CHEE 321: CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING

(Fall 2008)

INSTRUCTOR
Dr. Robin Hutchinson
Room 426, Dupuis Hall
robin.hutchinson@chee.queensu.ca

http://www.chemeng.queensu.ca/courses/CHEE321/
 About Me
• Research Interest: Polymer REACTION ENGINEERING
• Polymerization kinetics and mechanisms
• Mathematical modeling of processes used to produce polymers for
automotive coatings, diapers, hairspray, pharmaceutical capsules,
beverage stabilization, …

• B.Eng. from McMaster University, PhD

from University of Wisconsin-Madison

• 9 years working in industry (DuPont in

USA and Europe) before coming to
Queen’s in 2000
 Typical Chemical Process

Recycle of reactants
S S
E E
RAW P P
A A
PRODUCT
MATERIAL R REACTOR R
A A
T T
O O
R R

Course material and slides adapted from:

Undesirable
byproducts
Dr. Kunal Karan, CHEE 321 instructor 2002-07
 Chemical Reaction Engineering (CRE)

• What is Chemical Reaction Engineering?

– CRE deals with chemically reactive systems of engineering
significance.

– Chemical reaction engineering is the discipline that quantifies

the interactions of transport phenomena and reaction kinetics
in relating reactor performance to operating conditions and
feed variables.

(Source: ISCRE website)

Why Chemical Reaction Engineering (CRE)??
• CRE is needed in the development of new and the improvement of existing
technologies.
– search for alternative processes to replace old ones
• novel reactors (use of metallocene catalysts to produce new HDPE/PP materials)
– find routes to make a product from different feedstock
• novel processes for synthesis-gas production
• Hydrocarbon production from syn gas
• Biodiesel production
• Polymers produced from renewable feedstocks
– reduce/eliminate unwanted byproducts, intermediates, solvents, etc…
• Reduced solvent content in paints
• NOx reduction

• CRE is perhaps the key course that differentiates Chemical Engineering &
Engineering Chemistry from other engineers
 CRE Application -Ethylene Production
• Ethylene is used for manufacturing polyethylene -
the world's most widely used plastic
• NOVA Chemicals and Dow Chemical at Joffre
• The highest capacity of any ethylene production site
in the world.
• largest single ethane based cracker in the world.

C2 H6 → C2 H4 + H2

(High-temperature tubular reactors)

Picture Source: Linde website

CRE Application - SMOG Modeling

Allows us to estimate the

extent of smog formation ...
 CRE Application:
Large-scale growth of Stem Cells

• The challenge is to grow

large quantities of viable
cell….
 CRE Application: Pharmacokinetics

CRE can be applied to describe

humanbody-drug interaction

http://habanero.ibme.wustl.edu/PK-model.jpg
CRE Application: Fuel Cells
 What do we expect to learn in the
Chemical Reaction Engineering course ??
• In CRE, we will develop a general methodology useful in
approaching a variety of systems

– chemical (e.g. chemical production, pollution abatement)

– polymers
– biochemical and biological (e.g. enzyme growth, stem cell growth)
– electrochemical (e.g. fuel cells)
– ecological

where engineering of reactions is needed

Chemical Kinetics & Chemical Reactor Design

will be at the core of this course
 Course (Content) Organization
Isothermal, Ideal Reactor (Single Reaction) Design
Output
Mole Balance Rate Law Design Algorithm
(Module-1) (Module-2) (Module-3) • Reactor Volume
In – Out + Con = Acc 1. GMBE, 2. Rate Law • Reaction Time
(rA) = kCAn
FA,in-FA,out+(rA)V = dCA/dt 3. Stoich 4.Combine
• Rate Constant
Analysis of Rate law
(Module-4)
Kinetics: How to obtain k and rxn order
• Conversion
Multiple Reactions • Product Composition
(Module-5)
Selectivity, Yield

Non-Isothermal Reactor Design Output

(Module-6)
• Energy Balance • Temperature Profile
dT/dz = ? • Heat Removal
• Heat Transfer Rate
• Equilibrium Reactions • Heating Requirement
Tin-Tout =?
• Multiple Steady State
What’s involved in reactor design ?
Mass
Transfer
Heat Fluid
Transfer Mechanics

REACTANT(S) PRODUCT
REACTOR
(Ethylene)
(Ethane)

Thermodynamics Reaction
Kinetics
How does the course link to
CHEE 360
other CHEE courses…
XX

210

223

221 CHEE
210

CHEE 321 PREREQUISITES: CHEE 210, and CHEE 222 or MINE 221
 CHEE 321 - TEXTBOOKS/RESOURCES
• Course Textbook
– Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering
by H.Scott Fogler, 4th Edition, Prentice Hall

– Accompanying Resource: CD-ROM

• Summary Notes
• Interactive Computer Modules
• Solved Problems - Thoughts on Problem Solving

• Reference Texts
– Chemical Reaction Engineering
by Octave Levenspiel, 3rd Edition, Wiley & Sons
– An Introduction to Chemical Engineering Kinetics & Reactor Design
by C.G. Hill, Wiley & Sons
 EVALUATIONS
Grading (Tentative)
Mid-term (CLOSED BOOK) 20%
Module Assignments (3-5) 10%
321 Design Assignments (2) 15%
Integrated Design Project 15%
Final (Open Book) 40%
Total 100%

• Practice Problems and Assignments posted for every

module
• Assignments can be completed in pairs (two people to one
assignment)
• Check the website regularly!
 3rd Year Integrated Design Course
• Run by CHEE “design engineer in residence”, Dave Mody

• Integrates together aspects of CHEE 311, CHEE 318, CHEE 321.

– Your final report (done in groups of 4) counts towards your final grade in
all 3 courses
– Those of you taking only 1 out of these 3 courses will do a related project
(2 out of 3 courses and you’re still on a project team)

• Some 321 lectures (also true for other courses) will be special “design”
lectures, covering material important to design (economics, safety, the
design process, …) not treated in other courses.
– For CHEE 321, many of these will be in Week 5 of classes

• Project will also be the major component of CHEE 360

– First lecture (including introduction to Design Problem) is Wed at 11:30.
– Please attend – it is important!
Your CHEE 360 instructor
 3rd Year Integrated Design Course (cont’d)
• Project teams will be formed within CHEE 360 Workshop
sections

• Your team members will be assigned

• For those not in 360 (~20 students), you will also be

assigned to a project team

• We will use email (qlink addresses) to notify you of your

project team, and your teammates’ email addresses
– If you do not want your qlink email address sent to your project team
members, please let me know (via email)
 Teaching Assistants
• Michael Fitzpatrick
• Michael Faba
• Raul Moraes
• Devon Lehrer

Duties:
• Marking assignments / midterm
• Running tutorials (1st tutorial Monday, 15Sept)
• Office hours / student help
• One (or more) TAs will be dedicated to the design
assignments
 On learning and securing good marks

• In this course, emphasis is placed on deep understanding and

learning.

• Understanding of basic concepts and problem solving skills will

be promoted.

• Assessment will be based on demonstrated ability to apply basic

concepts to effectively solve a problem using the language of
engineers – mathematics.
 Check the website for course notes and other
announcements

http://www.chemeng.queensu.ca/courses/CHEE321/

New technology (at least for me):

I will also send out announcements using the AppSci web portal

Log on at: https://my.engineering.queensu.ca/login/