Chemical reactor engineering

Duration

45h Th, 15h Pr, 15h Labo.

Number of credits

Lecturer

Dominique Toye

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course introduces the fundamental concepts necessary for the performance prediction and for the design of homogeneous chemical reactors.
Globally, the course covers the following aspects:

• Classification and methodology for the analysis of chemical reactors.
• Analysis and synthesis of the functioning of the ideal homogeneous chemical reactors.
• Case of a single or several reactions. Sizing and selectivity problems.
• Analysis of the multiplicity and of the stability of the stationary states.
• Analysis and synthesis of the functioning of the non isothermal ideal homogeneous chemical reactors.
• Case of a single or several reactions in isothermal or not isothermal regime. Sizing and selectivity problems.
• Analysis of the multiplicity and of the stability of the stationary states.
• Description of the real reacting flows by systematic analysis using the theory of macromixing and the experimental tracer method.
• Experimental diagnosis of flow nonidealities in chemical reactors.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of the course, the students will be able to

• understand and exploit the theoretical concepts and the methodology which constitute the foundation of chemical reactor design
• use this methodology to design and to size an industrial scale reactor for a given production on the basis of kinetic and thermodynamics data obtained at the scale
• detect the main sources of flow non idealities in reactors, predict their impact on reactor performances and to take the necessary precautions to avoid them
• perform exploitable tracer measurements, analyze the experimental results to model the flow within the reactor

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

The "Introduction au génie chimique et aux procédés industriels" (CHIM9306) and "Thermodynamique chimique appliquée" (CHIM0009-1) courses (or courses with similar contents) should have been attended during previous years (or they should be attended the same year)

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is based "ex-cathedra" lectures (45h), exercices session (15h), personnal work and laboratories (8h).
The "ex-cathedra" lectures are dedicated to the detailed description of the fundamental concepts necessary for the performance prediction and for the design of homogeneous chemical reactors    During exercises sessions, students resolve individually basic problems relative to the calculation of the isothermal homogeneous chemical reactors.
Personnal work is related to the numerical resolution of a reactor equations (mass and heat balances).
For the laboratory sessions, students work in (small) team. During the laboratory sessions, students perform manipulations the aim of which is to illustrate and to better understand the theoretical concepts as well as their respective application fields.
Attendance to laboratory sessions is mandatory. Students who did not attend them will not be allowed to present their exam (neither in June nor in September).
 An optional "questions & answers" session is proposed at the end the term.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Face-to face

Recommended or required readings

The theoretical course material (2 volumes) is available at the "Centrale des cours de l'AEES".
Additional information (exercises and laboratory notes, slides) will be also available via MyUlg at the beginning of the year

Assessment methods and criteria

Oral and written examination in January (Part I : theory - Part II : exercises)
Oral and written examination in August/September (retakes).

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

The course is organized during the fall term.
The calendar be provided to students at the beginning of the academic year. 

Contacts

Prof. Dominique TOYE Tel : 04/366.35.09 Dominique.Toye@ulg.ac.be(Dominique.Toye@ulg.ac.be)

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