Skip to main content
Unit outline_

CHNG9406: Chemical Engineering Design B

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

In the overall design process, chemical engineers must clearly understand the (often complex) interactions and trade-offs that occur between technical, economic, social and environmental considerations. This UoS builds on concepts in each of these areas introduced in previous years but with an emphasis on their successful integration within a comprehensive design activity. This design activity is spread over two UoS (Chemical Engineering Design A and B) run in first and second semester. The primary aim in the first UoS is to consider the technical issues - with an emphasis on creating and evaluating a range of alternative options that exist at both the unit operation and complete flowsheet levels. The primary emphasis in this UoS is on evaluating how non-technical considerations affect the final process design and its operation. In addition to the above fundamentals, there will be considerable time spent during the semester on advanced topics related to designing chemical processes and associated technological developments.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
CHNG9402 OR CHNG5112
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
CHNG5116
Assumed knowledge
? 

Enrolment in this unit of study assumes that all core 9xxx chemical engineering UoS have been successfully completed.

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Gordon Weiss, g.weiss@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment group assignment Overall project design report
65% Week 13 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Assignment Individual design report
30% Week 13 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO7 LO5 LO4 LO3
Assignment Project management principles report
5% Week 13 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO8
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Report 2: preliminary design - An initial overall design for the plant.
  • Report 3: detailed equipment design - Individual members of the team will nominate individual items of equipment for more detailed investigation and design.
  • Report 4: overall design – a. Individual designs will be combined into an overall design as displayed in a piping and instrument design, plant layout, etc. b. This will then be subject to design reviews after the break culminating in a report.
  • Report 5: economics, options and sensitivity analysis - Capital and operating cost estimates and some sort of financial and sensitivity analysis performed to assist the client evaluate the proposal.
  • Final report: giving the recommendation to the client together with an evaluation of any options and uncertainties that remain to be explored. 

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.

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 Schedule, assessment, how the groups were formed, activities for week 1, Thursday: The design process, outline of all reports, working in groups, project management Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 02 Preparation of PFDs, understanding utilities, understanding site layouts, presenting material in reports Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 03 Design of equipment, design of control systems for unit operations Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 04 Preparing P&IDs, vent, vacuum and overflow calculations Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 05 Mechanical drawings Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO7
Week 06 Overall control system design, more on P&IDs Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO7 LO8
Week 07 Demonstration HAZOP Workshop (2 hr) LO6 LO8
Week 10 HAZOP week Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 11 Estimating capital and operating costs, determining personnel requirements, economic analysis Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8

Attendance and class requirements

At the time each report is handed in, it must be accompanied by showing how much each team member has contributed to each of the elements of that section of the report.

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

  • Plant Design and Economics for Chemical Engineers

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

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. work effectively within a team to deliver a common objective
  • LO2. identify knowledge gaps and evaluate the technical literature to close the knowledge gaps as it applies to the design of the proposed process flowsheet
  • LO3. evaluate and optimise alternative process flowsheet designs to ensure compliance with the specified performance requirements.
  • LO4. construct a complex process flowsheet with reference to the specified performance requirements, while dealing with competing objectives and constraints
  • LO5. apply prior knowledge of unit operations to design a unit operation within a proposed process flowsheet, including the application of chemical engineering design tools
  • LO6. undertake hazard assessments, hazard operability studies and comprehensive environmental impact assessments on a proposed process flowsheet
  • LO7. communicate complex technical information to a broad audience
  • LO8. explain the principles of project management

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.

Parts of the course have been removed to reduce the workload. Better guidelines on the requirements will be provided. The requirement for a printed report has been removed.

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.