Chemical Engineering (CHEG)

203. Introduction to Chemical Engineering

First semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: CHEM 128 or CHEM 125 and 126; MATH 114 or MATH 116 or CSE 123C. Open to sophomores or higher.

Application of the principles of chemistry and physics to chemical processes; units, dimensions, and process variables; material balances; equations of state (ideal and real); single component equilibria; energy balances; non reactive and reactive processes; combined mass and energy balances.

211-212. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

Both semesters. Three credits each semester. Three class periods and one discussion period. Recommended preparation: MATH 210 and 211, CHEM 128, and CHEG 203 (or consent of Chemical Engineering Department Head). CHEG 211 and ME 233 may not both be taken for credit. CHEG 211 is open to sophomores or higher.  Consent of instructor and department head.

First semester: first and second law of thermodynamics; thermal and PVT properties of matter; exact differentials and thermodynamic identities; design and analysis of power cycles; analysis of refrigeration and liquefaction processes.

Second semester: properties of ideal and non-ideal mixtures; ideal and non-ideal phase equilibria; design of equilibrium flash separators; phase equilibria using equations of state; chemical equilibria; optimum condition for feasible reaction equilibria.

223-224. Transfer Operations

Both semesters. Three credits each semester. Three class periods and one discussion period. Recommended Preparation: MATH 210 and 211, CHEM 128, and CHEG 203.

First semester: overall mass, energy, and momentum balances; fluid flow phenomena; theoretical and empirical relationships for design of incompressible fluid-flow systems; conductive heat transfer; heat transfer coefficients and design of heat exchange systems.

Second semester: radiation heat transfer, design of heat exchange equipment; evaporation; design of mass transfer processes including distillation and extraction; analysis and design of diffusional processes such as gas absorption and humidification.

237W. Chemical Engineering Laboratory

First semester. Three credits. Two 1-hour discussion periods. Two 3-hour laboratories. Prerequisite: CHEG 212, 223 and 224; ENGL 105 or 110 or 111 or 250.

Open-ended laboratory investigations in chemical engineering focusing on fluid mechanics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, and combined heat and mass transfer; emphasis on student teamwork and on design of experiments to meet objectives; technical report writing; oral presentations.

239W. Chemical Engineering Laboratory

Second semester. Three credits. Two 1-hour discussion periods. Two 3-hour laboratories. Prerequisite:CHEG 212, 223 and 224; ENGL 105 or 110 or 111 or 250. Recommended preparation: CHEG 237W, 247 and 251.

Open-ended laboratory investigations in chemical engineering focusing on reaction kinetics, reactor design, process control, and mass transfer; emphasis on student teamwork and on design of experiments to meet objectives; technical report writing; oral presentations.

241. Process Design and Economics

First semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: CHEG 212, 224 and 251.  May not be substituted for CHEG 243.

Chemical engineering process synthesis and design; comparison of alternative processing steps; instrumentation; cost estimation; economic analysis; process optimization; emphasis on conceptual design in application of chemical engineering principles.

243. Process Design and Economics

Second semester. Four credits. Prerequisite: CHEG 212, 223, 224, and 251. 

Chemical engineering process synthesis and design; comparison of alternative processing steps; instrumentation; cost estimation; economic analysis; process optimization; emphasis on conceptual design in application of chemical engineering principles; design of process equipment, computer-aided design of equipment and flow sheets; design and analysis of complete process plants.

245. Chemical Engineering Analysis

First semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: CHEG 203 and MATH 210 and 211.

Mathematical and numerical methods for solving engineering problems; description and computer modeling of physical and chemical processes with ordinary and partial differential equations; treatment and interpretation of engineering data

247. Introduction to Process Dynamics and Control

First semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: CHEG 212 and 224 and MATH 210 and 211.

Chemical process modeling, dynamics, and analysis; measurement and control of process variables; design, and computer simulation of simple processes and control systems.

251. Process Kinetics

Second semester. Recommended preparation: CHEG 212.

Theory of chemical rate; homogeneous, heterogeneous and catalytic systems. Analysis and design of batch and flow reaction systems; analysis of rate data; temperature and catalytic effects in reactor design; mass transport effects; non-ideal reactor design.

256. Polymeric Materials

Either semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: CHEM 244. Not open for credit to students who have passed CHEM 280.

Structure, properties, and chemistry of high polymers; solution and phase behavior; physical states, viscoelasticity and flow; production and polymer processing; design of polymers for specific applications.

261. Introduction to Nuclear Engineering

First semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: CHEG 211 and 223.

Nuclear physics, reactor kinetics, and the nuclear fuel cycle; classification and analysis of nuclear power reactors; environmental effects of nuclear power; analysis of severe nuclear accidents.

262. Engineering Entrepreneurship

Either semester. Three credits.

Students assume the role of engineer as entrepreneur and develop a business plan to launch a new technology as a business; course includes topics on intellectual property, venture capital, market analysis, advertising, incorporation, contracts and web development.

273. Introduction to Biochemical Engineering 

(Formerly offered as CHEG 283.) (Also offered as BME 221 and as ENVE 283.) First semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: CHEG 251.

Enzyme and fermentation technology; microbiology, biochemistry, and cellular concepts; biomass production; equipment design, operation, and specification; design of biological reactors; separation processes for bio-products.

274. Bioremediation

Either semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: CHEG 251 and 273.

Application of engineering and biological principles toward remediation of hazardous waste; degradation of toxic chemicals using genetically-engineered microorganisms; and biological contacting devices for waste remediation.

275. Fermentation and Separation Laboratory

Either semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: Course work in biochemistry or microbiology.

Introduction to industrial mass culture of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and methods used to extract useful products from these cultures. Metabolic processes, energetics, growth kinetics and nutrition of microorganisms. Heat exchange, oxygen transfer, pH control, sterilization, design of fermenters and product recovery.

280. Introduction to Environmental Rate Processes

(Also offered as ENVE 280.) First semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: CHEM 128.

Application of thermodynamics, chemical kinetics and transfer operations to environmental problems; water pollution control. Open only to students not majoring in chemical engineering.

285. Introduction to Air Pollution

(Also offered as ENVE 285.) Second semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: CHEG 211 or ME 233 or ME 238.

Gaseous pollutants and their properties; basic analytical techniques for air pollutants; particulate pollutants and their properties; equipment design for removal of gaseous and particulate materials; economic and environmental impact of air pollutants; federal and state regulations.

295. Special Topics in Chemical Engineering

Semester, credits and hours by arrangement or as announced. Prerequisite and/or consent: Announced separately for each course. This course, with a change in topic, may be repeated for credit.

A classroom course on special topics as announced.

299. Introduction to Research

Either semester. Credits and hours by arrangement or as announced. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. This course may be repeated for credit.

Methods of conducting research; design of laboratory investigations and experiments; correlation and interpretation of experimental results; writing of formal, technical reports; oral presentations; independent student effort, initiative and resourcefulness are required.