Chemical Engineering BEng/MEng (Hons)

The purpose of this module is to ease the transition from school to university by setting the multi-disciplinary context and expectations of degree courses and careers in engineering and science. You will be introduced to the transferable study skills that they will develop throughout your university career and beyond (i.e. those softer skills, essential to academic study, employability and good professional conduct). In particular, you will understand the need to take responsibility for your own learning.

Topics may include:

• Teamwork: Interdisciplinary nature of science/engineering. Roles and responsibilities, effective meetings, record-keeping, leadership.
• Project planning and delivery: Setting achievable goals, time/resource planning, monitoring progress, risk management, adaptability and final delivery.
• Design Process: Introduction to the key stages of research, concept, feasibility, requirements, preliminary design, detail design, production.
• Report writing: technical and laboratory reports, structure, content, grammar, the importance of accurate referencing and avoidance of plagiarism.
• Presentation skills: Effective communication via visuals and the spoken word. Managing presentation stress.
• Lab fundamentals: Use of key equipment and practices. Health & safety within the lab. Data collection, processing and error management.
• Information skills: Effective searching of a range of different information sources. Critical evaluation for appropriateness for academic use. Understand the nature of research journal publishing and the importance of primary research findings.
• Introduction to professional ethics: Philosophical models, frameworks and theories for ethical decision making. Resolving common ethical conundrums encountered in professional practice. The role/responsibility of the scientist and the engineer in society and in protecting the environment
• Career Management: Planning and enacting a successful career for life. What to do and when. Researching employers. CV and cover letter writing. Interview skills.

Thermodynamics

• Basic definitions; energy, working fluid, continuum, property, systems, surroundings, open and closed systems, phase, state, equilibrium, process, cycle.
• Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics: temperature scales.
• Perfect gases, ideal gas equation of state, real gases, compressibility factor, van der Waals equation of state, virial coefficients
• Work and heat definitions, path functions, types of work, sign conventions, definite integrals
• First Law of Thermodynamics
• Internal energy, enthalpy, constant specific heats, specific heat variation with temperature
• Polytropic processes
• Properties of pure substances; changes of state, sub cooled, saturation and superheated properties, use of tables, phase diagrams.
• First law analysis of systems, cyclic processes, closed systems, open systems (steady and unsteady flow), application to engineering equipment, internal combustion engines.

Heat Transfer

• Heat conduction and Fourier's Law
• Convection and correlations for heat transfer coefficients

Fluid Mechanics

• Basic definitions and properties: laminar, turbulent, transition flow, boundary layer, units
• Fluids at rest and applications in pressure measurement; pressure distribution over plane and curved surfaces
• Static, stagnation and dynamic pressure, centre of pressure, pressure measurement
• Introduction to the study of flowing fluids and the special case of Bernoulli's equation including applications in flow measurement (free jets, confined flows, flow rate measurement), control volume analysis
• Streamlines, stream tubes and particle paths and the physical interpretation of the Bernoulli equation
• Introduction to control volume analysis
• The conservation principles for open systems and illustrate the applications to simple fluid systems and devices

Essential Physics for Chemical Engineers

• Dimensions, units and conversions
• Introduction to fluid flow in pipes
• Stream composition

Design and Analysis of Processing Systems

• Chemical process diagrams
• Batch and continuous processing
• Material balances

Introduction to Chemical Reactors

• General reactor design principles
• Reactor types
• Batch, semi-batch and continuous reactors
• Reactor performance
• Reactor heating and cooling

Introduction to Physical Processing and Separations

• Rheology of simple fluids and complex mixtures.
• Mixing and pumping of fluids, and fluid flow in pipes
• Main separation processes and their characteristics
• Physical separation: membranes.

Principles of Safe and Sustainable Processing

• Introduction to safety and risk assessment.
• Creating and maintaining a safety culture.
• Incorporating sustainability in process design.
• Life cycle assessment

Manufacturing

• Manufacturing performance indicators and improvement strategies.
• The four V's
• Types of production, categories of product
• Layout of production processes

The Chemistry Fundamentals module aims to provide a broad introduction of the basics of theoretical and practical chemistry across organic, inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry. The module is evenly split between practical and classroom sessions and will introduce the basic techniques of laboratory chemistry and an introduction to recording experimental data and writing of reports. You will apply the theories introduced in the classroom and the directed reading.

Differential equations play a pivotal role in modelling numerous mathematical, scientific and engineering problems, stretching across celestial motion dynamics, neuron interactions, cancer progression, bridge stability and financial market trends. This module serves as an introduction to the essential theory and numerical methods used in solving ordinary and partial differential equations (ODEs and PDEs) while exploring their varied applications.

