REACTION ENGINEERING AND NUMERICAL METHODS - 2021/2

Module Overview

The heart of any chemical or biochemical process is often said to be the reactor and a sound understanding the unit’s performance is a pre-requisite for the process design. This module builds on the reaction kinetics knowledge from level 1 and applies it to the design of homogeneous reactors and bioreactors. The design equations of such reactors often results in differential equations which require the application of standard numerical methods and the application of Matlab facilitates such a solution.

Module provider

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Module Leader

PHAN Anh Thi Van (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 2

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:

Numerical Methods:

• Roots of nonlinear equations, bisection method, simple iteration, Newton-Raphson method


• Solution of single ordinary differential equation by Euler & 4th order Runge-Kutta methods, deviation, errors, applications


• Numerical Integration, Trapezoidal rule, Simpson’s rule, errors, applications


• Solution of systems of non-linear equations, Gaussian elimination with inclusion of partial pivoting Gauss-Seidel iteration

• Types, uses and design equations


• Isothermal and non-isothermal design

• Uses, perfect mixing, design equations


• Single tank design


• CSTR with changing volumetric flow rates


• Multiple tank algebraic and graphical design


• Size and performance comparison CSTR vs PFR

• Uses and design equations


• Isothermal design


• PFR with changing volumetric flow rates


• Multiple plug flow reactors in series and parallel


• Plug flow reactors with recycle


• Mixed systems PFR-CSTR


• non-isothermal design

• Competitive Reactions


• Consecutive Reactions


• Selectivity/Yield in multiple reactions

• Microbial kinetics-Balanced Growth and the Monod Equation


• Bio-reactor Design (application of the chemical reactors into biological problems)


• Inactivation Bio-processes (sterilisation & irradiation)

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 the balanced mixture of lecture and tutorial/problem classes coupled with the carefully grades tutorial problems which reflect current industrial practice.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Examination – 50%, 2 hours (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6, LO7)


• Course Work – 25% (LO6, LO7)


• Reactor Design Project – 25% (Group project)

• Two formative multiple choice tests will take place in the reaction engineering lectures followed by verbal feedback and open discussion during the lectures

Module aims

• Allow students to develop a comprehensive understanding of the methodology of linking chemical kinetics with material and energy conservation in the design of idealised homogeneous chemical reactors, operating either in batch or continuous mode, and under either isothermal or non-isothermal conditions.
• Introduce students to the analysis of non ideal flow and, using the Dankwerts flow model, show its effect on both an idealised reactor design and sampling.
• Provide students with knowledge and experience of using standard numerical methods in order to solve complex engineering problems
• Provide students with knowledge and experience of using Matlab and programming in order to solve complex engineering problems

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Carefully cover in lectures the necessary fundamental material and analytical techniques, and demonstrate concepts with appropriate (and where possible practical) examples


• Allow students adequate time to practice the techniques using a large number of carefully selected tutorial problems.

• Lectures                                3.4 hours per week for 11 weeks (average)


• Tutorial/Problem Classes        3 hour per week for 10 weeks  (average)


• Independent learning               8.5 hours per week for 11 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: ENG2113

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 2021/2 academic year.