Introduction to Engineering Design

Overview

Detailed Syllabus – Lectures/Tutorials (3 hours):

 1. Introduction to Unit Operation Processes
1.1. Basic fluid transfer equipment: mixers, pumps, valves, compressor, turbine.
        1.2. Heat transfer equipment: heat exchangers, design and operation. 
        1.3. Mass transfer equipment: distillation, solvent extraction, filtration, absorption units.
        1.4. General concept of operation: batch and continuous, heating/cooling system, flow
               arrangement.

Details of Workshops/Seminars (30 hours):

 The seminar sessions will focus on creative problem solving and guidance towards completion
of design project.

1. CHP tour                                       4 hours
2. Aspen                                         6 hours
3. Design project                          20 hours



Design Project – Group projects:

 Students will be divided into group of five and will be given a specific design statement. Each
group of students will be asked to produce a process design based on their design statement
and perform mass and energy balance calculations, as well as basic design calculations for the
process. The students are also expected to design simple unit operations such as heat
exchangers with the guidance given. Aspen simulation will be used to extract property data to
complete these design calculations. In addition, the energy balance of heat exchanger will be
verified with the simulation data obtained from Aspen. Lastly, a final report compiling the
calculated data and detail analysis of operating conditions will be submitted at the end of the
semester. Peer review assessment will be conducted as a measure of the group working
performance of each individual student.

Learning Objectives

On completion of this module a learner should be able to:

 Use computer aid software, Aspen to obtain physical properties of chemical components and
        perform simple process simulation.
 Apply the knowledge gained from other modules in chemical process design.
 Design simple process equipment for specified operating conditions provided.
 Describe the basic key features, operation modes and condition of industrial equipment.
 Develop important time management skills and group work as well as able to meet both group
        and individual project deadlines.
 Demonstrate an ability to analyse uncertainties in design and perform critical thinking.
 Develop literature review and design report writing skills.

Skills

Learners are expected to demonstrate the following on completion of the module:

 Analytical and computational skill – Use of Excel for calculations and graphing.
 Problem solving skill – Completing design problems centred on individual unit operations and
        on a small process.
 Creative thinking – Enhanced through development of operating strategies to increase process
        efficiency.
 Communication skills – Reporting of design information, calculated data with critical analysis of
        the design data. 
 Moral and ethical reasoning.
 Learning and management – effective time management to complete the assignment within
        scheduled timeline.

Assessment

Assessment Profile
Element type                                              Element weight (%)
1. Continual assessment                               100

The continual assessment consists of the following components:

• Design project (80% design calculations, 10% Aspen simulation)                     
• Peer assessment (5%)
• Supervisor assessment (5%)

Course Requirements:

 Assessed Classes Attendance at   80 %
 Module Pass Mark Veto at         40 %
 Design Project Pass Mark Veto at  40 %
 To gain modular credit a student must pass all of the continual assessment elements of the
        module.