REFINERY AND PETROCHEMICAL PROCESSING - 2021/2

Module Overview

A teaching and learning module covering the processes that comprise a typical refinery and petrochemicals complex. The raw material input is crude oil which is then refined and processed into finished hydrocarbon and chemical intermediate products. Knowledge and understanding will be gained in refinery and petrochemical process operations and experience acquired in troubleshooting a serious problem on an operating unit.   

Module provider

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Module Leader

HOLMES Philip (Chst Chm Eng)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Refinery and petrochemicals complex overview;


• Separations processes e.g. atmospheric and vacuum distillation;


• Treatment processes e.g. hydrotreating (including sulphur recovery), naphtha reforming;


• Conversion processes e.g. catalytic cracking, coking for the upgrade of heavy hydrocarbons;


• Gasoline production e.g. alkylation, isomerisation, blending;


• Lubes production;


• Petrochemicals e.g. light olefins for polymerisation, aromatics;


• Utilities production, energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions;


• Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate:

Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 5, a, b in the examination, and

Learning outcomes 3, 4, a, b, c, d in Coursework 1 and 2.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

·         The examination, 2 hours, (70 %).

·         Coursework 1 and 2 (30 %)

Formative assessment and feedback

Coursework 1 and 2 involve troubleshooting a process unit operating problem over separate two week periods. For each, in class, there is an introductory briefing followed by an intermediate discussion of progress with extensive oral feedback and discussion after submission. Individual grades are notified to the students by e-mail a short time later.  

Module aims

• General refinery and petrochemical operations, their products and economic importance;
• Individual process units covering separation, treatment and conversion of crude oil into refined hydrocarbon products;
• Selected process units for the production of petrochemicals;
• Important utilities such as steam and power generation together with factors affecting energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions;
• Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the industry to 2050.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Provide the students with basic knowledge, understanding and skills that will benefit students interested in pursuing a career in the mainstream or supporting industries of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry. 

The learning and teaching methods include:

11 three-hour combined lecture sessions with a virtual visit to ExxonMobil Fawley Refinery, the use of educational videos, group working and discussions in class with supportive coursework involving formative assessment.   

 

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: ENGM219

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.