Industrial Chemistry Laboratory II

The objectives of this compulsory subject are:
• To develop the ability to conduct experiments, to learn how to identify and quantify the rate of chemical reactions, to interpret the theories that explain and represent them by using useful mathematical models for the design of chemical reactors.
• To learn the management of the experimental equipments, methods of laboratory work and the preventive measurements to be taken from the perspective of its application at the industrial scale.
• To develop the ability to search data on the literature and on-line sources.
• To learn to use software tools for the analysis of complex reaction systems and for the design of industrial reactors.

The contents are grouped in two blocks, as follows:

Part I - Laboratory
• Hydro-kinetic simulation of chemical reactions.
• Variation of concentration with time in a stirred tank.
• Adiabatic reactor.
• Saponification of ethyl acetate.
• Solid-liquid heterogeneous reaction.
• Determination of residence time in a fixed bed reactor.

Part II – Computing classes
• On-line resources for the process industry: general principles.
• Modelling of homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions.
• Modelling of complex reactions and reactors systems.
• Design of reactors.

In addition to the books listed below, the document of guidelines for the different experiments will provide the student with recommended readings for the particular experiment or exercise.

Basic bibliography
- LEVENSPIEL, O. Chemical Reaction Engineering. New York. Wiley, 1999.

Complementary bibliography
- MOTT, R.L. Applied Fluid Mechanics. 6th ed. Boston. Prentice Hall. 2006.
- ÇENGEL, Y.A. Heat and mass transfer - A practical approach. 3rd ed. New York, McGraw-Hill, 2006.

Basic skills:
- CB1: Students have demonstrated knowledge and understanding in a field of study that starts from the basis of general secondary education, and it is typically at a level which, although it is supported by advanced textbooks, it also includes some aspects that imply knowledge of the forefront of their field of study.
- CB2: Students can apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and have competences typically demonstrated through devising and sustaining arguments and solving problems within their field of study.
- CB5: Students have developed those skills needed to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy.

General skills:
- CG4: Ability to solve problems with initiative, decision making, creativity, critical thinking and to communicate and transmit knowledge, skills and abilities in the field of Industrial Engineering, especially of Industrial Chemistry.
- CG5: Knowledge to perform measurements, calculations, assessments, appraisals, surveys, studies, reports, work plans and other similar tasks.

Transferable skills:
- CT1: Capacity for analysis and synthesis.
- CT2: Ability to use computer applications in the field of Industrial Engineering.
- CT4: Capacity for teamwork.
- CT9: Ability to organize and plan.
- CT10: Ability to solve problems (including in CG4).
- CT12: Capacity for independent learning (including in CG3).
- CT14: Demonstrate critical thinking (including in CG4).

Specific skills:
- CE22: Ability to design and management of applied experimentation procedures, especially for the determination of thermodynamic and transport properties and phenomena and system modeling in the field of chemical engineering; fluid flow systems, heat transfer, mass transfer operations, kinetics of chemical reactions and reactors.

This is a compulsory attendance practice subject.

- Laboratory practices:
The students, grouped in duos or trios, will carry out between 3 and 4 practices, depending on their complexity. Once the experimentation in the laboratory is finished and all the data they consider necessary has been obtained, the students will have to carry out all the necessary calculations to achieve the intended results, analyze them and draw the pertinent conclusions, which they will translate into a Practice Report of Laboratory. For the calculations it will be necessary to use a spreadsheet, preferably Excel.

- Practices in the computer room:
Reactor and chemical process simulations will be carried out using the Hysys simulation program. The students will individually carry out the different exercises proposed in the practice scripts. In addition, the script will include a series of practical cases to deliver that students must perform autonomously to show the skills acquired.
Once the practices are finished, the students will prepare a Practice Work with Hysys, which will include the discussion of the main results and conclusions obtained during the development of the practical cases proposed to deliver.

The two hours of group tutorials (one hour for laboratory and another hour for computing classes) will be devoted to the presentation of the different experiments and exercises to be done by the students and to analyse and discuss the doubts raised by them after reviewing the material provided.

The USC Learning Management System will be used for distribution of the scripts and other complementary elements for the appropriate performance of the activities and the writing of the reports.

If it is detected that any assignments or tests were carried out in a fraudulent manner by the students, the document "Regulations for assessment of the academic performance of the students and for revision of marks" ("Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión das cualificacións") will be of application.

The evaluation of the subject is Continuous with Final Exam, and the final grade of the student will consider both the result of the exam and that of all the activities carried out and the reports of practices. Thus, the evaluation system will consist of the following sections:

A) Reports of Practices (works): up to 3.5 points (1.5 points in the computer room and 2.0 points in the laboratory). Among others, the calculations made, the analysis of the results obtained and the conclusions derived from them will be valued. Evaluated competences: CB1, CB2, CG4, CG5, CT1, CT2, CT4, CT12 and CE22. Minimum required qualification: 0.6 points in the computer room and 0.8 points in the laboratory.

B) Classroom practices and activities: up to 2.5 points (1.0 points in the computer room and 1.5 points in the laboratory); The performance and personal initiative of the student, their interventions, the resolution of problems and questions that arise, the ability to work as a team will be assessed. Evaluated competences: CB2, CB5, CG4, CG5, CT2, CT4, CT9, CE22.

C) Final exam: up to 4.0 points (1.75 points in the computer room and 2.25 points in the laboratory); Minimum required qualification 0.75 points in the computer room and 1.0 points in the laboratory. Evaluated competences: CE22.

To pass the subject it is mandatory to achieve the minimum grades indicated in sections A and C, and, in addition, obtain a total grade of at least 5.0 points.

The student who performs the practices, and does not appear for the exam, will receive the final grade of Failure. For the final grade to be No Presented, the student will not be able to participate in any of the activities and evaluable tests.

Only for duly justified reasons, up to 20% of the total contact hours may be absent. Failure to attend more than 20% of the contact hours leads to the final grade of Failure in both evaluation opportunities.

In case of not passing the subject in the First Chance, the student will be evaluated in the Second Chance of those assessable parts in which the minimum grade is not reached, keeping the rest of the grades.

This course is divided into 28 hours of laboratory practicum, 21 hours of computer room practicum, 2 hours of group tutorials, 3 hours of individual tutorials and 6 hours for examinations and review (60 hours in total). Yet it is estimated that students must use a total of 90 hours of personal work to complete a total of 150 hours devoted to the course.

It is important that students review all the material previously provided before performing any experiment or exercise. Basic knowledge of Excel and Hysys are needed.

In addition, it is fundamental and very important that the student has previously studied the subject "Chemical Reaction Engineering".

The course will be taught in the two official languages of Galicia.

The students must know and comply with the safety rules of Universidade de Santiago de Compostela before being granted access to the laboratory. This type of information can be found in the USC website (in Spanish):
(http://www.usc.es/export9/sites/webinstitucional/gl/servizos/sprl/desca…).