Graduate level course offerings: Chemical Engineering

CHE 404 Kinetics and Reactor Design 4R-0L-4C F, S
Prerequisite: CHEM 360 and CHE 304
Homogeneous kinetics, differential and integral data analysis, batch, mixed, and plug flow reactors, systems with multiple reactions and reactors, temperature and pressure effects.

CHE 405 Introduction to MEMS: Fabrication and Applications 3R-3L-4C S
Prerequisite: JR or SR Standing (See EP 410/510.)
Properties of silicon wafers, wafer-level processes, surface and bulk micromachining, thin-film deposition, dry and wet etching, photolithography, process integration, simple actuators. Introduction to microfluidic systems. MEMS applications: capacitive accelerometer, cantilever and pressure sensor. Students enrolled in CHE 405/505 must do project work on a topic selected by the instructor.CHE 409 Professional Practice  1R-0L-1C F Topics on professional practice, project management, contemporary and global issues in the profession are discussed by students, staff and outside speakers.

CHE 411 Chemical Engineering Laboratory I 0R-3L-1C S
Prerequisite: CHEM 115, CHEM 225, CHE 314, MA 223, RH 330
Principles underlying momentum, mass and energy transfer and the applications of equipment used to accomplish such transfer, introduction to laboratory concepts in data collection, record keeping, interpretation and analysis, and instrumentation including experimental error analysis, regression, model formulation, experimental design, and instrumentation. Written and oral reports are required. Formal instruction on written and oral communication and teaming will be provided.

CHE 412 Chemical Engineering Laboratory II 0R- 6L-2C F
Prerequisite: CHE 325, CHE 411 or consent of instructor
Continuation of principles underlying momentum, mass and energy transfer with some emphasis on kinetics, applications of equipment used to accomplish such transfer.

CHE 413 Chemical Engineering Laboratory III 0R- 6L-2C W
Prerequisite: CHE 412
Continuation of CHE 412 with emphasis on process control and kinetics.

CHE 416 Design I: Process Economics and Equipment Design 4R-0L-4C F
Prerequisite: CHEM 252, CHE 325, CHE 404 or concurrent registration
Introduction to the design process; simulation to assist in process creation & analysis; synthesis of separation trains; design of separation towers, heat exchangers, pumps, compressors, expanders and other process equipment; cost accounting & capital cost estimation, trade-offs between capital and operating costs; design of reactor-separator-recycle networks.

CHE 417 Design II: Process Synthesis and Analysis 4R-0L-4C  W
Prerequisite: CHE 416, CHE 404
Annual costs, earnings & profitability; process creation, optimization of process flowsheets; molecular structure design; heat & power integration; mass integration; optimal design & scheduling of batch processes. The course includes an open-ended process improvement project.

CHE 419 Advanced MEMS: Modeling and Packaging 3R-3L-4C F
Prerequisite: EP 410 or equivalent (See EP 411/511)
Design process, modeling; analytical and numerical. Actuators; dynamics and thermal issues. Use of software for layout and simulation. Characterization and reliability of MEMS devices. Electrical interfacing and packaging of MEMS. Microsensors, microfluidic systems, applications in engineering, biology, and physics. Students enrolled in CHE 419/519, must do project work on a topic selected by the instructor.

CHE 420 Consulting Engineering Seminar 2R-0L-2C
Prerequisite: Junior class standing
Discusses problems in the field of consulting engineering. Seminars presented by practicing consulting engineers.

CHE 440 Process Control 4R-0L-4C W
Prerequisite: CHE 202, MA 222
The mathematics of process dynamics, control system design, Laplace transforms, feedback control theory, characteristics of control elements, stability criteria, and frequency response. The course at times uses a personalized system of instruction format. CHE 441 Polymer Engineering  4R-0L-4C F Pre: CHE 404 or concurrent registration in CHE 404 or consent of instructor Interrelation of polymer structure, properties and processing. Polymerization kinetics. Methods for molecular weight determination. Fabrication and processing of thermoplastic and thermosetting materials. Student projects.

CHE 450 Air Pollution Control 4R-0L-4C F or W
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing
An introduction to air pollution and its control with special emphasis on the engineering aspects. Discussions of meteorology, health effects, sources and types of pollution, industrial control technology. Student projects.

CHE 461 Unit Operations in Environmental Engineering 4R-0L-4C F or W
Prerequisite: EM 301 or CHE 301
Physical-chemical unit operations pertinent to wastewater treatment such as membrane separations, filtration, coagulation, flocculation, ion exchange, carbon adsorption. Applications for unit operations from the chemical process industries are also covered.

CHE 470 Safety, Health, and Loss Prevention 4R-0L-4C S
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing
Fundamentals of chemical process safety including toxicology, industrial hygiene, toxic release and dispersion models, fires and explosions, HAZOP analysis. Design of equipment to prevent fires and explosions. Risk assessment, including event and fault trees.

CHE 490 Special Topics in Chemical Engineering 4R-0L-4C F, W, S
Topics of current interest in chemical engineering.

CHE 499 Directed Research F, W, S
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor
A special project is assigned to or selected by the student. The publication of research is encouraged. Variable credit. May be repeated up to a maximum of eight credits.

