Chemical Engineering Courses

CHE200 Introduction to Chemical Engineering

[3–0, 3 cr.]

An overview of the chemical engineering curriculum, professionalism, career opportunities, and issues of safety and environment followed by an introduction to chemical engineering calculations; units, dimensions and conversion factors. Stoichiometry, material and energy balances, introduction to practical engineering problems.

Prerequisites: COE 201 Computer proficiency, CHM 201 Chemical Principles

CHE301 Transport Phenomena

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Study of diffusion, convection and interfacial mass transfer. Design of some equilibrium-stage separation processes in continuous operations. Mass transfer equipment. Momentum and mass transport in porous media and analogy between the two types of transport.

Perquisite: CHE200 Introduction to Chemical Engineering and MTH304 Differential Equations

CHE313 Organic Chemistry I

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of organic chemistry with an emphasis on the relation between structure and properties. It also includes nomenclature, properties and reactions of aliphatic hydrocarbons, alkyl halides and alcohols with an emphasis on mechanistic and stereochemical aspects of organic reactions and their application in organic synthesis. The concept of aromaticity is introduced.

Perquisite: CHM201 Chemical Principles 

CHE314 Organic Chemistry I Lab

[0–3, 1 cr.]

This laboratory course is designed to provide students with the basic skills for conducting organic reactions. The following techniques are learned: melting point determination, boiling  point determination, simple, fractional and steam distillation, gravity and vacuum filtration, drying solids and liquids, extraction, evaporation, reflux, recrystallization, thin-layer and column chromatography, and polarimetry. Students are introduced to ChemDraw software and molecular modeling.

Pre- or Co-requisite: CHE 313 Organic Chemistry I

CHE320 Chemical Reactions and Chemical Reactors

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course introduces the principles of chemical reactions and chemical reactors. Reaction kinetics introduced. Several types of reactors designed: non-continuous (batch) and continuous reactors (plug flow reactor, continuous stirred tank reactor, and packed bed reactor). Both isothermal and non-isothermal reactors designed by building the Chemical reaction Engineering algorithm.

Prerequisites: CHE 200 Introduction to Chemical Engineering, MATH 304 Differential Equations

Co-requisite: CHE 340 Physical Chemistry

CHE323 Organic Chemistry II

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Topics include UV-visible and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids and derivatives, chemistry of aromatic compounds, enolate chemistry, polyenes, free radicals, amines, introduction to carbohydrates and peptides, and multistep synthesis.

Prerequisites: CHE 313 Organic Chemistry I

CHE324 Organic Chemistry II Lab

[0–3, 1 cr.]

Laboratory experiments, including chemical compound synthesis, and instrumental analysis.

Co-requisite: CHE 323 Organic Chemistry II 

CHE340 Physical Chemistry

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Modern physical chemistry topics including molecular quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, and thermodynamics. Emphasis on quantitative understanding of chemical systems.

Prerequisites: CHM 201 Chemical Principles, MEE 301 Engineering Thermodynamics

Co-requisite: CHE 341 Physical Chemistry Lab

CHE341 Physical Chemistry Lab

[0–3, 1 cr.]

Laboratory experiments supplementing CHE340, with experiments related to spectroscopy, kinetics, polymers, colloids, electrochemistry, diffusion, and thermochemistry

Co-requisite: CHE340 Physical Chemistry

CHE402 Separation Processes I

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course includes thermodynamics, mechanisms, and design of separation units used for distillation, absorption, extraction, and solid-fluid systems.

Prerequisite: CHE 301 Transport phenomena

CHE403 Separation Processes II

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course covers design of separation units used for crystallization, adsorption, membrane separation, ion exchange, and chromatography.

Prerequisite: CHE 402 Separation Processes I

CHE411 Fundamentals of Catalysis

[2–0, 2 cr.]

This course covers the fundamentals of catalysis: history of catalysis, catalytic materials, synthesis and characterization, catalytic reactor design and catalyst deactivation and regeneration.

Prerequisites: MEE 321 Materials Properties and Processes, CHE 421 Advanced reactor design 

CHE421 Advanced Reactor Design

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Advanced aspects of reactor design. Design and scale-up under realistic conditions of various types of chemical reactors.