In this module, we will review the essential calculus techniques, including methods of differentiation and integration, necessary to solve ODEs. We will introduce ODEs, see their applications to real-world problems and explore techniques for generating both exact and approximate solutions for ODEs. We will also give a brief introduction to PDEs and their applications.

Topics may include:

• Review of trigonometric functions, hyperbolic functions, limits and differentiation.
• Integration, techniques such as integration by parts, partial fractions, and multiple integration.
• Review of sequences and series, covering convergence and divergence.
• Exploration of complex numbers, covering axiomatic foundations, complex conjugates, loci, polar form, De Moivre's Theorem, and roots.
• Notation and classification of ordinary differential equations.
• Linear ODEs and their applications.
• Selective exploration of non-linear ODEs and their applications.
• Introduction to systems of ODEs.
• Numerical integration: Trapezoidal Rule and Simpson’s Rule.
• Numerical solutions for ODEs: Euler method, using computer code in, for example, MATLAB, or Python.
• Partial differentiation, functions of two variables.
• Brief introduction to PDEs and their applications.

This module aims to give you an understanding and appreciation of the various environmental systems physically and chemically impacted upon by human and industrial activity - i.e. the atmospheric, aquatic and land-based – and how these impacts can be either controlled or avoided. You will consider:

• Key environmental issues (e.g. global warming, ozone depletion, acid rain, photochemical smog, eutrophication, land contamination) and their communication to different audiences.
• The communication of topical issues of environmental quality.
• Natural cycles (i.e. water, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulphur and carbon) and how these can be disrupted by industrial pollution events.
• The sources and nature of key pollutants and the mechanisms by which these are transported, dispersed and eventually degraded or sequestered.
• How are impacts felt at local, regional and global scale?
• The legislation, regulation and authorisation involved in the fixing of discharge consent limits.
• The treatment technologies and practices available to process engineers for ensuring discharge compliance and thus, the mitigation/avoidance of environmental impacts (e.g. gas cleaning and water treatment plant).
• The methods and analytical equipment available to plant operators for the monitoring of pollutant discharges and thus, compliance demonstration. 
• The collection, analysis and interpretation of environmental data.

This module enables students with A-Level German or equivalent to further develop their grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations.You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop your oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

This module is designed for students that have completed A-Level or equivalent in French. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop your oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

This module is designed for students that have completed a A-Level or equivalent in Spanish. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

This module is designed for students who have completed GCSE in Chinese or equivalent. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

This module is designed for students who have completed GCSE or equivalent in French. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

This module is designed for students that have completed GCSE or equivalent in Spanish. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

This module provides the opportunity to study a new language from scratch and introduces you to basic grammar, vocabulary and cultural contexts. You will apply the language to practical situations using both oral and written skills. 

The purpose of this programme of mathematical study is to ensure that you are competent in calculations using a range of mathematical tools. The content will extend your analytical skills by introducing more advanced topics that are required parts of the modern engineers skill set, and enhance your ability and confidence to make sound judgements.

Mathematics and Modelling

• Statistical methods; distribution, sampling, statistical inference, estimation from a sample, hypothesis testing, significance testing.
• Matrix Eigen value problems, with application to solutions of Ordinary Differential Equations.
• Laplace transforms for solution of Ordinary Differential Equations.
• Fourier series approximation of periodic functions.
• Solution techniques for partial differential equations including the heat equation.

Numerical Modelling and Computation

• Construction of algorithms in high-level programming languages including, variables, arrays, operators and expressions, data input and output, flow control and functions.
• Implementation of numerical methods using MATLAB.
• Numerical solution of ordinary differential evolution equations using Euler's method and the Runge-Kutta methods.
• Introduction to Optimization; Optimisation of functions of several variables, with and without constraints.
• Representation of engineering problems as mathematical optimisation problems and solution using Excel Solver.

This module covers two of the core topics in chemical engineering - thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. Thermodynamics is the science that deals with energy interactions in physical systems. The purpose of this module is to extend the basic principles of heat, work and energy then apply this knowledge to real engineering problems, and also to introduce chemical thermodynamics - the interaction of heat and work with changes of state and chemical reaction. The understanding of fluid mechanics is fundamental to much of chemical engineering, and this module seeks to develop and extend relevant knowledge of fluid mechanics to the point that real world problems can be addressed. Almost every branch of science and engineering includes some kind of heat transfer problem, and there is a need for engineers to have some background in this area. This module further develops students’ understanding of heat transfer, including practical applications of conduction, convection and radiation heat transfer.