Undergraduate/Graduate Courses

CHE 502 Transport Phenomena I 4R-0L-4C
Prerequisite: CHE 325 or consent of instructor
Solution of the equations of change for momentum, energy, and mass transport. Mathematical determination of velocity profiles and momentum flux for isothermal flows inside ducts and over objects in both steady and unsteady systems. Turbulent flow theories. Mathematical determination of temperature profiles and heat flux, and concentration profiles and mass flux, in solids and laminar flows including boundary layers. Theoretical bases for friction factors, convective heat transfer, and convective mass transfer coefficients. Dimensional analysis.

CHE 503 Transport Phenomena II 4R-0L-4C
Energy Transport: multidimensional systems; macroscopic balances for nonisothermal systems. Mass Transport: fundamentals of ordinary diffusion, multicomponent diffusion, pressure and thermal diffusion, coupled heat and mass transfer, boundary layer analysis, turbulent transport, mass transfer coefficients, macroscopic balances.

CHE 504 Advanced Reactor Design 4R-0L-4C W
Prerequisite: CHE 404
Strategies for modeling the effects of real reactor systems, including non-ideal flow and multiple phases. Applications in catalysis, combustion, biotechnology, polymerization, and materials processing. Computer methods and software for reactor engineering.

CHE 505 Introduction to MEMS: Fabrication and Applications 3R-3L-4C S
Prerequisite: JR or SR standing
Properties of silicon wafers; wafer-level processes, surface and bulk micromachining, thin-film deposition, dry and wet etching, photolithography, process integration, simple actuators. Introduction to microfluidic systems. MEMS applications: capacitive accelerometer, cantilever and pressure sensor. Students enrolled in PH 510, ME 516, ECE 516, CHE 505, BE 516 must do project work on a topic selected by the instructor.

CHE 512 Petrochemical Processes 4R-0L-4C  F or W
Prerequisite: CHE 325 or consent of instructor
Multicomponent separation of petroleum by flash vaporization and by distillation. Catalytic processes for production of light petroleum products from heavier derivatives. Production of petrochemicals such as ethylene, methanol, and ammonia from natural gas. Group projects on refinery and petrochemical processes. Material balances and economic evaluations. Application of computer design packages and spreadsheets.

CHE 513 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 4R-0L-4
Prerequisite: CHE 304
Review of thermodynamic principles including fundamental equations and the laws of thermodynamics. Thermodynamics of mixtures, phase equilibria, and thermodynamic analysis of processes. Project based in-depth study of phase equilibria, equations of state, and activity coefficient models. Use of process simulator for phase equilibria calculations. Introduction to statistical thermodynamics.

CHE 519 Advanced MEMS: Modeling and Packaging 3R-3L-4C F
Prerequisite: EP 410 or equivalent course
Design process, modeling; analytical and numerical. Actuators; dynamics and thermal issues. Use of software for layout and simulation. Characterization and reliability of MEMS devices. Electrical interfacing and packaging of MEMS. Microsensors, microfluidic systems, applications in engineering, biology, chemistry, and physics. Students enrolled in PH 511, ME 519, ECE 519, CHE 519, BE 519 must do project work on a topic selected by the instructor.

CHE 521 Advanced Chemical Engineering Computation 4R-0L-4C
The application of advanced mathematics to chemical engineering problems. The topics include: the formulation of the partial differential equations of kinetics and heat, mass and momentum transfer problems; series solution techniques; transform solution techniques; vector formulation; numerical methods for systems of differential equations; optimization, including linear programming, combinatorial optimization, and stochastic optimization techniques.

CHE 540 Advanced Process Control 4R-0L-4C
Prerequisite: CHE 440 and consent of instructor
Control topics beyond those covered in CHE 440. Topics will be selected from among the following: optimization, nonlinear control, adaptive control, multivariable systems, process dynamics, digital systems, system design.

CHE 545 Introduction to Biochemical Engineering 4R-0L-4C
Prerequisite: AB 110, CHEM 330, CHE 404 or ES 201 or consent of instructor
Survey course introducing biochemical terminology and processes. Review of microbiology and biochemistry. Enzyme kinetics, cellular genetics, biochemical transport phenomena, and design and operation of biochemical reactors. Emphasis on applying engineering principles to biochemical situations.

CHE 546 Bioseparations 4R-0L-4C
Prerequisite: AB 110, CHE 325 or ES 201, or consent of instructor
An introduction to biochemistry and microbiology will be followed by analysis of bioseparation processes. Filtration, centrifugation, adsorption, electrophoresis, and chromatography are the primary topics of the course. Applications are emphasized.

CHE 590 Special Topics in Chemical Engineering 4R-0L-4C F, W, S
Topics of current interest in chemical engineering. May be repeated.

CHE 597 Special Projects in Chemical Engineering F, W, S
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor
A special project, or series of problems, or research problem is assigned to or selected by the student. A comprehensive report must be submitted at the conclusion of the project. Not to be used as a substitute for CHE 599, Thesis Research. Variable credit. May be repeated up to a maximum of eight credits.

CHE 598 Graduate Seminar 1R-0L-0C F, W, S
Selected topics in chemical engineering are discussed by graduate students, faculty, and guest speakers.

CHE 599 Thesis Research F, W, S
Graduate students only. Credits as assigned; however, not more than 12 credits will be applied toward the requirements of the M.S. degree.

Department of Chemical Engineering Website