Prerequisites: CHE 320 Chemical reactions and chemical reactors, CHE 301 Transport Phenomena

CHE434 Chemical Engineering Profession

[2–0, 2 cr.]

Introduction to the history and heritage of chemical engineering; specialized sub disciplines; professionalism and professional registration and societies; continuing education; impact of historical and contemporary issues on the identification, formulation, and solution of engineering problems , impact of engineering solutions on the economy, environment, political landscape, and society. The course involves teamwork researching topics related to the impact of contemporary engineering solutions.

CHE450 Introduction to Process Control

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Continuous-time and discrete-time signal transformations and system classifications; Linear time invariant system analysis; Fourier series and transform; Laplace transform; block diagram algebra and signal flow graph; stability analysis techniques; root locus; state space analysis; modern and classical control designs.

Prerequisites: COE 212 Engineering programming, ELE 305 Introduction to electrical engineering

CHE451 Chemical Engineering Lab

[0–3, 1 cr.]

Experiments of separation, chemical reactions, and process control. Emphasis on safety.

Prerequisite: CHE421 Advanced reactor design
Co-requisite: CHE403 Separation processes II

CHE460 HSE for Chemical Engineering

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course covers safety, health and environment (HSE) related to chemical engineering field. Hazards and prevention of potential accidents as well as emergency preparedness. Audit preparation and evaluation. Process design considering HSE. HAZOP and HAZAN software used for case studies.

Prerequisite: CHE 323 Organic Chemistry II

CHE498 Professional Experience

[0–6, 6 cr.]

Professional experience through training in the execution of real-life engineering projects.

Prerequisites: fifth-year standing

CHE500 Applied Mathematics for Chemical Engineers

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Review of ordinary differential equations, nonhomogeneous equations; series solutions of linear ordinary differential equation. Laplace transform methods; Fourier-Bessel series and separation of variables for partial differential equations. Gamma, Bessel, Laguerre functions, and Legendre polynomials.

Pre-requisite: MTH304 Differential Equations.

CHE501 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course builds on undergraduate thermodynamics material. It covers physical and thermodynamic properties, and   phase equilibria, equations of state, and the liquid activity coefficient equations. Vapor-liquid, liquid-liquid,   vapor-liquid-liquid and solid-liquid equilibria are rigorously covered. A variety of methods for estimating   physical and thermodynamic properties are introduced.  The course includes an   introduction to statistical thermodynamics.

Pre-requisite: MEE301 Engineering Thermodynamics

CHE502 Bioprocess Engineering

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Application of process engineering principles to the design and operation of fermentation reactors which are widely used in the pharmaceutical, food, brewing and waste treatment industries. Aspects of mass transfer, heat transfer, mixing and rheology with biochemical and biological constraints

Pre-requisite: fifth year standing

CHE542 Chemical Reactor Design

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Introduction to the principles of reactor design. Non-continuous (batch) and continuous reactors (plug-flow, continuous stirred tank reactors and packed-bed reactors) are introduced in addition to semi-batch and membrane reactors. Design of reactors is practiced by using the chemical reaction engineering algorithm with its five building blocks. Classical reaction kinetics including rates, mechanisms and temperature effects are studied.

Pre-requisite: PTE450 Introduction to Process Engineering

CHE544 Mass Transfer Operations

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Introduction to the basic principles of mass transfer needed to formulate and solve engineering problems involving different operations like absorption and stripping, distillation, liquid-liquid extraction, humidification, membrane and solid-sorbent agent separations.

Pre-requisite: CHM205 Chemical Principles and PTE450 Introduction to Process Engineering

CHE546 Corrosion Engineering

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Introduction to the principles of corrosion engineering starting from the basic principles of electrochemistry and chemical thermodynamics until prevention and control of corrosion. Case studies from chemical and oil and gas industries are covered.

Pre-requisite: Fifth year standing

CHE546 Corrosion Engineering

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Introduction to the principles of corrosion engineering starting from the basic principles of electrochemistry and chemical thermodynamics until prevention and control of corrosion. Case studies from chemical and oil and gas industries are covered.

