MSc Project

Code

CHEE4015

School

Chemical and Environmental Engineering

Level

4

Credits

60

Semesters

Summer UK

Summary

This is a combined design and research project undertaken by a team of 2-5 students, and involving both group and individual working. The basic elements of the project involve a critical review of the literature to provide background to the initial group design element, followed by the group design part of the project. The design element will involve the selection of an appropriate, initial process scheme following by preparation of a process flowsheet with associated mass and heat balances. The design will also include control, operational, safety, environmental and economic aspects in addition to the design of important plant items. This will then be followed by the research element, which will be based on a topic with the aim of eventually aiding the individual design process. The research segment will consist of a critical review of relevant literature and subsequent research work, which may be experimental, computational or theoretical in nature. The final element of the project is a re-evaluation of the previous design in the light of information gleaned from the research segment.

Target Students

Students registered in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering only.

Co-requisites

Modules you must take in the same academic year, or have taken in a previous year, to enrol in this module:

• Research Planning (CHEE4014)

Classes

• One tutorial each week for 23 weeks
• One 1-hour tutorial each week for 23 weeks

Assessment

• 30% Coursework 1: Group Design report (summative assessment). Maximum 6,000 words (excluding supporting appendices, figures, tables, diagrams and reference listings)
• Coursework 2: Individual research proposal/plan (for formative assessment only)
• 50% Coursework 3: Individual research paper report Maximum 6,000 word report (excluding supporting appendices, figures, table, diagrams and reference listings).
• 20% Coursework 4: Individual design re-evaluation report (summative assessment) Maximum 750 words.

Assessed by end of summer vacation

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

A2 Chemical Engineering Principles:

• A2.2.6 Be able to apply the same underlying principles to more complex problems, critically evaluating the limitations of assumptions of the approach taken.

• A2.6.8 Have some understanding of the limits of available technology and of the potential of new and emerging technology

• A2.7.6 Be able to apply principles of sustainability, economics and ethics to novel and complex situations with conflicting requirements

A3 Chemical Engineering Practice:

• A3.2.12 Understand the limitations of current practice.

• A3.2.13 Have a broad knowledge and critical awareness of developments at the forefront of chemical engineering

• A3.2.15 Have undertaken research and/or development project work that provides opportunities for: application of research methods, including structured design of experimental work; originality and experience in dealing with uncertainty and new concepts and/or applications.

• A3.2.16 Students will have communicated the outcomes of the project work in a professional manner that may include: thesis; publication; poster; presentation

A4 Chemical Engineering Design:

• A4.2.8 A student will have a comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and an ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.

• A4.2.9 A student will be able to work with information that may be incomplete or uncertain, quantify the effect of this on the design and, where appropriate, use theory or experimental research to mitigate deficiencies.

• A4.2.10 A Student will have the ability to generate an innovative design for processes, systems and products to fulfil new needs.

• A4.2.11.3 A student will have the ability to produce a design of a process for a novel product for which data are unreliable or limited.

• A4.2.11.4 A student will have the ability to produce financial and other risk assessments

A5 Embedded Learning:

• A5.2.13 A student will have some understanding of the limits of available technology and of the potential of new and emerging technology.

• A5.2.14 Be able to evaluate critically technical literature and other information sources; have the ability to evaluate the environmental and societal impact of solutions to complex problems across their entire life-cycle, minimising adverse impacts. 

• A5.2.15 Be able to evaluate critically their own effectiveness as an individual and as a member of a team and its performance. 

• A5.2.16 Be able to evaluate critically the communication approaches they use for a variety of audiences. 

Conveners

• Dr Andrea Laybourn