Advanced Course

The course 'Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering' focusses on the processes of mass transfer with chemical reaction in multiphase reaction systems (gas-liquid, gas-solid, gas-liquid-solid etc.). The interaction between mass transfer and reaction kinetics is a central theme. At the end of the course one will be able to describe multiphase chemical reactors by using reactor models and fundamental mass and energy balances. With these one is able to calculate reactant conversion, selectivity and product yield, accounting for the effects of residence time distribution, mass transfer, homogeneous or heterogeneous reaction kinetics, equilibria and heat effects. 

The course 'Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering' builds on and expands knowledge and skills developed in the ‘Introduction Chemical Reaction Engineering’ course which focuses on single phase reaction systems and covers reaction kinetics and –equilibria , model reactors, residence time distribution, micro-mixing, conversion, yield and selectivity, mass and energy balances.

This course provides a more profound description of catalysis as compared to “Kinetiek en Katalyse”, preparing students for performing research on catalytic materials, both in industry and academia, as well as for knowledge-based operation and troubleshooting of catalytic reactors.

In Advanced Molecular Separations, separation technology is discussed starting from molecular properties up to full scale processes. The focus is on choosing a separation technology for given molecular properties, and the subsequent molecular design of more advanced separation technologies. For two separation technologies, fluid separations and membrane technology, the molecular design and separation process are treated in much greater detail, including a discussion on useful models to describe thermodynamics and mass transfer. The course will include two tests, one on fluid separations and one on barrier separations, but will also include two assignments on selecting the right separation technology for a given separation case.

The student is able:

• to design an context model (input-output model) of a simple unit operation and to design a basic control scheme based for this unit which fulfils the control objectives,
• to design a dynamic behavioral model of a simple unit operation in accordance with the context model, consisting of partial mass balances, energy balances and additional equations for kinetics, equilibria and physical (heat, mass and component) transport, at the level of detail which is in accordance with the objectives of the model,
• to determine which time constants in the model should be taken into account and which can be neglected in accordance with the objectives of the model,
• to analyze the stability and behavior of the different types of uncontrolled processes based on the transfer function,
• to determine for a transfer function, the amplitude ratio and phase shift (Bode-plot) as a function of the frequency of the input,
• to understand what the effect is of the proportional, integral and differential actions of a PID-controller, to tune a PID-controller and to analyze the behavior of controlled processes based on phase margin and amplitude margin.
• to design a process plant control scheme for a simple plant.

In addition, course participants choose one or two electives from the list of elective courses of the specialisation Chemical & Process Engineering. The courses you choose are meant to broaden and/or can be of benefit when working on your individual assignment. You can discuss your choice with the coordinator of the course or study adviser of the MSc Chemical Engineering. In total course participants have to choose 7,5 EC worth of electives.