Chemical Engineering Modules

Year 1

Engineering Mathematics 1

CHE1011

This module will introduce students into varieties of concepts, mathematical techniques and skills to solve relevant engineering problems. Different topics will be covered in this module under three different themes: linear algebra, ordinary differential equations (1st and 2nd order) and infinite series (with single and two variables). The module topics will be covered in lectures, which will also include worked examples to demonstrate to students how to apply the knowledge and techniques presented in the lectures. Class exercise will also be given during lectures to promote student-lecturer and student-student interactions. Additionally, such exercises will serve as a formative assessment and allow the lecturer to gauge students learning and provide immediate feedback.

Complex problems will also be provided in tutorials to allow students to practice and apply the knowledge and skills learnt in lectures.

In addition to formative assessment, summative assessments will also be conducted in this module through two assignments and final examination. The key objective of these summative assessments is to measure the achievements of the module learning outcomes. The two assignments will compromise complex problems, which will require students to pursue some additional knowledge and skills not covered in the lecture notes or in tutorial through independent learning. Final exam will be a comprehensive test covering many knowledge and skills learnt throughout this module.


Statistics

CHE1012

This module will equip students with the basics in statistics, which can be divided into descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The first half of the module will start with descriptive statistics which deal with collecting, summarizing, and processing data to transform it into useful information. Next, probability theory will be introduced which forms the basis for inferential statistics. The second half of the module will continue with inferential statistics which deal with making estimations and decisions based on the information obtained from sample data. Topics covered in the module include descriptive statistics, probability theory and distributions, sampling distributions, inferential statistics and regression analysis.  Students will be assessed by in-class quizzes and a final exam.


Technical Writing and Effective Communication

CHE1013

Communication has long been taken as a core competency for undergraduate students in all major universities in the world and is a prerequisite skill almost invariably required by employers in today’s knowledge-based economy. Important communication skills for engineering undergraduates include the ability to write technical information to technical and non-technical audiences and present such information coherently and clearly in oral communication. This module aims to develop such ability of engineering undergraduates through technical report writing and oral presentation activities.


Mass and Energy Balance

CHE1014

This module prepares learners to formulate and solve mass and energy balances on chemical process systems in the pharmaceutical engineering context, and lays the foundation for subsequent courses in thermodynamics, unit operations, as well as process monitoring, automation, and control. In essence, this course introduces an engineering approach to problem solving by the following steps: (i) breaking a process down to its components, (ii) establishing the relations between known and unknown process variables, (iii) assembling the information needed to solve for the unknowns, and finally (iv) obtaining the solution using appropriate computational methods.

This module utilizes lectures, in-lecture activities, and tutorials to help students achieve the course objectives. Students’ progress is assessed through a combination assignments, quizzes and a final exam. Group work contributes significantly to the total grade. 


Biomolecular Science 1

CHE1015

This module covers basic molecular biology principles, as well as central dogma of biology that encompasses transcription, translation, expression. Enzyme kinetics and cellular transport systems will be covered. Analysis of key metabolic processes such as glycolysis and TCA cycle will also be included.

 


Engineering Mathematics 2

CHE1021

This module will cover advanced mathematical concepts which can be used to solve complex engineering problems. Topics covered include partial differentiation and partial differential equations, Fourier analysis, multiple integrals, vector algebra and calculus.


Organic Chemistry

CHE1022

This module covers the characteristics, synthesis methods and reaction mechanisms of organic compounds. Topics taught include (i) nucleophilic substitution, elimination, electrophilic additions/substitutions, oxidations and reduction, (ii) functional group transformation, (ii) disconnection approach to synthesis, and (iv) synthesis of polyfunctional organic molecules, stereochemistry and reaction mechanisms.


Organic Chemistry Laboratory

CHE1023

The Organic Chemistry Laboratory module comprises hands-on experimental activities to reinforce fundamental understanding of the underlying principles taught in the Organic Chemistry lecture module. Students will also be trained in laboratory safety practices, hazard identification, risk assessment, technical report writing and presentation skills.


Career and Professional Development

CHE2025

Chemical Engineering is an important and learned profession. As members of this profession, chemical engineers are expected to exhibit the highest standards of professional ethics. CHE2025 module equips students with the necessary communication skills and knowledge of professional ethics for their careers in chemical engineering. The first phase of the module helps students to develop skills necessary for job applications. The second phase provides practice for students to hone their oral presentation skills through a persuasive project that enhances message reception and comprehension.


Computing and Simulation

CHE2017

This module introduces three computational tools and some numerical algorithms that may be used to help solve Chemical Engineering problems. The MATLAB programming environment and use of command line operations will be introduced as a foundation to Simulink while flow-sheeting is introduced via UNISIM.

The Python environment, matrix handling, basic house-keeping commands, scripts and functions, conditionals, for-next and while loops, plotting and other commands are taught through a series of labs/workshops.

Students are introduced to flow-sheeting using UNISIM. How to navigate the UNISIM user interface, how to set up the simulation basis, how to use the unit operation models available in UNISIM are taught using step by step examples of how to set up a process simulation.

Students will be taught numerical algorithms used in root finding, solving sets of algebraic equations and used in the solution of ODEs. The theoretical bases and relative merits of these algorithms are covered and students will learn how to apply the techniques, including the use of SIMULINK to simulate dynamical systems.