ADVANCED CHEMICAL AND PETROCHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING - 2021/2

Module Overview

This module provides students with the knowledge and skills to complete chemical reaction engineering analysis on both catalytic and fluid-solid reactors when applied in petrochemical processing. The students will acquire knowledge about different heterogeneous reactor configurations and be able to apply chemical engineering principles to model kinetic behaviour applicable to reaction engineering. 

Module provider

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Module Leader

TSAOULIDIS Dimitrios (Chm Proc Eng)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Completion of the progression requirements to FHEQ Level 6 of degree courses in Chemical and Petroleum Engineering. Qualifying Conditions:  A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module.

Module content

Indicative content includes:

Transport Processes in Heterogeneous Catalysis         
Interfacial and intra-particle gradient effects

Fixed Bed Catalytic Reactor Design

Pseudo-homogeneous and heterogeneous models

Fluidised Bed and Transport Reactors    

Two and three-phase models; transport reactors

Multiphase Reactors           

General design and simplifications

Non-Catalytic Fluid-Solid Reactions

Particle dissolution and shrinking core models.

Industrial Reactor Case Studies                                        

e.g. bio-reactors; polymer reaction engineering; structured reactors

Refinery processes                                     

Reaction mechanisms and operating conditions for

            1)         Treatment processes, e.g. hydrotreating (including amine treatment and sulphur  recovery), naphtha reforming

            2)         Conversion processes, e.g. catalytic cracking, thermal cracking and coking

            3)         Gasoline production, e.g. alkylation, isomerisation, blending

Petrochemical processes               

Reaction mechanisms and operating conditions for

            1)         Steam cracking for light olefins

            2)         Olefins and aromatics polymerisation  

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Class tests and coursework Equivalent assessments will be made available. Examination Resit paper

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to meet the learning outcomes.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Collaborative coursework on heterogeneous reactors with individual submission – 20% (2 elements, 10% each),  (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5)


• Examination – 80%, (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6), as per ENG3184 but to include a section on petrochemical reaction engineering

Formative assessment and feedback.

There is no formal formative assessment, however students will receive formative feedback throughout the module, including:

• Each week a tutorial session will follow the format of problems based on the recent lecture material


• In the tutorial sessions formative feedback on problems will be provided, including problems covered in lectures.


• Feedback session following each assessment


• Feedback to specific queries via email, with responses being made available to all via SurreyLearn

Module aims

• This module aims to further students’ understanding of chemical reaction engineering, relating specifically to the two main areas of heterogeneous non-catalytic reactors, heterogeneous catalytic reactors and their application to petrochemical processing.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to help students:

• Describe and give examples for the use of heterogeneous reactors in the chemical and petrochemical industries


• Develop skills to derive kinetic expressions from engineering first principles.


• Identify appropriate design equations to apply for reactor evaluation

Students will have lectures and tutorials to provide them with the basic appreciation of the key chemical engineering concepts applicable to heterogeneous reaction engineering. Worked examples in lectures and tutorials will give students the opportunity to place their learning in context.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures – 3 hours per week for 9 weeks, followed by 1 hour per week for 3 weeks


• Tutorials – 11 hours of tutorials


• 6 hours of equivalent lectures to be through online learning resources

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: ENG3200

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.