CHE1010 - Grand challenges in chemical engineering: Delivering sustainable food, water and energy - 2019

Providing food, water and energy to the world's people in an environmentally sustainable manner is an engineering grand challenge that must be solved in a concerted manner. New scientific discovery and engineering processes are urgently needed, and chemical engineering must provide key solutions in all three areas. This unit will explore the core concepts and applications of sustainable chemical engineering through interesting case studies drawn from food, water and energy engineering presented by a mix of academic specialists and industry representatives in each area.

The basic principles of the discipline will be introduced, including heat and material transfer, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, (bio)chemical reactions engineering and process design/control. Chemical engineering concepts will be developed within workshops and practicals complemented with practical laboratory experience. There will also be an opportunity for activities where, within teams, students will design their own chemical engineering solutions to important issues or opportunities.

This unit is aimed at all engineering students and may be of special interest to those attracted to environmental engineering, biological engineering, civil engineering (water specialisation) and chemical engineering.

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. describe key chemical engineering principles, such as heat and material transfer, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, (bio)chemical reactions engineering and process design/control
2. identify unit operations within chemical engineering processes and select suitable equipment for an operation
3. investigate physical and chemical states of matter and delivery systems within industrial and practical lab settings
4. apply creative problem-solving approaches using chemical engineering principles to contemporary examples
5. engage and learn in both independent and collaborative ways with others to encompass diverse abilities and perspectives
6. demonstrate effective communication within a range of settings, including oral presentations and written reports.

Continuous assessment: 60%

Case study-style take-home exam: 40%

Students are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final examination component and an overall mark of 50% to achieve a pass grade in the unit. Students failing to achieve this requirement will be given a maximum of 45% in the unit.

2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory/workshop classes and 7 hours of private study per week.

See also Unit timetable information