Introduction to chemical reaction engineering

Duration

24h Th, 24h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Nathalie Job, Dominique Toye

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course is composed of two parts:
- Part 1 : Chemical kinetics
- Part 2 : Introduction to reactors


The first part of the lecture concerns the study of reaction kinetics. It aims at developing the link between chemical reactions and their rate equation. It contents the following concepts:

• Définition of the reaction rate
• Structure of the rate equation
• Elementary steps
• Steady-state hypothesis
• Kinetic treatment of catalytic sequences (open/closed) and chain reactions
• Rate-determining step
• Examples in catalysis and enzymatic catalysis

• Classification and study methodology of chemical reactors.
• Analysis and synthesis of the operation of ideal homogeneous chemical reactors.
• Case of a single or several reactions. Problems of dimensioning and selectivity.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Part I : Kinetics
At the end of the course, the sudents will be able to:
- determine the reaction rate equation from a given reaction mechanism, and vice-versa.
- calculate kinetics and thermodynamics parameters (activation energy, adsorption enthalpy and entropy) from kinetics data.
Knowledge acquisition will be made possible via exercise session and through the realization of a personal project (teams of 2 students) concerning the analysis of a recent scientific article about reaction kinetics.  
Part II : Reactors
Students will be able to:

• understand and exploit the theoretical concepts and methodology that form the basis for the calculation of isothermal chemical reactors
• use this methodology to design and size an industrial scale reactor performing a given production based on kinetic and thermodynamic data obtained at the laboratory stage

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basic knowledge in chemistry and in thermodynamics.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Partie I : Kinetics

The course comprises "ex-cathedra" lectures (theory, 20h) and exercise sessions (problem solving, 15 h).

One personal project (groups of 2 students) will be realized: analysis of a recent scientific article, published in an international journal (in English) about the mechanism of a reactin and the determination of the reaction rate equation.

Q/A sessions (non mandatory) will be proposed during the quadrimester. One assistant and one tutor (student) will also be available for help during the realization of the project.

 

Part II: Reactors

The course is mainly organized as a flipped classroom, supplemented by discussion sessions, tutorials and assignments.

A learning schedule will be proposed to the students. Students will be required to prepare a defined theoretical material before each discussion session. The understanding of the material will be checked by means of questions (PLQ = Pre Lecture Quizz) to be submitted by each student at the latest the day before the course.

The discussion sessions will be devoted to the discussion of the fundamental concepts necessary for the performance calculation and sizing of homogeneous chemical reactors. All assigned theoretical material must be mastered even if not specifically presented during the discussion sessions.

During the exercise sessions, students solve problems related to the calculation of homogeneous chemical reactors individually, but in a supervised manner.

The individual assignments focus on the numerical solution of reactors, with applications of increasing complexity (material and heat balances).

The answer to the questions (PLQ) and the completion of the personal work are mandatory. Students who have not handed in at least 80% of the answers to the PLQs or who have not completed at least 80% of the assignments will not be allowed to take the January exam.

For the September session, this restriction does not apply.

A question-and-answer session covering the entire subject is offered to students at the end of the term. Other sessions may be scheduled during the term. The schedule of these sessions will be determined in consultation with the students.
 

 

 

 

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

Part I : cinétique

Face-to-face

 
Part II: Reactors


Face-to-face

 

 

 

Recommended or required readings

Part I : kinetics 

Copies of the theoretical course slides and of the exercises are available on eCampus.


Reference book (Kinetics) : M. Boudart - Kinetics of chemical processes

Part II : reactors

The course book is :

Elements of Chemical Reaction engineering, 5th Edition, H.Scott Fogler

Additional information (exercise notes, slides) will be also available via eCampus during the yea

 

 

 

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam

Written work / report


Additional information:

Oral/written examination in January. The individual works realized are taken into account.

 
Part I : Kinetics (60%  of the final mark)

Personal work (written report per group of 2 students and individual written questions on the day of the oral/written examination) - 40% of the final mark of Part I.

Written examination - 60% of the final mark of Part I:

- Oral examination: theory

- Written examination: Exercises similar to those prepared in classes   

Note that the dates at which the reports must be sent to the supervisor are fixed from the beginning. Any postponement of the reports handing leads to penalties (2 points/day - including week-ends - on the final project mark). The realization of the project is mandatory. Students who do not realize it will not be allowed to attend the exam.

Part II: Reactors (40% of the final grade)

The exam includes an oral test on the theory and methodology of problem solving. Each student is given questions to answer in writing (on paper) before presenting them orally.

The evaluation focuses on the understanding of the concepts and the links between them rather than on the ability to reproduce them. However, the development of a precise reasoning implies a solid mastery of the theoretical concepts.

The overall grade is obtained by weighting the grades of the oral exam (60%), the personal work (25%), the answers to the PLQ (15%). Participation during classes will be valorised (bonus).

The second session exam is organized in the same way as the January exam.

Please note: the oral exams are closed-book and without calculators.

Answering questions (PLQ) and completing personal assignments are mandatory. Students who have not turned most of the PLQ answers or who have not completed most of the assignments will not be allowed to take the exam in January. In all cases, any not returned PLQ or HW will lead to a 0/10 or 0/20 note for the corresponding assignment.

In September, grades from the homework and PLQs are retained. In case of insufficient participation, the mark(s) for the relevant parts will be set at 0/20.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work placement(s)

None

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

The course is organized during the fall term (Thursday afternoon).

Language : French.

Contacts

Part I : Kinetics
Prof. Nathalie JOB Tel : 04/366.35.37 Nathalie.Job@uliege.be
 
Partie II : Réacteurs
Prof Dminique TOYE Tél : 04/366.35.09 Dominique.Toye@uliege.be
 

Association of one or more MOOCs