Separation processes is perhaps the defining part of the chemical engineering curriculum. This module introduces you to design methods and practice for a range of key unit operations for separation of different components. An aim of this module is to build on the concepts of equilibrium and mass transfer driving force developed in level 4 in order to build knowledge and understanding of equilibrium stage operations for downstream refining and purification operations. Another aim of this module is to give you the appropriate methods and equations to analyse and design continuous and batch equipment for chemical and physical separations.

Flowsheet Analysis and Process Integration

• Concept of Unit Operations as components making up process flowsheets.
• Process flow diagram and P&I diagrams.
• Measured and manipulated process variables.
• Principles of mass balances for complex flowsheets with recycles.
• Energy balances, hot and cold utilities and concept of heat integration.
• Pinch analysis for determination of minimum energy targets.
• Design of heat exchanger networks.
• Conceptual extension of process integration to mass transfer networks. 

Process Simulation

• Simulation principles.
• Use of PRO/II for solving engineering problems and analysing the results.
• Thermodynamic methods: available models, selection criteria.
• Building a flowsheet and Managing Process Flow Diagram (PFD) files.
• Simulation of various processes.

Dimensional Analysis and Scale-up

• Examples of physical systems amenable to dimensional analysis: e.g. falling sphere, mass/heat transfer.
• Outline of Buckingham’s Pi Theorem.
• Use of engineering correlations for scale-up.
• Maximising inherent safety for scale-up.  

In this module, you will have the opportunity to put theory into practice and build essential skills for your future career by gaining invaluable real-world experience through a range of experiential activities (e.g., volunteering, workplace engagement, research projects, field trip (where available and dependent on course), or through a combination of activities). You will develop practical, analytical, and professional skills relevant to your subject, while also enhancing transferable skills that are vital in any graduate-level role. 

Through hands-on experiences, you will critically reflect on your personal and professional growth, using these insights to shape your career path and identify areas for continued development. You'll take ownership of your learning, ensuring that you can effectively articulate your employability skills in a professional context, and be well-prepared for the workplace. This module empowers you to explore new environments, apply your knowledge, and discover how your academic training translates into real-world impact, boosting your confidence and work readiness. 

It is your responsibility to organise any experience undertaken outside of the university as part of this module although you will be provided with support from university staff.

All activities within this module must be university-level; this means:  

• Undertaking high-skilled work commensurate with level 5 study (e.g. report writing, attending meetings, delivering presentations, producing spreadsheets, writing content on webpages, social media, marketing services/products etc.)  
• Meeting the professional expectations of the experiential activities you undertake 
• Where applicable, your existing part-time employer can be approached/used as an experiential activity provider, if the role aligns with your career development and provides you with high skilled work commensurate with level 5 study. 

In this module, you will have the opportunity to put theory into practice and build essential skills for your future career by gaining invaluable real-world experience through a structured, university-level work placement for 5 weeks as one continuous block / period with a placement provider (i.e. a local employer from the private, public, or charitable sector). You will develop practical, analytical, and professional skills relevant to your subject, while also enhancing transferable skills that are vital in any graduate-level role. Therefore this module will enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting.

Through hands-on experiences, you will critically reflect on your personal and professional growth, using these insights to shape your career path and identify areas for continued development. You'll take ownership of your learning, ensuring that you can effectively articulate your employability skills in a professional context, and be well-prepared for the workplace. This module empowers you to explore new environments, apply your knowledge, and discover how your academic training translates into real-world impact, boosting your confidence and work readiness.

It is your responsibility to organise the placement as part of this module although you will be provided with support from university staff.

All work placements within this module must be university-level; this means:

• Undertaking high-skilled work commensurate with level 5 study (e.g. report writing, attending meetings, delivering presentations, producing spreadsheets, writing content on webpages, social media, marketing services/products etc.)
• Physically placed (albeit part of it can be hybrid) within an employer setting in one continuous block / period for 5 weeks for a minimum of 140 hours over the course of the entire work placement
• Where applicable, your existing part-time employer can be approached/used as the placement provider, if the high-skilled work criterion above is fulfilled for the full duration of the placement.
• All quality assurances/agreements provided by the University are adhered to, by you and the employer.

The work placement context may not necessarily, reflect your degree discipline per se, but rather, it will give you an enriched experience to enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting.

