The engineering of chemical reactions

ChE-340 / 4 credits

Language: English

Summary

This course applies concepts from chemical kinetics and mass and energy balances to address chemical reaction engineering problems, with a focus on industrial applications. Students develop the ability to analyze and design chemical reactors of industrial importance.

Content

Introduction
Profile of Chemical Industry
Chemical Processes
Basics of Chemical Reaction Engineering
Chemical reactions, mole balance equations
Ideal chemical reactors
Reaction kinetics and Rate Laws
Reactant conversion in closed and open systems
Influence of expansion Basic rate laws-formal reaction kinetics
Transformation in closed and open systems
Determination of reaction kinetics
Quasi steady state assumption for complex reaction systems
Homogeneous catalysis / enzyme kinetics
Isothermal Reactor Design-Simple reactions
Batchwise operated stirred tank reactor (BR)
Continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR)
Plug flow reactor (PFR)
Cascade of CSTR
Combination of PFR and CSTR
PFR with recycling
Semi batch stirred tank reactor
Isothermal Reactor Design-Multiple reactions
Introduction
Parallel reactions, one reactant
Parallel reactions several reactants
- semi-batch reactors
- cross flow reactors
Consecutive reactions
Consecuttive competing reactions
Nonisothermal Reactor Design
Batchwise operated stirred tank reactors
introduction, energy balance
adiabatic reactors
reactor with heat exchange, zero order (Semenov criteria)
- time to maximum rate
- reactor with heat exchange, isoperibolic reactors (n>0)
reactor stability, parametric sensitivity, reactor run-away (n>0)
semi-batch reactors for highly exothermic reactions
Plug-flow reactors
Continuous stirred tank reactors

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

Introduction to Chemical Engineering (ChE-201),
Introduction to Transport Phenomena (ChE-204),
Chemical Thermodynamics (CH-241),
Chemical Kinetics (CH-342)

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

Compute reactor size for required conversion
Compute reactor space time
Compare perforace of different reactors
Assess / Evaluate effect of concentration and temperature on reactor performance
Design reactors for stable operation
Design reactors for high product yield and selectivity

Transversal skills

Assess progress against the plan, and adapt the plan as appropriate.
Set objectives and design an action plan to reach those objectives.
Use a work methodology appropriate to the task.
Evaluate one's own performance in the team, receive and respond appropriately to feedback.
Give feedback (critique) in an appropriate fashion.
Demonstrate a capacity for creativity.
Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
Make an oral presentation.

Teaching methods

Powerpoint lectures

Clicker questions during lecture

Example and team exercises

Practice homework problems

Assessment methods

Course Project: 25%
Mid-term: 25%
Final Exam: 50%

Resources

Bibliography

Elements of chemical reaction engineering / Fogler
Chemical reaction engineering / Levenspiel
Chemical reactor design and operation / Esterterp et al.

Ressources en bibliothèque

Notes/Handbook

copy of the presented slides

copy of exercises and solutions

Moodle Link

https://go.epfl.ch/ChE-340

In the programs

Semester: Spring
Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
Subject examined: The engineering of chemical reactions
Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks

Semester: Spring
Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
Subject examined: The engineering of chemical reactions
Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks

Reference week

	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr
8-9
9-10
10-11
11-12
12-13
13-14
14-15
15-16
16-17
17-18
18-19
19-20
20-21
21-22

Légendes:

Lecture

Exercise, TP

Project, other