Pre-requisite: Fifth year standing

CHE548 Chemical Process Design

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course combines material from several chemical engineering courses in order to design chemical processes. Students will learn some basics to implement real engineering projects: a flow sheet will be translated, using software, into a real process.

Pre-requisites PTE450 Introduction to Process Engineering, CHE542 Reactor design, CHE544 Mass Transfer Operations, ME 403 Heat Transfer

CHE549 Industrial Catalytic Processes

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Fundamentals of catalytic science; catalyst synthesis, characterization, testing and usage in reactors and catalyst deactivation. Discussion of important industrial catalytic processes: Hydrogen Production and synthesis gas reactions, hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of organic compounds, oxidation of organic and inorganic compounds.

Pre-requisite: PTE450 Introduction to Process Engineering

CHE552 Chemical Process Design (B.E. Chemical engineering)

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Concepts learned in all chemical engineering core courses applied in this course to design chemical processes and plants.

Prerequisites: CHE403 Separation Processes II, CHE411 Fundamentals of catalysis, MEE403 Heat Transfer
Co-requisites: CHE533 Process Design Lab, CHE591 Capstone Design I

CHE552 Chemical Process Design

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Concepts learned in all chemical engineering core courses applied in this course to design chemical processes and plants.

Prerequisites: CHE403 Separation Processes II, CHE411 Fundamentals of catalysis, MEE403 Heat Transfer
Co-requisites: CHE533 Process Design Lab, CHE591 Capstone Design I

CHE553 Chemical Process Design Lab

[0–6, 2 cr.]

Design using computer aided process design and simulation tools like Aspen Plus.

Co-requisite: CHE 552 Chemical Process Design

CHE554 Process Control Strategies

[3–0, 3 cr.]

State space methods. Sampled-data systems. Discrete systems. Transform methods. Multivariable control. Computer control. Closed-loop analysis. Design of controllers. Control of complex chemical systems.

Pre-requisite: fifth year standing

CHE555 Microprocessors in Process Control

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Introduction and overview of microprocessor-based technology in chemical engineering; analog and digital signal conditioning, data transmission and serial interfacing, analog-to-digital conversion and sampling; digital-to-analog conversion; digital I/O, switches/relays, and power supplies; microprocessor-based sensors, transducers and actuators; programmable logic controllers and batch process control; software packages for data-acquisition and control

Pre-requisite: CHE450 Introduction to Process Control

CHE556 Advanced Process Control

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Mathematical modeling and identification of chemical processes. State-space process representation and analysis: stability, observability, controllability and reach-ability. Analysis and design of advanced control systems: internal model control, dynamic matrix control and model predictive control. Synthesis of multivariable control systems: interaction analysis, singular value decomposition, decoupler design. Continuous and sampled-data systems, on-line process identification. State and parameter estimation techniques: Luenberger observer and Kalman filter.

Pre-requisite: CHE450 Introduction to Process Control

CHE557 Bioseparation Engineering

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Bioseparation engineering using specialized unit operations. Processing operations including product recovery, separations, purification, and ancillary operations. The principles of chromatography, Ion exchange, and affinity-based separation.

Pre-requisite: fifth year standing

CHE560 Petroleum Engineering Fundamentals

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Overview of petroleum industry and petroleum engineering including elementary and technical aspects, surveys, acquisition of leases, oil and gas reservoirs, petroleum exploration and drilling, formation evaluation, completion and production, reservoir mechanics, and improved oil recovery.

CHE561 Drilling Engineering

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Introduction to drilling systems; equipment functions, performance, and design considerations of rotating system, hoisting system, and circulation system; drilling fluids calculations and selections; directional drilling; hydraulic programs; drilling optimization; casing string design; cementing techniques; well planning and control; drilling hydraulics; formulation evaluation and well completion; well deliverability; artificial lift; and drilling problems.

Prerequisite: CHE560 Petroleum Engineering Fundamentals 

CHE562 Production Engineering

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Analysis, specification, and characteristics of production systems, design of well flow systems, types and characteristics of well completions, perforating, well bore damage and simulation, combined inflow and well performance analysis, artificial lift systems, and related production problems, oil well pumping, gas lift, surface facilities and flow measurement, well stimulation design methods, work over and recompletion analysis, design of surface separation and treating facilities.

