Skip to main content
Unit outline_

CHNG1108: Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit will introduce students to the profession of chemical engineering. It will give students an appreciation of the variety of the chemical and process industries, their history, the economic importance and the scale of their operations both in Australia and globally. The unit will make use of virtual process plants and industrial leaders as guest speakers.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
ENGG1800 or CIVL1900 or MECH1560 or AERO1560 or AMME1960 or BMET1960 or MTRX1701 or ENGG1960 or ELEC1004 or ELEC1005
Assumed knowledge
? 

HSC Mathematics and Chemistry

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Yi Shen, yi.shen@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Yi Shen, yi.shen@sydney.edu.au
Md Arifur Rahim, md.rahim@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Small test #earlyfeedbacktask
#earlyfeedbacktask Small quiz: simple concepts in Chemical Engineering
0% Week 03 30 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4
Tutorial quiz Quiz 1
Quiz on contents from week 1- 5
20% Week 06 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO4
Assignment group assignment Lab report fermentation
Report detailing the results of the lab project
10% Week 09 N/A
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6 LO3
Assignment group assignment Lab report microfluidics
Report detailing the results of the lab project
10% Week 10 N/A
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO6
Assignment group assignment Lab report batteries
Report detailing results from the battery lab exercise
10% Week 11 N/A
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6 LO3
Presentation group assignment Example of Chemical Engineering video
video to introduce/describe/solve a chemical engineering example
15% Week 12 not longer than 2 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4
Tutorial quiz Quiz 2
Contents from week 6-11
20% Week 12 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6
Assignment Essay - What is Chemical Engineering? What is chemical engineers' contribution to society? Can they be replaced by AI?
Essay writing, reflection of the course.
15% Week 13
Due date: 26 May 2024 at 23:59
2 pages of written text
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
group assignment = group assignment ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

All group assessments require you to review your performance and that of your team members using SPARKPLUS. Individual marks for group assessments will be adjusted based on these reviews.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Submission deadline is 23:59 on the due date. Late penalty for any online assessment is 5% per business day. It is a cap based penalty: 1 day late, maximum attainable mark is 95%. 3 days late, maximum attainable mark is 85%. 5 days (1 week) late, maximum attainable mark is 75%. Failure to submit any assessment will award zero marks, unless special consideration is granted.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Lecture: Welcome and course introduction, history of chemical engineering Lab: Team building exercise - lab competition Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 02 Lecture: Units and measurements, significant figures Tutorial: Demonstrations/calculations of unit measurement; Essay writing skills Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO6
Week 03 Lecture: Materials and energy balance Tutorial: Calculations for materials and energy balance In class short quiz (#earlyfeedbacktask) Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO3 LO6
Week 04 Lecture: Compositional streams and process flow sheets Lab: Water plant tour (excursion) Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6
Week 05 Lecture: ideal and non ideal gases Tutorial: Calculation of ideal gas Field trip (4 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Lecture: Catalysis and nanoscience Tutorial: Catalysis, In class quiz Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Lecture: Biology in Chemical Engineering Tutorial: "Examples in Chemical Engineering" video planning, Report writing skills, Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Week 08 Lecture: Bioremediation/Bioreactors - Preparation for fermentation lab work Lab: Bio-fermentation Science laboratory (4 hr) LO1 LO3 LO6
Week 09 Lecture: Electro-chemistry/batteries introduction Lab: electrochemistry/batteries Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 10 Lecture: Multiphase flow and microfluidics Lab: microfluidics & microscopes Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO6
Week 11 Lecture: Biomolecular Engineering Lab: catch up labs Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Lecture: What to expect to learn, Y1-Y4 Tutorial: In class quiz (tutors) Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO6
Week 13 Lecture: Student presentations about the videos Tutorial: Reflection - Has your view of chemical engineering changed? Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO3 LO4

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. recognise the engineering design process
  • LO2. write and critique short engineering reports
  • LO3. work effectively in small groups
  • LO4. recognise the roles and potential career paths of chemical engineers
  • LO5. recognise the size and scope of the process industries.
  • LO6. understand the principles of chemical engineering

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This unit has been redesigned to be more interactive, include more technical content and practical laboratory sessions. An #earlyfeedbacktask aiming to target high risk students is added.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.