UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA SYLLABUS OUTLINE FACULTY: SCHOOL/DEPT. Engineering and Computing Engineering/Chemical Engineering COURSE OF STUDY: Bachelor of Chemical Engineering MODULE TITLE: INORGANIC CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY MODULE CODE: CHE 4022 DURATION: CREDIT VALUE: 65 hours lecture, tutorial & field trips 4 credits PREREQUISITES: CHE 2004 1. MODULE DESCRIPTION This course covers inorganic chemical technology at the advanced level as it relates to the production of inorganic acids, smelter grade alumina, ordinary Portland cement and potable water. Topics include trouble shooting of chemical processes, technical problem solving and decision-making, as well as preparing technical project documentation for the authorization/appropriation of funds. 2. MODULE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES 2.1.1. MODULE GENERAL OBJECTIVES After successful completion of the course the student should: 2.1.2. Understand problem solving in chemical processes. 2.1.3. Know the details of various inorganic chemical manufacturing processes. 2.1.4. Explain the steps necessary for breaking down complex technical projects into simple manageable sub units. 2.1.5. Understand the importance of meeting specific deadlines in managing technical projects 2.1.6. Know the important unit operations of some major inorganic chemical processes.
2.2. MODULE UNITS AND SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES 2.2.1. Unit 1: Decision Making and Problem Solving Techniques (10 hours) On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to: 2.2.1.1 Solve simple problems using a variety of decision making techniques 2.2.1.2 Appropriately fit the type of decision making technique to the complexity of the problem 2.2.2 Unit 2: Writing Requests For Authorization (RFA) (10 hours) On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to: 2.2.2.1 Differentiate the various sections and authorization procedures of an RFA 2.2.2.2 Prepare an RFA for a specific engineering problem. 2.2.2.3 Use appropriate terminology to describe chemical process operations and equipment 2.2.3 Unit 3: Inorganic Chemical Processes (45 hours) On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to: 2.2.3.1 Explain the important features of major inorganic chemical processes 2.2.3.2 Troubleshoot problems relating to major inorganic chemical processes 3. MODULE CONTEXT AND CONTENT 3.1 Unit 1: Writing Requests For Authorization (10 hours) 3.1.1 The RFA concept pros and cons 3.1.2 RFA page 1. Cost allocation. 3.1.3 RFA page 2. The approval process. 3.1.4 RFA page 3. 3.1.4.1 The Executive Summary 3.1.4.2 Background. 3.1.4.3 Calculation basis. 3.1.4.4 Event Costs. 3.1.4.5 Opportunity Statement. 3.1.5 RFA page 4. 3.1.5.1 Selected Solution Summary 3.1.5.2 Preliminary Project Milestones 3.1.5.3 Summary of Non Financial indicators
3.1.5.4 Assumption/risk Summary 3.1.6 RFA page 5. Investment Schedule 3.1.7 RFA page 6. Solution Analysis. 3.1.8 RFA page 6. Environmental, Health & Safety Issues. 3.1.9 RFA page 7. Supporting Attachments. 3.2 Unit 2: Decision Making and Problem Solving Techniques (10 hours) 3.2.1 Apply the PMI method to simple problems 3.2.2 Use reverse synthesis to simplify problems 3.2.3 Apply systematic methods for idea generation 3.2.3.1 Brainstorming as a decision making tool 3.2.3.2 Brain Writing as a decision making tool 3.2.3.3 Systematical structuring for solving simple problems 3.2.3.4 Systematical problem specification for solving simple problems 3.3 Unit 3: Inorganic Chemical Processes (45 hours) 3.3.1 The Sulphuric Acid manufacturing process. 3.3.2 The Bayer process. 3.3.3 Cement manufacture 3.3.4.Water purification. 4. LEARNING AND TEACHING APPROACHES 4.1 Units 1 & 2 will involve a student-centered approach involving the solving of problems ranging from simple day-to-day situations to complex real-life industrial problems. Students will form breakout groups to tackle problems using the techniques taught. Individual efforts will be monitored via homework assignments. 4.2 Unit 3 will comprise lecture sessions in a didactic mode combined with actual visits to different types of processing plants for a more practical approach. 5. ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES 5.1 The course is designed on the basis of technical report writing from field trips, a mid-semester test and a project on writing Requests for Authorization (RFA) for funds to complete an engineering project.