Prerequisite: CHE560 Petroleum Engineering Fundamentals 

CHE563 Well Testing

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Well test design and interpretation; analysis methods for pressure drawdown, buildup, and interference tests; principle of superposition and its application in well test analysis; average reservoir pressure estimation; effect of well bore conditions on pressure behavior; an introduction to drill stem testing and gas well testing.

Prerequisite: CHE561 Drilling Engineering 

CHE564 Reservoir Engineering

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Classification of subsurface reservoirs by type and recovery mechanism; analysis and prediction of reservoir performance by use of volumetric and material balance and state flow equations, influx theory, application of principles of reservoir analysis and modeling concepts to the determination of reservoir behavior and education; reserve estimates; introduction to displacement processes.

Prerequisite: CHE560 Petroleum Engineering Fundamentals

CHE565 Gas Engineering

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Analysis of four-point gas deliverability tests and gas well pressure transient tests, methods for determining wet gas and condensate reserves in volumetric and water drive reservoirs, gas inflow performance equations and methods of forecasting future production rates, essential surface facilities and methods for handling sour gas and hydrates.

Prerequisite: PTE564 Reservoir Engineering

CHE566 Reservoir Simulation

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Reservoir simulation for petroleum reservoir characteristics and behavior, pore volume, fluid distribution and movement, and recover; result simulation studies of optimized field development and management plans which maximize the value and/or reserves of producing properties; governing equations for development of several analytical models for reservoir evaluation and analysis; finite difference approximations to the diffusivity equation and the application of those approximations for reservoir simulations; application to common reservoir engineering problems.

Prerequisite: PTE564 Reservoir Engineering

CHE570 Sustainable Energy

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Assessment of current and potential future energy systems. Resources, extraction, conversion, and end-use technologies, with emphasis on meeting future regional and global energy needs in a sustainable manner. Examines various energy technologies in each fuel cycle stage for fossil, nuclear and renewable energy types, along with storage, transmission, and conservation issues. Emphasis on analysis of energy propositions within an engineering, economic and social context.

Pre-requisite: fifth-year standing

CHE571 Fundamentals of Advanced Energy Conversion

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Fundamentals of thermodynamics, chemistry, and transport as applied to energy systems. Analysis of energy conversion and storage in thermal, mechanical, chemical, and electrochemical processes in power and transportation systems, with emphasis on efficiency, performance, and environmental impact. Applications to fuel reforming and alternative fuels, hydrogen, fuel cells and batteries, combustion, catalysis, combined and hybrid power cycles using fossil, nuclear and renewable resources. CO₂ separation and capture. Biomass energy.

Pre-requisite: CHE570 Sustainable Energy

CHE572 Biofuels Engineering Technology

[3–0, 3 cr.]

The fundamental concepts of biofuels and the current state-of -the-art technology for their production along with economics, environmental impact, and policy issues.  Conversion of feedstock to biofuels by both biochemical and thermochemical methods.

Pre-requisite: CHE570 Sustainable Energy

CHE573 Electrochemical Energy Systems

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Principles and mathematical modeling of electrochemical energy conversion and storage. Equivalent circuits, thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, transport phenomena, electrostatics, porous media, and phase transformations. Applications to batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors, and electrokinetics.

Pre-requisite: CHE570 Sustainable Energy

CHE591 Capstone Design I

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Based on skills and concepts learned in all core chemical engineering courses to design a process that aims to solve an industrial problem. Projects can be conducted in collaboration with an industrial or academic partner.

Co-requisites: CHE450 Introduction to process control, CHE552 Chemical Process Design

CHE592 Capstone Design II

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Continuation of CHE499 to design and optimize an overall process or product based on societal, safety, environmental, and economic constraints.

Prerequisite: CHE 591 Capstone design I

CHE301 Transport Phenomena

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Study of diffusion, convection and interfacial mass transfer. Design of some equilibrium-stage separation processes in continuous operations. Mass transfer equipment. Momentum and mass transport in porous media and analogy between the two types of transport.

Prerequisites: CHE 200 Introduction to Chemical Engineering, MATH 304 Differential Equations