The module will provide the opportunity to further develop your language skills, building on your previous learning at advanced level. The second half of the module includes a placement abroad or, alternatively, a project on a sustainability issue in a target language country. The first half of the module will prepare you for placements abroad where appropriate as well as a deeper understanding of sustainability in target language contexts. Students of more than one language may take one language in the first half of the module and spend their time abroad developing a different language. 

The module will provide the opportunity to further develop your language skills, building on your previous learning at intermediate level. The first half of the module includes intensive taught sessions in interactive workshop mode which will prepare you for placements abroad or self-directed language development. The second half of the module includes an placement abroad or, alternatively, a project on a business or tourism issue in a target language country. Students of more than one language may take one language in the first half of the module and spend their time abroad developing a different language. 

The module will provide the opportunity to further develop your language skills, building on your previous learning at beginner level. The first half of the module includes intensive taught sessions in interactive workshop mode which will prepare you for placements abroad or self-directed language development. The second half of the module includes a placement abroad or, alternatively, a project on a cultural issue in a target language country. Students of more than one language may take one language in the first half of the module and spend their time abroad developing a different language. 

Part A:      

Preparation for Experiential Overseas Learning will take place at the University of Chester during level 5 and will include:  

• The multiple facets of Global citizenship
• Ethical engagement and practice
• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Intercultural communication

Theories, models and strategies of learning

• Theories and models Intercultural competence
• Theories and models of Integration and Multiculturalism
• Critical thinking skills and models of Reflection

• Experiential learning models
• Self-directed experiential learning

Personal and placement-related skills

• Enhanced independence
• Improved command of multicultural behaviour
• Increased knowledge and confidence in their individual facets of personal identity
• Effective time management and organisational skills
• Project management – working away from University and independent study
• Self-management and personal development
• Team building and team work

Part B:            Overseas

Students will engage in experiential learning activities overseas for at least 150 hours 

• The multiple facets of global citizenship
• Ethical engagement and practice
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Intercultural communication
• Culture shock
• Cultural adjustment
• Self- assessment of needs: identification of the range of transferable skills, competencies and attitudes employees need and employers expect graduates to possess-with a strong focus on understanding the intercultural competencies (ICC) needed to live and work abroad.
• Critical analysis/evaluation of individual requirements in relation to culture/cultural adjustment/culture shock/visas/medical.
• Critical analysis/evaluation of skills already acquired in relation to key skills related to ICC.
• Devising strategies to improve one’s own prospects of working abroad in the future.
• Devising an action plan to address gaps in transferable skills based on organisational analysis and sector opportunities.

In this module you will build essential skills for your future career by gaining invaluable real-world experience through a year long industrial placement. Through hands-on experiences, you will critically reflect on your personal and professional growth, using these insights to shape your career path and identify areas for continued development. The placement structure does not follow the normal academic course and will be devised in agreement between you, your placement advisor and your University placement supervisor. You'll take ownership of your learning, ensuring that you can effectively articulate your employability skills in a professional context, and be well-prepared for the workplace. The placement should provide you with the ability to develop graduate level skills in an area related to your degree and should allow you to put theory into practice.

All work placements within this module must be university-level; this means:

• Undertaking high-skilled work commensurate with level 5 study (e.g. report writing, attending meetings, delivering presentations, producing spreadsheets, writing content on webpages, social media, marketing services/products etc.)
• Physically placed (albeit part of it can be hybrid) within an employer setting for 9-12 months.
• All quality assurances/agreements provided by the University are adhered to, by you and the employer.

A placement conference will enable peer to peer sharing of experiential learning whsilt permitting feedback on your progress. It will also allow you to share your current knowledge and skills development helping those that are considering taking this route to make a decision. You will also analyse a range of skills and benefits derived from the placement, further developing the construction of learning logs and allowing you to report your progress via a presentation and short VLOG. For those unable to attend, for whatever reason, online via Teams will permit engagement and feedback.  In addition, the conference will provide an opportunity to acquire an overview of final year options and dissertation and/or project research.

For those students where costs or other geographical/logistical difficulties render visits, conference attendance or participation via teleconferencing prohibitive, there will be an augmented portfolio of activities to substitute the conference activities.

All students will engage in the drawing up of a learning agreement on acceptance of the placement that will cover a contact plan and agreed learning outcomes with their designated academic tutor and placement coordinator.