Field Trip Schedule: VENUE FOCUS Alkali Chemicals Ltd. Process Plant Operations Grace Food processing Plant Process Plant Operations and safety procedures Jamalco Unit operations & plant design Carib Cement Company ltd. Environmental, Health and Safety Concerns National Water Commission Water Purification & distribution Caribbean products Ltd Raw material Storage and Transport Each student must submit a report by 1600 hours on the Wednesday following the field trip. The report must give a brief description of total plant process and reflect the writer s perspective on any one specific plant operation. Reports must be at least 3 typewritten pages using double line spacing and Times New Roman, 12 pt font size while adhering to current document reference standards. The paper will be assessed according to the following rubric: ASSESSMENT CRITERIA % POINTS ALLOCATION Effective outline of the relevant process 10 Adequate display of knowledge of the topic 20 Good organizational flow of the information 10 Strict adherence to the relevant format 5 Punctuation and grammar 5 TOTAL 50 There will be a deduction of 0.10 of a point for every hour of late submission of each report. NO REQUEST FOR LENIENCY WILL BE ENTERTAINED IF NOT ACCOMPANIED BY A PROPERLY AUTHORIZED MEDICAL CERTIFICATE!
PROJECT REPORT The students will form groups of two (2) persons and complete Requests for Authorization reports as follows: GROUP # PROBLEM STATEMENT DUE DATE 01 In the world of alternative fuels, there may be nothing greener than pond scum. Algae are tiny biological factories that use photosynthesis to transform carbon dioxide and sunlight into energy so efficiently that they can double their weight several times a day. As part of the photosynthesis process algae produce oil and can generate 15 times more oil per acre than other plants used for biofuels, such as corn, castor oil, jatropha and even switchgrass. Algae grows in salt water, freshwater or waste water. November Utech was given a mandate to substitute 20 % of its total energy requirement from biofuels within the next three years and your group was tasked with the responsibility of realizing this commitment.
02 The power industry operates in an environment of increasingly stringent boiler feed water requirements and unfortunately, condensate systems always leak. Heat exchangers are where most of the leakage problems start. This is where untreated cooling water can contaminate the process water causing corrosion. Every system must have a method to handle this leakage. When a condensate system is not properly controlled or simply ignored, corrosion takes place. Iron, copper, and other harmful contaminants are washed back into the boiler systems. This wastes energy because these contaminants reduce heat transfer. November A simple solution is to blow down the boiler to improve water quality, but this wastes heat and requires more makeup water. Couple this with exploding energy costs and one finds boiler blow down to be the least desirable way of maintaining proper boiler water quality. The cost effective solution is to "polish" your contaminated condensate for reuse. As more condensate is reused, less make up water is required, reducing both chemical consumption and energy requirements. So, the cost effective alternative to boiler blow down one needs to look no further than simple sodium cycle condensate polishing. It s the smart choice when looking for a means to control corrosion transport and the ill effects of condenser in-leakage. Particularly pronounced are the operating savings realized relative to chemical and energy consumption. Relying on proven ion exchange technology condensate polishers are also simple to operate and maintain.
03 Decontaminate soil using microbes November 04 Utech hazardous waste disposal problem November 05 To be finalized November 06 To be finalized November 07 To be finalized November Students must adhere to the RFA format discussed in class and ensure that all the necessary approval signatures are secured. At the end of the course students are expected to submit a reflective paper of at least one (1), but no more that two (2) pages in length (appropriate document standard) critiquing the entire course. This course will be evaluated on the basis of PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT. Students must maintain a portfolio of all their assignments and tests for presentation and assessment at the end of the course. Documents in the portfolio must be arranged in reverse chronological order. One (1) percentage point will be deducted from the final marks for each day of late submission of the portfolio. Two (2) percentage points will be deducted from the final marks for each document missing from the portfolio or arranged in the wrong order.
Final grading and assessment will be as follows: ASSIGNMENT MAXIMUM COMMENTS MARKS Reports 30 Average marks of 3 reports*30/50 RFA 30 Less 1 mark/10 hr period for tardiness Mid-semester test 25 5 compulsory questions, October 28 Reflective Paper 5 Independent opinion needed Portfolio Management 10 Package due December 05, 2005 TOTAL 100 % There will be no final exam in this module BREAKDOWN OF HOURS Classroom lectures Tutorial Off-campus experiential learning Assessment Total for 13 weeks 2 hours per week 2 hours per week 8 hours per month 5 hours per module 65 hours TEXTBOOKS AND REFERENCES Required: Recommended: Additional Reading: Course notes & handouts Technical publications Chemical & Plant Engineering magazines & journals NAME OF SYLLABUS WRITER/DEVELOPER Major G. Junior Virgo 2005 September 20