Module manager: Dr A Borissova
Email: a.borissova@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
Admission to an undergraduate programme in the School of Chemical and Process Engineering
CAPE1020 + part of CAPE2050
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module introduces you to the principles of mass and energy balances and their application to unit operations and processes. The module includes a process design project where students will apply knowledge of the chemical engineering concepts studied.
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
- To calculate mass flows and stream compositions using principles of mass conservation and stoichiometry.
- To solve mass balance problems with recycle, purge and bypass.
- To perform mass balance calculations for combustion processes and transient systems.
- To solve energy balance problems on non-reactive process such as drying, mixing and crystallisation.
- To apply Hess's law for the determination of heat of reaction and heat of formation.
- To solve energy balance problems on a chemical reactor using the heat of reaction and heat of formation methods.
- Assess the merits of different chemical processing routes and choose a process using sound engineering judgement.
- Evaluate the economic cost and sustainability (order of magnitude estimates) of a chemical plant.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Understand the principles of mass and energy balances and be able to apply them to chemical engineering problems.
2. Understand that design is an open-ended process, which requires making choices on the basis of incomplete information.
3. Be able to communicate effectively to present the outcomes of design, including flowsheets and stream data, and defend chosen design options and decisions taken.
4. Be able to reflect on their own work and implement strategies for personal improvement and professional development.
5. Be aware of the benefits of continuing professional development and of personal development planning.
6. Have a knowledge and understanding of basic mathematical models relevant to chemical engineering.
7. Understand systems thinking, including the interdependence of elements of a complex system, being able to synthesise a conceptual multi-step process and apply analysis techniques to it.
8. Be able to evaluate the effectiveness of their design, including its immediate and life cycle environmental impacts.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills:
a. Communication, time management, planning & organising, teamwork.
b. Technical skills, systems thinking, information searching, academic writing.
c. Problem solving & analytical skills, critical thinking.
d. Personal/self/career management, reflection.
e. Decision-making.
General Balance Equation: mass conservation. Degree-of-Freedom Analysis and its application to mass balances; mass balances for non-reactive systems: systems with a recycle, purge and by-pass; steady & unsteady state processes; continuous, batch and semi-batch processes. Mass balances of reactive systems; molar and atomic balances. Limiting and excess reactants. Extent of reaction and conversion. Yield and selectivity. Mass balances for reactive systems with multiple reactions; recycle, purge and by-pass; transient processes. Mass balances for combustion processes.
Energy balances: 1st law of thermodynamics, internal energy and enthalpy, heat capacity, phase change and latent heats, vaporisation and condensation (steam tables), drying (psychometric chart), mixing and solution, melting & freezing.
Heat of reaction. Standard heat of reaction. Calculation of heat of reaction: from heats of formation, Hess's law. Energy balance applying heat of reaction method. Heat of formation and formation reaction. Energy balance applying heat of formation method. Adiabatic temperature. Energy balance for different industrial processes. Energy balance of combustion: higher and lower heating value of fuels.
Process Design Project.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Supervision | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Lecture | 22 | 2 | 44 |
| Seminar | 22 | 2 | 44 |
| Private study hours | 106 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 94 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Opportunities for formative feedback include in-class discussions, polling/quizzes during lectures, tutorial problems and consultancy sessions.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Project | Design Project | 30 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 30 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) (S1) | 1.0 Hrs Mins | 20 |
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) (S2) | 2.0 Hrs Mins | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 70 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2025
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