Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Courses

Undergraduate Courses

CHE 210 Process Analysis

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An introduction to the most important processes employed by the chemical industries, such as plastics, pharmaceutical, chemical, petrochemical, and biochemical. The major emphasis is on formulating and solving material and energy balances for simple and complex systems. Equilibrium concepts for chemical process systems will be developed and applied. Computer courseware will be utilized extensively.

CHE 234 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

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Thermodynamic laws and functions with particular emphasis on systems of variable composition and chemically reacting systems. Chemical potential, fugacity and activity, excess function properties, standard states, phase and reaction equilibria, reaction coordinate, chemical-to-electrical energy conversion.

CHE 342 Heat and Mass Transfer

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Heat conduction, convection and radiation. General differential equations for energy transfer. Conductive and convective heat transfer. Molecular, convective and interface mass transfer. The differential equation for mass transfer. Steady state molecular diffusion and film theory. Convective mass transfer correlations. Mass transfer equipment.

CHE 332 Separation Operations

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The design of industrial separation equipment using both analytical and graphical methods is studied. Equilibrium based design techniques for single and multiple stages in distillation, absorption/stripping, and liquid-liquid extraction are employed. An introduction to gas-solid and solid-liquid systems is presented as well. Mass transfer considerations are included in efficiency calculations and design procedures for packed absorption towers, membrane separations, and adsorption. Ion exchange and chromatography are discussed. The role of solution thermodynamics and the methods of estimating or calculating thermodynamic properties are also studied. Degrees of freedom analyses are threaded throughout the course as well as the appropriate use of software. Iterative rigorous solutions are discussed as bases for Aspen simulation models used in Design VI.

CHE 336 Fluid Mechanics

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Linear cause-effect relationship; molecular aspects, microscopic mass, momentum and energy balances leading to the field equations of change; emphasis is on both isothermal and nonisothermal, steady state flow of incompressible Newtonian fluids; integral forms of the equations of change: macroscopic balances for laminar as well as turbulent isothermal and nonisothermal systems: engineering correlations.

CHE 322 Engineering Design VI

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The objectives of this course are to learn modern systematic design strategies for steady state chemical processing systems and at the same time to gain a functional facility with a process simulator (Aspen) for design, analysis, and economic evaluation. A process is constructed stepwise, with continuing discussion of heuristics, recycle, purge streams, and other process conditions. Aspen is used for design and analysis of the process units. From the viewpoint of the process simulations, the course is divided into four categories: Component, property and data management; Unit operations; System simulation; and Process economic evaluation. The equations used by the simulator are discussed as well as convergence methods, loops and tear streams and scrutiny of default settings in the simulator. The factored cost method and profitability measures are reviewed and compared to simulator results. Work on a capstone design project is begun in the last section of the course.

CHE 351 Reactor Design

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Chemical equilibria and kinetics of single and multiple reactions are analyzed in isothermal and nonisothermal batch systems. Conversion, yield, selectivity, and temperature and concentration history are studied in ideal plug flow, laminar flow, continuous stirred tank and heterogeneous reactors. The bases of reactor selection are developed. Consideration is given to stability and optimization concepts, and the interaction of the reactor with the overall processing system.

CHE 432 Chemical Engineering Systems

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A laboratory course designed to illustrate and apply chemical engineering fundamentals. The course covers a range of experiments involving mass, momentum and energy, transport processes and basic unit operations such as distillation, stripping and multi-phase catalytic reactions.

CHE 423 Engineering Design VII

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Senior Design provides, over the course of two semesters, collaborative design experiences with a problems of industrial or societal significance. Projects can originate with an industrial sponsor, from an engineering project on campus, or from other industrial or academic sources. In all cases, a project is a capstone experience that draws extensively from the student's engineering and scientific background and requires independent judgments and actions. Advice from the faculty and industrial sponsors is made readily available. The projects generally involve a number of unit operations, a detailed economic analysis, simulation, use of industrial economic and process software packages, and experimentation and/or prototype construction. The economic thread initiated in Design VI is continued in the first semester of Senior Design by close interaction on a project basis with E 421. Leadership and entrepreneurship are nourished throughout all phases of the project. The project goals are met stepwise, with each milestone forming a part of a final report with a common structure.

CHE 345 Process Control, Modeling and Simulation

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Development of deterministic and non-deterministic modelsfor physical systems, engineering applications, and simulation tools for case studies and projects.

CHE 424 Engineering Design VIII

CHE 480 Biochemical Engineering

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Integration of the principles of biochemistry and microbiology into chemical engineering processes; microbial kinetic models; transport in bioprocess systems; single & mixed culture fermentation technology; enzyme synthesis, purification & kinetics; bioreactor analysis, design and control; product recovery and downstream processing.

CHE 498-499 Research in Chemical Engineering I-II

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Individual investigation of a substantive character undertaken at an undergraduate level under the guidance of a member of the departmental faculty. A written report is required. Hours to be arranged with the faculty advisor. Prior approval required. This course cannot be used for degree requirements.

CHE 270 Polymer Materials

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Discussion of macromolecular structure and morphology and their implications to polymer states, properties, and processing. Specific discussion of thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, fibers, reinforced plastics, and composites to emphasize the vast range of polymer materials and to familiarize students with them. Lab work will give students experience with the mechanical properties of polymers and with polymer processing machinery and operations for compression molding, extrusion, fiber spinning, and compounding.

CHE 462 Chemical Process Control

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Mathematical and empirical modeling of chemical processes; analysis of static and transient system behavior; design of single-input single-output feedback control systems; open-loop and closed-loop system response, standard PIDs and their tuning relations; measures of control performance; frequency response techniques; stability analysis; design and application of modern control techniques: cascade, feedforward, inferential, internal model control, multivariable.

CHE 498 Research in CHE II

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Individual investigation of a substantive character undertaken at an undergraduate level under the guidance of a member of the Departmental faculty. A written report is required. Hours to be arranged with the faculty advisor.