CHE Course Descriptions

Chemical Engineering (2009-2010)

Introduction to basic methods and principles in Chemical Engineering. The fundamentals of engineering calculations (units and dimensions), behaviour of fluids, mass balances, processes and process variables. Laboratory on visual communication: engineering graphics, computer software including spread sheets, computer aided design. Technical communication: word processing software, elements of technical report writing. Aspects of the engineering profession including ethics, safety, and intellectual property. Professional development including résumé skills, interview skills, and preparation for co-op terms.

An extension of the topics covered in CHE 100. Energy balances. Laboratory experiments illustrate the physical principles discussed. (In the Winter term only: professional development including résumé skills, interview skills, and preparation for co-op terms.) [Offered: W, S]

Chemical principles with applications in engineering. Stoichiometric calculations, properties of gases, properties of liquids and solutions, gas phase chemical equilibrium, ionic equilibrium in aqueous solution, oxidation-reduction reactions, chemical kinetics. [Offered: F]

Introduction to digital computers, hardware and software organization. Programming fundamentals. Algorithms and control structures. Computer communication. Spreadsheets for problem solving, plotting, fitting data, building new functions, and making iterations and loops. Problem solution, plotting, and creating complex programs in a programming environment. Elementary numerical methods (e.g. Taylor series summations, roots of equations, roots of polynomials, system of linear and nonlinear algebraic equations, integration). Applications in Chemical Engineering. [Offered: W, S]

Introduction to basic concepts of biochemistry and cell biology. Overview of the chemistry of amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. Properties and functions of biopolymers. Elements of cell structure and diversity, and relationship of biochemistry with cell metabolism. A focus on biotechnologically relevant examples such as biomimetic engineering design, proteomics, system biology and high throughput biology. [Offered: W, S]

Equilibrium between phases; the equilibrium stage concept. Cascades of stages with and without reflux; group methods and stage-by-stage approaches; graphical solutions. Applications in the separation of components by distillation, absorption, stripping, extraction and leaching. [Offered: F, W]

General Seminar.

General Seminar.

Fundamentals of fluid flow. Conservation laws for mass, momentum and mechanical energy. Flow of fluids in conduits. Flow past immersed bodies. Flow through beds of solids, fluidization. Transportation and metering of fluids. Dimensional analysis. [Offered: F, S]

Introduction to statistical methods for analyzing and interpreting process data. Introduction to statistical ideas, probability theory, distribution theory, sampling theory, confidence intervals and significance tests. Introduction to regression analysis. Introduction to design of experiments and statistical quality control. [Offered: F, W]

Thermodynamics: work and heat as forms of energy. First law, internal energy and enthalpy. Heats of chemical and physical changes. Cycles and the second law, entropy. Spontaneity and equilibrium, free energies. Systems of variable composition, chemical equilibrium. Phase equilibrium and the phase rule. Ideal solutions, colligative properties. [Offered: F, W]

Thermodynamics: ideal solutions; non-ideal solutions, non-electrolytic and electrolytic solutions, phase equilibrium and phase diagrams, reaction equilibrium. Surface phenomena: surface tension, capillarity, properties of small particles, adsorption. Chemical kinetics: rate laws, reaction rates, mechanisms, catalysis, heterogeneous reactions. [Offered: F, S]

Fundamentals; atomic bonding, crystalline structure, crystal defects, non-crystalline materials; structure and properties of metals, ceramics, glasses, semi-conductors. Amorphous materials, polymers, composites. Processing and concepts of engineering design of materials. [Offered: F, S]

A selection of computer and laboratory exercises refreshing and reinforcing material covered in the previous term. Topics may include: basic microbiology and biotechnology, introductory physical chemistry, mass and energy balances. [Offered: F, W]

A selection of computer and laboratory exercises refreshing and reinforcing material covered in the previous term. Topics may include: physical chemistry, design of experiments and statistics, and equilibrium stage operations. [Offered: F, S]

Directed research project under the supervision of faculty members. Participation will give students experience in advanced research techniques, with valuable training for those potentially interested in graduate school or industrial research careers. Taken over and above normal course load. Good standing and permission of department required for registration.

Directed research project under the supervision of faculty members. Participation will give students experience in advanced research techniques, with valuable training for those potentially interested in graduate school or industrial research careers. Taken over and above normal course load. Good standing and permission of department required for registration.

General Seminar.

General Seminar.

