Chemical Engineering Course

Lesson 1 • Introduction to Process Diagrams

Teaches block flow diagrams and process flow diagrams as tools for visualising chemical processes. Prepares learners to read and construct process schematics.

Lesson 2 • The Chemical Engineering Discipline

Defines the scope, history, and industrial role of chemical engineering. Establishes context for all subsequent technical content in the course.

Lesson 3 • Stoichiometry and Chemical Reactions

Applies mole concepts, limiting reagents, and yield calculations to reacting systems. Directly supports material balance work in later chapters.

Lesson 4 • Units, Dimensions, and Conversions

Covers SI and customary unit systems, dimensional homogeneity, and systematic conversion. Provides the quantitative foundation for all process calculations.

Lesson 1 • Multi-Unit Process Balances

Solves sequential and interconnected unit operations using overall and sub-system balances. Develops systematic strategies for complex flowsheet analysis.

Lesson 2 • Balances on Single-Unit Systems

Applies material balances to mixers, splitters, and single reactors without reaction. Builds problem-solving habits before introducing reactive systems.

Lesson 3 • Transient Material Balances

Introduces time-dependent balances for batch and semi-batch processes. Prepares learners for dynamic process analysis encountered in later chapters.

Lesson 4 • The Material Balance Framework

Establishes the general balance equation and system boundary concept. Provides the logical structure applied to every balance problem in this chapter.

Lesson 1 • Second Law and Process Efficiency

Introduces entropy, the Carnot limit, and exergy as measures of thermodynamic performance. Provides tools for identifying and reducing process inefficiencies.

Lesson 2 • Thermodynamic Properties of Substances

Covers enthalpy, internal energy, heat capacity, and phase-change properties for pure components. Supplies the property data needed for all energy balance calculations.

Lesson 3 • Energy Balance on Closed Systems

Applies the first law to batch and closed systems involving heat and work interactions. Establishes the energy balance framework before open-system extensions.

Lesson 4 • Energy Balances on Open Systems

Extends the energy balance to steady-flow equipment including heat exchangers, pumps, and turbines. Directly applicable to process equipment sizing in later chapters.

Lesson 1 • Friction Losses and Pipe System Design

Applies the Darcy-Weisbach equation, Moody chart, and minor loss coefficients to piping networks. Enables complete pressure-drop calculations for industrial pipe systems.

Lesson 2 • Viscosity, Reynolds Number, and Flow Regimes

Defines viscosity, introduces the Reynolds number, and distinguishes laminar from turbulent flow. Determines which friction factor correlations apply in pipe design.

Lesson 3 • Fluid Statics and Pressure

Covers hydrostatic pressure, manometry, and forces on submerged surfaces. Establishes pressure concepts used throughout fluid flow and equipment design.

Lesson 4 • Conservation Laws for Flowing Fluids

Derives and applies the continuity equation and Bernoulli equation to flow systems. Provides the governing equations for all pipe and channel flow problems.

Lesson 1 • Heat Exchanger Design and Selection

Applies the NTU-effectiveness method and covers shell-and-tube, plate, and air-cooled exchanger types. Prepares learners to specify and evaluate industrial heat transfer equipment.

Lesson 2 • Conduction Heat Transfer

Applies Fourier's law to flat walls, cylinders, and composite systems with thermal resistance networks. Provides the analytical foundation for all solid-phase heat transfer problems.

Lesson 3 • Overall Heat Transfer and LMTD Method

Combines conduction and convection resistances into an overall heat transfer coefficient. Applies the LMTD method to size double-pipe and shell-and-tube exchangers.

Lesson 4 • Convection Heat Transfer

Covers forced and natural convection correlations for internal and external flow geometries. Enables calculation of convective heat transfer coefficients for equipment design.

Lesson 1 • Distillation Column Design

Applies vapour-liquid equilibrium, McCabe-Thiele graphical method, and the Fenske-Underwood-Gilliland shortcut to binary and multicomponent distillation. Covers tray and packed column sizing.

Lesson 2 • Molecular Diffusion Fundamentals

Derives Fick's law and applies it to diffusion in gases, liquids, and solids under various boundary conditions. Establishes the molecular-level basis for all mass transfer operations.

Lesson 3 • Liquid-Liquid Extraction and Membrane Separations

Covers solvent selection, stage calculations for extraction, and transport mechanisms in membrane processes. Expands the learner's toolkit beyond vapour-liquid separations.

Lesson 4 • Gas Absorption and Stripping

Designs packed and tray absorbers using operating lines, equilibrium curves, and transfer unit methods. Directly applicable to acid gas removal and solvent recovery operations.

Lesson 1 • Heterogeneous Catalysis and Fixed-Bed Reactors

Covers catalyst characterisation, Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics, internal and external diffusion limitations, and fixed-bed reactor design. Addresses the majority of industrial reactor applications.

Lesson 2 • Ideal Batch and CSTR Reactor Design

Derives design equations for batch reactors and continuous stirred-tank reactors and applies them to conversion and sizing problems. Establishes the two limiting ideal reactor models.

Lesson 3 • Multiple Reactions and Selectivity

Analyses parallel and series reaction networks to maximise desired product selectivity. Introduces yield and selectivity optimisation as key reactor design objectives.

Lesson 4 • Plug Flow Reactor Design

Derives and applies the PFR design equation for liquid- and gas-phase reactions with pressure drop. Compares PFR and CSTR performance for various kinetic scenarios.

Lesson 1 • Process Economics and Cost Estimation

Covers capital cost estimation methods, operating cost components, and profitability metrics including NPV and IRR. Enables economic evaluation of competing process designs.

Lesson 2 • Process Optimisation Methods

Applies linear programming, nonlinear optimisation, and heuristic search methods to process design problems. Identifies optimal operating conditions and design variables systematically.

Lesson 3 • Process Synthesis and Flowsheet Development

Introduces hierarchical process synthesis, heuristics for unit operation selection, and flowsheet alternatives evaluation. Translates reaction and separation knowledge into integrated process designs.

Lesson 4 • Process Simulation and Modelling

Introduces steady-state process simulation, thermodynamic model selection, and convergence strategies for recycle loops. Prepares learners to use commercial simulation tools effectively.