Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Introduction to Chemical Engineering
Introduction to fundamental principles of chemical engineering and development of problem-solving skills through in-class activities, laboratory experiments, and a hands-on design project.
CH EN
170
 Hours2.0 Credit, 1.0 Lecture, 2.0 Lab
 PrerequisitesNone
 RecommendedChem 105 or Chem 111.
 NoteThe prerequisites may be taken concurrent with the course. Check with the department.
 TaughtFall, Winter
 ProgramsContaining CH EN 170
Course Outcomes

Course Materials

Students will gain a knowledge of the major through the course material.

Basic Chemical Principles

Students will be introduced to chemical processes, units, and corresponding equipment.

Field

Students will gain a familiarity with the chemical engineering field, career options, and potential job functions, and be aware of contemporary issues that may have an impact on professional activities, through lectures and solving homework problems.

Relation to Other Disciplines

Students will gain appreciation and respect for other disciplines and a knowledge of how chemical engineering relates to other disciplines through faculty lectures and homework problems.

Basic Engineering Units and Systems

Students will be able to use basic engineering units in both SI and AES systems in solving problems, and be able to convert between unit systems.

Basics of Solutions

Students will be introduced to the solution of steady-state, overall, material and energy balances.

Mechanical Energy Balance Equation

Students will be introduced to the mechanical energy balance equation to solve fluid flow problems both with and without friction.

Physical Processes

Students will be introduced to conduction, forced and free convection, and radiation.

Basics of Kinetics

Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of kinetics including definitions of rate and forms of rate expressions.

Systems of Thermodynamics

Students will be introduced to the first law of thermodynamics for closed and open systems.

Process and Feed Control

Students will be introduced to process control terminology and feed-back and feed-forward control systems.

Graph Interpretations

Students will be introduced to the effective interpretation of graphical data.

Spreadsheets

Students will be introduced to a spreadsheet package to perform engineering calculations.

Problems and Solutions

Students will be introduced to engineering problems and their solutions.

Problem-Solving

Students will be introduced to a problem solving strategy to define and solve engineering problems.

Critical and Creative Thinking

Students will be introduced to critical and creative thinking skills for analysis and evaluation of problems and cause-effect relationships.

Rationalizing, Ordering, and Assessing

Students will be introduced to the notions of rationalizing units, making order of magnitude estimates, assessing reasonableness of solutions, and selecting appropriate levels of solution sophistication.

Environmental Considerations

Students will be introduced to how environmental considerations are incorporated into engineering problem solving.

Impact of Engineering in Differing Contexts

Students will understand the impact of engineering solutions, including environmental and economic impacts, in a global context (across cultures and societies) AND in a societal context (within a society).

Teamwork

Students will practice good teamwork principles.

Teamwork Experience

Students will demonstrate experience working together in teams.

Performance Calculations using CSTR

Students will be introduced to performance calculations on CSTR reactors.

Calculations on Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers

Students will be introduced to preliminary size and performance calculations on shell-and-tube heat exchangers.

Basics of Heat Exchangers

Students will be introduced to practical considerations of heat exchangers including types of heat exchangers, materials of construction, and fouling.

Flow System Design

Students will be introduced to the design of flow systems involving pumps for Newtonian fluids.

Process Synthesis Constraints

Students will be introduced to environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability constraints in process synthesis.

Capital Venture Costs

Students will be introduced to costs in capital ventures (e.g., capital vs operating costs, salvage value, equipment costing).

Professional Community Through Teamwork

Students will develop a sense of professional community with students by working in teams.

Technical Reading

Students will be introduced to the effective reading of technical material.