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Unit outline_

CHNG9206: Separation Processes

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit will cover the general principles and the development of quantitative models of separation processes based on equilibrium and rate processes. Concepts of phase equilibria, transport phenomena and mass and energy balance will be used to model the separation units. Understanding of these principles will provide the basis for analysis and preliminary design calculations of large scale separation units of importance to manufacturing industries. The principles will be applied to units operations of distillation (binary, multicomponent), solvent extraction, absorption, adsorption and membrane processes.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
CHNG2806 OR CHNG5706
Assumed knowledge
? 

Mass and energy balances, physical chemistry, physics

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Amirali Ebrahimi Ghadi, amirali.ebrahimighadi@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Marjorie Valix, marjorie.valix@sydney.edu.au
Amirali Ebrahimi Ghadi, amirali.ebrahimighadi@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam Final exam
Final exam covering all the topics
50% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Tutorial quiz Quiz 1
Online quiz on Weeks 1-3 contents
15% Week 05
Due date: 30 Aug 2022 at 16:00
1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Tutorial quiz Quiz 2
Online quiz on Weeks 4-7 contents
15% Week 09
Due date: 04 Oct 2022 at 16:00
1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment group assignment Distillation project
Design, simulation and operation of a distillation column
20% Week 10
Due date: 16 Oct 2022 at 23:59
Final report of about 15 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

Project/lab practical: There will be one group-based project/laboratory session weighting 20% of final mark on operation and simulation of a distillation column. 
Quiz*: Two online quizzes each weighting 15% of final mark (total 30%) on week 5 and 9.
Final exam*: Final exam weighting 50% of total mark during exam period.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

* indicates an assessment task which must be repeated if a student misses it due to special consideration

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.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to separation, phase equilibria Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 02 Flash and VLE Calculations Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 03 Distillation: tray-by-tray calculation Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 04 Distillation: McCabe-Thiele graphical method Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 HYSYS Tutorial Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO3 LO6
Week 06 Multi-Component Distillation Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Energy Balance in Distillation Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Distillation column lab practical Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 08 Introduction to membrane separation processes Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Distillation column lab practical Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 Transport phenomena in membrane processes Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Absorption and stripping Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Liquid-liquid extraction-1 Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Liquid-liquid extraction-2 Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Review Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

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.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

  • Seader, Henley, Roper, Separation Process Principles (3rd). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,

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. collaborate creatively and systematically with team members in applying correct procedures, and reporting accurate information
  • LO2. understand the principles for designing separation units
  • LO3. demonstrate skills in operation and assessment of separation unit performance
  • LO4. understand the general principles involved in separation processes based on equilibrium and transport phenomena
  • LO5. perform analysis and model separation processes using concepts including mass and energy balance, thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and phase equilibria
  • LO6. use modern software tools for design of unit operations.

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.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

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.