unit:
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: None.
Prohibitions: CHNG2806.
Brief Handbook Description: To recognise that chemical engineers are involved in creation of products and processes, in manipulating complex systems, and in managing technical operations. To develop an appreciation of the practical application of concepts and tools to real design problems in the process, products and service sectors in which chemical engineers are engaged. To consider this through project-driven case studies covering a range of integrated analysis scenarios, from the domain of energy, thermodynamic and fluid systems. In this course, the focus is on the production of alcohol (by fermentation) and the separation of this alcohol (by distillation).

The fermentation related topics include: biotechnology; the process of fermentation; organism; requirements for growth and the metabolic pathways that lead to the generation of specific products; the application of the principles of mass balance and thermodynamics in the analysis of bioprocessing systems; growth and product stoichiometry; elemental and electron balance; equations; the use of electron balance equations and energy balance equations in estimating the growth heat of reaction; bioprocessing heat of reaction and in assessing the cooling requirements of fermentation systems and concepts of analytical chemistry with relevance to the analysis of the process of fermentation. Distillation related topics include: Distillation vapour liquid equilibrium (VLE); operation of a distillation column; use of Hysys to formulate and solve material and energy problems around distillation unit operations

This course is a concurrent requirement for the concept and enabling technology courses running in parallel in the same semester.
Assumed Knowledge: 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. Ability to read widely outside of the technical literature, and to synthesise arguments based on such literature. Ability to write coherent reports and essays based on qualitative and quantitative information
Lecturer/s: A/Prof Valix, Marjorie
Timetable: CHNG5706 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture 3.00 1 13
2 Tutorials/Practical Sessions 3.00 1 7
3 Independent Study 5.00 13

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
Application of concepts and tools to to a range of integrated analysis scenarios, from the domain of energy and fluid systems. Design (Level 2)
Analysis of process systems used in treatment of materials. Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3)
Ability to identify, access, organise and communicate knowledge in both written and oral English; 2. being able to handle and interpret data and information from disparate sources Information Seeking (Level 2)
Ability to identify, access, organise and communicate knowledge in both written and oral English Communication (Level 2)
Appreciation of wider engineering context, including social, economic, ethical and commercial implications of industry practice in the context of sustainability Professional Conduct (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 2)
1. Being able to suggest design improvements to the component parts of such systems as part of process improvement
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3)
2. Being able to characterise process systems in which there is simultaneous transport of mass and energy, and optimise such systems around product quality objectives
3. Being able to characterise wastes and by-products in terms of their subsequent processing potential
4. Understanding biological processes to a level of being able to exploit them as reactive systems for product recovery
5. Understanding the tools of process analysis pertinent to such systems
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Practical Assignments Yes 50.00 Multiple Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
2 Quiz No 10.00 Week 11 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
3 Final Exam No 40.00 Exam Period 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
Assessment Description: There will be six practical assignments, conducted during tutorial classes from weeks 4 to 10, a general quiz in week 11 plus a three hour final exam. There will be three practical assignments on fermentation and three on distilllation.

Fermentation practical assignments will test:

1. Use of tools for operation and analysis of a fermentation plant.

2. Mass/energy balance analysis.

3. Energy requirements using thermodynamics.

Distillation practical assignments will test:

1. Knowledge of vapour liquid equilibrium (VLE).

2. Operational analysis of a distillation unit.

3. Stage by stage analysis in HYSYS.
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.

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 Project 1: Mass Balance Tutorial
Week 2 Project 1: Electron Balance Tutorial
Week 3 Project 1: Energy Balance Tutorial
Week 4 Project 2: Bioethanol Process
Week 5 Project 2: Bioethanol Process
Week 6 Project 2: Bioethanol Process
Week 7 Project 2: Bioethanol Process
Week 8 Project 2: Bioethanol Process
Week 9 Project 3: Distillation Ethanol and Water
Week 10 Project 3: Distillation Ethanol and Water
Week 11 Project 3: Distillation Ethanol and Water
Assessment Due: Quiz
Week 12 Project 3: Distillation Ethanol and Water
Week 13 Review of key concepts
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 2) Yes 20%
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3) Yes 80%
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2) No 0%
Information Seeking (Level 2) Yes 0%
Communication (Level 2) Yes 0%
Professional Conduct (Level 2) Yes 0%
Project and Team Skills (Level 2) No 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.