Course code: 1013 + Course abbreviation: BE(Chem) + Total credit points required: 192 (48 credit points at Bachelor of Engineering level 1, plus 144 credit points from the relevant engineering branch) + 4 years full-time, 8 years part-time (1 year full-time Bachelor of Engineering, 3 years full-time in the engineering branches)
On-campus (Clayton)
Chemical
engineering is concerned with the economic design, operation and management of
process systems in which materials are changed in composition or physical
state. Chemical engineering has its foundation in chemistry, physics and
mathematics; its operations are developed from knowledge provided by these
disciplines and by other branches of engineering, applied sciences, biological
sciences and economics.
Historically, chemical engineering has been closely associated with the
development of the chemical and process industries. Today, many chemical
engineers find employment in the fine and heavy chemical, the petroleum and
petrochemical, the mineral and metallurgical, pulp and paper, and the food and
biochemical industries. Chemical engineers are becoming increasingly involved
with pollution control, the protection of the environment and with energy
conservation and conversion.
Students
enter this branch of engineering after completion of the common first year
(refer to the entry for the Bachelor of Engineering earlier in this section).
The aim of the first four semesters is to provide a necessary background in
mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology and such engineering areas as
electrical engineering, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, materials science and
an introduction to chemical engineering.
The final four semesters of the course are taken almost entirely within the
department. The course is designed around the core topics of mass, heat and
momentum transfer, kinetics, thermodynamics, process control, environmental
engineering, process design and safety. Management studies are introduced and a
greater emphasis is placed on synthesis and design culminating in each student
completing a plant design project. Each student undertakes a major research
project. Technical electives also form part of the final two semesters.
Practical work forms an essential part of many units administered by the
department and considerable emphasis is placed on this aspect of the program.
Problem solving using computers is an integral part of this course.
Students should refer to 'Course map 2 - Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical)' at the back of this section for an outline of the course requirements for this program.
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