Chemical Reaction Engineering

Core undergraduate unit at Curtin University covering rate law determination from laboratory data, thermal effects, homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions, catalysis, and residence time distributions. It includes the design of batch, ideal tubular, mixed, and staged reactors.

What you will learn

By the end of the unit, students are able to:

• Apply reactor design principles to homogeneous reaction systems.
• Design reactors for solid-catalysed reactions.
• Adapt industrial-scale designs for catalytic reactors.
• Carry out risk assessment and control analysis of reactors.

Topics

1. Mole balances
2. Conversion and reactor sizing
3. Rate law and stoichiometry
4. Isothermal reactor design
5. Collection and analysis of rate data
6. Multiple reactions
7. Non-isothermal reactor design
8. Reaction mechanisms and catalysis
9. External and internal diffusion effects
10. Distribution of residence time

How it is taught

Lectures are paired with workshops built around problem sets, five laboratory experiments that generate real rate data, and portfolio-based assessment.

Before you start

A background in mathematics, including differential equations, and a solid grasp of material and energy balances.

Course site: cre.smilelab.dev