Chemical Reaction Engineering – CHFEN 6553

 

Objective: To provide a sound background to graduate students on all aspects of reaction engineering so that they are able to comprehend literature related to their respective research areas.

 

Online Material: webct.tacc.utah.edu

General Syllabus:

·        Mole balances, stochiometry, equilibrium

·        Reaction rate, reactor design

·        Batch, CSTR, PFR, Recycle, semi-batch reactors

·        Steady state and unsteady state reactor analysis with and without pressure drop

·        Multiple reactions

·        Nonisothermal reactor analysis - Energy balances

·        Multiple steady states

·        Transient reactor analysis; approach to steady state

·        Catalysis - synthesis of a rate equation

·        Design/analysis of catalytic reactors

·        Heterogeneous reactors; diffusion and mass transfer

·        Mass and energy balances in PFRs - PDE solutions

·        Residence time distributions

·        Nonideal reactors

 

Computational Platform:

MATLAB

 

Text: Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering, Fogler, 3rd Edition, 1999, Prentice Hall

 

Grading:

Homeworks (8-10): 20%

Midterms (2): 30%

Team Project: 15%

Final: 35%


Tentative Schedule

Classes Begin                                                August 21

 

Weeks 1-2                                                                   Chapters 1,2 and 3

Mole balances, stoichiometry, rate laws, reactor design (simple reactors)

Review of undergraduate material

 

Weeks 3-4                                                                   Chapters 4(cont), 6 and 5

Pressure drop considerations; Recycle reactors, special reactions

Complex packed-bed reactor operation team project formulation

Multiple reactions

 

Weeks 5-6                                                                   Chapters 5 and 7

Data analysis; Special reactions,

 

Weeks 7-8                                                                   Chapters 8-9

Nonisothermal reactors (steady state)

Unsteady state operation

 

October 7                                                                    First Midterm Examination

                                                                                    (Chapters 1-8)

 

Weeks 9-10                                                                 Chapters 10-12

Heterogeneous reactions           

 

Weeks 11-13                                                               Heterogeneous reactions continued

Residence time distributions and operation of real reactors

 

November 18                                                              Second Midterm Examination

                                                                                    Chapters 1-13

 

Weeks 14-16                                                               Project submission; special topics, review

                                                           

 

Final Examination                                                             December 12(10:30 AM-12:30 PM)