Fundamentals of heat and mass transfer, including analogies between these and momentum transfer. Simultaneous heat and mass transfer operations. Applications to engineering problems and design. Introduction to unsteady-state processes. [Offered: W, S]

Review of stoichiometry and chemical kinetics. Homogeneous reactors: isothermal operation; batch; semi-batch; continuous tank; plug flow reactor design. CSTRs in series; plug flow reactor with recycle. Multiple reactions in reactor networks. Temperature effects in adiabatic and non-isothermal reactors. Yield, selectivity and optimal operation of reactors. Heterogeneous catalysis and effectiveness factors in two-phase reactors. [Offered: F, W]

Review of ordinary differential equations. Analytical solution of partial differential equations using separation of variables and Laplace transforms. Fundamentals of conductive heat transfer. Microscopic energy balance. Steady state heat conduction : 1D and 2D problems. Transient heat conduction: 1D problems. Fundamentals of mass transfer by molecular diffusion. Microscopic mass balance. Steady-state diffusion: 1D and 2D problems. Transient diffusion: 1D problems. Heat-mass transfer analogies. [Offered: W,S]

Convective heat transfer. Analysis of convective heat transfer in external flows using boundary layer approach. Analysis of convective heat transfer in internal flows. Empirical correlations for convective heat transfer. Heat exchanger design. Convective mass transfer. Empirical correlations for convective mass transfer. Mass transfer at fluid-fluid interfaces. Analogy between heat-transfer, mass transfer and momentum. Dimensional analysis. Simultaneous heat and mass transfer operations. Fundamentals of radiative heat transfer. [Offered: F, W]

Use of ordinary and partial differential equations in the analysis and modelling of steady and unsteady-state heat, mass and momentum transport, and reaction engineering. Special functions and numerical methods. [Offered: W, S]

Examines the role of the statistical design of experiments and data analysis in continuous process improvement and product development. The application of screening designs, single and multifactor including two-level factorial designs, response surface designs such as central composite and Box-Behnken, and designs for the study of mixture variables for recipe optimization. Use of statistical analysis software to apply these techniques. [Offered: F, W]

Review of fundamentals, including 2nd law and concepts of equilibrium, phase and reaction equilibria, fugacity, exergy. Thermodynamics applied to practical situations. Examples chosen from: fluid flow; power generation; refrigeration; air conditioning and water cooling; liquefaction of gases; equilibria in complex chemical reactions and separation processes; surface phenomena; electrochemical reactions; biological processes. [Offered: W, S]

Topics and applications of electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering. Industrial process examples. Environmental aspects. Ionic equilibria. Laws of electrolysis. Theory of electrolytes. Transport properties of electrolytes. Reversible cell potentials. Irreversible electrode processes. Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of corrosion. Common examples of corrosion. Electrochemical energy conversion and storage. [Offered: F, W]

Review of elementary aspects of molecular biology, genetic engineering, biochemistry, microbiology. Biological systems for the production of commercial goods and services: foods, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, fuels, equipment, diagnostics, waste treatment, and biomaterials. Properties of microbial, plant and animal cells, and of enzymes used in bioprocess applications. Classification and characterization of biological agents and materials; quantification of metabolism, biokinetics, bioenergetics. Introduction to design of bioprocess systems, including biosafety and good manufacturing practices. [Offered: W, S]

A selection of computer and laboratory exercises refreshing and reinforcing material covered in the previous term. Topics may include: fluid mechanics, physical chemistry and kinetics, materials properties and testing. [Offered: W, S]

A selection of computer and laboratory exercises refreshing and reinforcing material covered in the previous term. Topics may include: electrochemistry, heat transfer, mass transfer, fermentation and bioseparations. [Offered: F, W]

Directed research project under the supervision of faculty members. Participation will give students experience in advanced research techniques, with valuable training for those potentially interested in graduate school or industrial research careers. Taken over and above normal course load. Good standing and permission of department required for registration.

Directed research project under the supervision of faculty members. Participation will give students experience in advanced research techniques, with valuable training for those potentially interested in graduate school or industrial research careers. Taken over and above normal course load. Good standing and permission of department required for registration.

General Seminar.

General Seminar.

