ENGINEERING SYSTEMS AND DYNAMICS - 2020/1

Module Overview

This module will introduce students to the systems approach for engineering design and analysis, and extends understanding to include the dynamic behaviour of process systems.

Module provider

Chemical and Process Engineering

Module Leader

COSTELLO Katie (Chm Proc Eng)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Completion of the progression requirements to FHEQ Level 5 of the degree courses in Chemical Engineering, Chemical and Bio-Systems Engineering and Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, or equivalent.  

Module content

Indicative content includes:

General systems

• Introduction to systems engineering principles


• Structural / graphical representations of chemical process systems: block diagrams, process flow diagrams, piping and instrumentation diagrams


• Process systems economics: types of costs and basic estimation methods


• Optimisation: principle, basic methods and tools


• Design communication (diagrams)


• Process economics


• Pressure vessel design

• Introduction to dynamic process models: occurrence and use in Chemical Engineering processes


• General process modelling approach


• Batch, continuous and cyclic operations


• Lumped and distributed operations


• Linear and non-linear systems


• Systems of differential and algebraic equations


• Stability of steady states


• Introduction to MATLAB


• Representative examples: batch reactor, discharge from a tank, well-mixed tank, membrane separation, thermal runway, adsorption bed


• Laplace transform for the solution of linear differential equations

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the full range of learning outcomes though coursework in: (i) the construction of block and process flow diagrams and, (ii) the modelling and simulation of simple dynamic systems. The coursework is designed to give a fundamental understanding of concepts as well as integrative understanding in the conceptualisation, modelling, simulation and analysis of a simple process.

 Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

·         Examination – 75%, 2 hours (LO1, LO3 – LO5)

·         Coursework (2 elements):
(i) General engineering systems and design - 10%  (LO2)
(ii) Dynamics systems and MATLAB - 15% (LO5, LO6)

 Formative assessment

·         None

 Feedback

• Verbal feedback during tutorial / MATLAB classes (LO1 – LO3, LO5, LO6)


• Verbal feedback during optional drop-in tutorial classes (LO5, LO6)


• Written and verbal feedback on coursework (LO2, LO5, LO6)

Module aims

• Introduce students to the basic concept of general systems and systems engineering approaches, with particular attention to the structural representation of chemical process systems, process economics and the principle of optimisation.
• Provide an introduction to dynamic systems in Chemical Engineering and the approaches and tools for the simulation of such systems.
• Provide an introduction the Laplace transform and its application for solving linear differential equations.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Use a combination of lectures, process examples and simulation exercises to develop an understanding of process systems and their dynamics.


• Give emphasis to design development and representation.


• Introduce the basic use of MATLAB through its application to a range of simple systems.


• Encourage independent and ongoing learning of MATLAB

• Lectures                                 2-3 hours per week for 11 weeks


• Tutorials                                 0.6 hours per week for 11 weeks (average)


• Guided work                          6 hours guided work (MATLAB)


• Independent learning             9.1 hours per week for 12 weeks (average)

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENG2120

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.