Preparation for the year abroad will take place in Chester during level 5 and will include:

• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Host-country orientation, study methods– economic, political and social reality of the country
• Orientation specific to exchange – health, education, gender issues
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Practical matters relating to living and studying in the wider world

Theories, models and strategies of learning

• Critical thinking skills, experiential learning and models of reflection

Personal and placement-related transversal skills

• Effective self-motivation and independent resourcefulness
• Effective time management and organisational skills
• Project management – working away from University and independent study
• Self-management and personal development

Whilst abroad:

You will undertake study at one of the University of Chester's partner universities or undertake and approved work placement or virtual placement. If you are a student,  it is expected that you will choose a series of modules at the university abroad which must be agreed by the host institution and the Module Leader. you must supply details of you modules on a learning agreement within 4 weeks of arrival at the host university.

Design of key process engineering operations, and application of flowsheeting software to process plant design.

Chemical Reaction Engineering

• Advantages and industrial uses of different reactor operating modes: batch, semi-batch, continuous, semi-continuous.
• Quantitative description of Batch, PFR and CSTR as ideal reactors and associated mass and energy balances.
• Concepts of conversion, yield and selectivity.
• Concept of Residence Time Distribution (RTD); C(t), E(t), F(t) curves; and calculation of conversion from RTD.
• Real (non-ideal) reactors with industrial examples and calculation of reactor size based on reaction rate.
• Analysis and optimization of multiple reactor configurations: tanks in series, plug flow with recycle etc.
• Isothermal and adiabatic reactors.
• Dispersion model for non-Ideal flow in a tubular reactor. 

Catalysis

• General principles of catalysis in terms of reaction energetics.
• Organometallic chemistry and transition metal complexes for homogeneous catalysis exemplified by the Cativa process and Wilkinson’s catalyst.
• Enzyme catalysis mechanisms and examples.
• Derivation of Michaelis-Menten equation for enzyme kinetics.
• Adsorption: mathematical description of physisorption and chemisorption.
• Mechanisms for surface reactions in heterogeneous catalysis (e.g. Langmuir-Hinshelwood, Eley-Rideal). 

Solid-Fluid Diffusion and Reaction

• Concept of diffusion controlled reactions.
• Definition and use of effectiveness factor and Thiele modulus.
• Diffusion and reaction in flat slab and spherical pellet.
• Fluid particle reaction kinetics: progressive-conversion and shrinking particle models.

The module teaches two related topics,process control and process safety.

Process control presents a brief introduction to control theory, then focuses on the specific application of control in the process industries. The student will become familiar with the interpretation of P&I diagrams, the common types of instrumentation, the use of valves, the main conventional control strategies and their application to specific process plant items, and the operator features of DCS, SCADA and PLC systems.

Process Safety aims to prepare you for safe professional practice by emphasising the responsibilities of management for safety in scientific and engineering activities and how these can be met technically. Chemical and engineering principles from earlier levels of study are used to understand potential chemical and physical hazards. Finally, real examples of major incidents that have led to new regulation are studied.

This module aims to instil in you the regulatory requirements and technical considerations for designing, operating and decommissioning sustainable industrial chemical processes, and in particular sustainable energy generation systems. The benefits of embedding Sustainability in Process Design (to minimise the consumption of scarce material and energy resources) is illustrated through the consideration of specific industrial process examples.

Thermal conversion and microbial degradation processes to derive Energy from Biomass is also presented in this module. A detailed overview is given of the current and future technologies for deriving power, heat and transportation fuels from biological sources.

Other Renewables and Low Carbon Technologies aims to give an insight into the other main sustainable power technologies. The teaching will draw on physical and engineering principles learned earlier and will enable participants to critically assess the relative merits and applicability of these technologies.

Contents may include:

Sustainability in Process Design

• The concept of sustainability. Environmental, economic and social criteria. The life cycle approach.
• Process design for sustainability.
• Specific industrial process examples.

Energy from Biomass

• Biomass types and characteristics
• Direct use
  • Combustion based processes
  • Vegetable oils
• Thermal conversion
  • Gasification based processes
  • Pyrolysis based processes
• Biological conversion
  • Fermentation-based processes
  • Anaerobic digestion based processes
• Chemical conversion
  • Transesterification to biodiesel

Other Renewables and Associated Low Carbon Technologies

• Solar energy systems
  • Solar thermal
  • PV
• Wind energy systems
• Water energy systems
  • Hydroelectric
  • Wave
  • Tidal
• Geothermal power generation
• Electrochemical energy conversion and storage
  • Fuel Cells
  • Batteries
• Other energy storage options
• The Smart Grid

This module is a major exercise, partly group partly individual, in which a process plant is designed.  It forms the centrepiece of the third academic year.