Laplace transform techniques. Proportional-integral-derivative control. Frequency response methods. Stability analysis. Controller tuning. Process control simulation and computer control systems. Process identification. [Offered: F, S]

Development and analysis of process flowsheets and chemical product design. Design and selection of common process equipment such as heat exchangers, pumps, piping, staged separations. Incorporation of pollution prevention and inherently safer design principles. Equipment and project cost estimation. [Offered: F, S]

In this course, students study the design process including: problem definition and needs analysis; process synthesis, process debottlenecking and troubleshooting; safety and environmental protection in design; written and oral communication for design reports. A significant portion of the term work will be devoted to a group design project, culminating in a design proposal that will be presented to the department. [Offered: F, S]

Student design teams of two to four members work on design projects of industrial scope and importance under the supervision of a faculty member. The projects are a continuation of those initiated in CHE 482. [Offered: W]

A selection of computer and laboratory exercises refreshing and reinforcing material covered in the previous term. Topics may include: reaction kinetics and reactor engineering, heat and mass transfer unit operations, numerical methods, principles of design and safety. [Offered: F, S]

Directed research project under the supervision of faculty members. Participation will give students experience in advanced research techniques, with valuable training for those potentially interested in graduate school or industrial research careers. Taken over and above normal course load. Good standing and permission of department required for registration.

A major undergraduate research project carried out as a technical elective (TE) under the supervision of a faculty member. An oral presentation of results and a written report are the minimum requirements. Other requirements may be set by the faculty supervisor or department. [Offered: W]

Special courses on advanced topics may be offered from time to time, when resources are available. For current offerings, inquire at the CHE undergraduate office.

Computational approaches in the design of multiple component separation processes. Energy requirements. Capacity and efficiency of contacting devices: distillation; absorption; liquid-liquid extraction; filtration; molecular sieves; membranes; ion exchange. [Offered: W]

Background for understanding the physical principles involved, and the terminology used, in petroleum production. Fundamentals of surface chemistry; capillarity. Characterization of, and fluid flow through, porous media. Principles of oil production performance, water flooding and enhanced oil recovery techniques. [Offered: W]

State space methods. Sampled-data systems. Discrete systems. Transform methods. Multivariable control. Computer control. Closed-loop analysis. Design of controllers. Control of complex chemical systems. [Offered: W]

Experiments on process dynamics, control and simulation of processes. Time constant; step and frequency response; controller tuning; multivariable control strategies. Implementation using simulation systems, mainframe computer control, microcomputers. [Offered: W]

An introduction to principles governing polymerization reactions and the resultant physical properties of polymers. Molecular weight distribution. Crystallinity. Step-growth and chain-growth polymerization and copolymerization. Selected additional topics in polymer characterization/ properties. [Offered: F]

An introduction to principles governing polymerization reactions and the resultant physical properties of polymers. Molecular weight distribution. Step-growth and chain-growth polymerization and copolymerization. Ionic polymerizations. Polymerization reaction engineering. Mathematical modelling and polymer reactor design. Physical properties and rheological behaviour of the polymeric, glassy and rubbery states. Crystallinity. Polymer solution properties. [Offered: W]

Mathematical modelling and polymer reactor design. Physical properties and rheological behaviour of the polymeric, glassy and rubbery states. Polymer solution properties. Selected additional topics in specialty polymerization techniques for branched systems and nano-materials. [Offered: W]

Application of process engineering principles to the design and operation of fermentation reactors which are widely used in the pharmaceutical, food, brewing and waste treatment industries. Aspects of mass transfer, heat transfer, mixing and rheology with biochemical and biological constraints. [Offered: W]

Applications of unsteady and steady state heat and/or mass transfer operations to processing natural and texturized foods. Design and analysis of sterilization, low temperature preservation, concentration, separation and purification processes. Effects of formulation, additives and processing on organoleptic and nutritional quality. [Offered: W]

Industrial Ecology is a rapidly growing field that systematically examines local, regional, and global uses and flows of materials and energy in products, processes, industrial sectors, and economies. It focuses on the potential role of industry in reducing environmental burdens throughout the product life cycle from the extraction of raw materials to the production of goods, to the use of those goods and to the management of the resulting wastes. This course will review the environmental issues associated with chemical industries and the roles of engineers to manage these issues. The principles and philosophy of green chemistry will be addressed including pollution prevention in unit operations. The concepts and practices of environmental life cycle analysis and accounting will be addressed in detail, together with the basics of risk assessment, management and communication. [Offered: W]

Nature and sources of air pollutants. Transport of pollutants and dispersion modeling for regulatory purposes. Design of industrial particulate capture systems using cyclones, electrostatic precipitators, filters, scrubbers. Design of organic compound emissions control using incineration, biofiltration, adsorption and absorption. Overview of NOx and SOx control. Indoor air quality assessment techniques. [Offered: W]

Primary focus is on the control and treatment of inorganic aqueous waste from chemical process industries. Waste minimization methods with specific examples such as rinsewater circuit design. Principles and design of treatment methods: chemical treatment, precipitation, coagulation and flocculation, ion exchange and membrane separation. Treatment of organic aqueous waste. [Offered: W]