BEng (Hons) or MEng — 2025 entry Chemical Engineering

The Materials element of this module provides an introduction to a range of common material properties and outlines major classes of material. The Sustainability element provides an introduction to the fundamentals of sustainability and its engineering applications.  

This module is designed to give students entering the Chemical Engineering programmes a sufficient grounding in Physics, Chemistry and Cell Biology. An introduction of certain aspects of Physics is necessary as background to the fluid and particle mechanics taught in the course. An introduction to the essential basics of cell biology and chemical kinetics is required by all chemical engineers working in the environmental, pharma and related industries. We start with an overview of cell biology and biochemistry. Then we take a closer look at bacteria, fungi and mammalian cells, how they work, and how they behave and reproduce. We look at industrial processes that use, exploit or produce these cells. We introduce the concepts of solution properties and chemical, enzyme and microbial kinetics. An introduction to certain aspects of chemistry is necessary as a preparation for the Industrial Chemistry module and as a background in chemical kinetics for the reaction engineering modules.

The conservation of both Mass and Energy are fundamentals on which all Chemical Processing is based.  Being able to properly formulate and solve material and energy balances and in so doing integrate and interpret physical property data from different sources and in a variety of different units is an essential skills for an engineer.   The module covers the fundamental concept used when analysing the mass and energy flows in chemical processing and allows students to apply them to the analysis of a wide variety of real-world situations such as distillation and crystallisation processes that are commonly found in industrial manufacturing plants.  

A first level engineering mathematics module designed to briefly revise and then extend A-Level maths material and introduce more mathematical techniques to support engineering science modules.

This module consists of two parts.   The first part, Laboratory Skills, contains experiments selected so as to support other parts of the level 1 curriculum and to develop a range of generic skills including practical laboratory skills, data handling and understanding experimental uncertainty. The second part, Transferable skills, is focused on academic research skills, writing skills and presentation skills. These skills, whilst of generic importance to undergraduate study, are examined largely in the context of presenting the findings of experimental work or information relevant to Year 1 Chemical Engineering students.

Mathematics is an essential tool which engineers use to understand and solve problems. A good understanding of mathematics is therefore essential for us to tackle the complex problems which our world faces. This module builds on the foundations learned in ENG1084 – Mathematics 1 and will teach you the mathematical concepts used to describe the physical phenomena which are important for engineering applications. The mathematics covered will also open a window into the extraordinary discoveries of 18th to 20th century physics, ranging from Newtonian mechanics to Einstein’s theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. You will apply the knowledge of mathematics learned in this module to analyse applied engineering problems, reaching substantiated conclusions from first principles.  

First year common module in thermo-fluids for MES + Chemical Engineering students. FLUID MECHANICS: The basic concepts underlying fluid flows and behaviour are described together with simple fluid properties. The calculation of static fluid forces is the starting point before moving to dynamic fluid effects including mass-flow and energy conservation. Non-dimensional analysis methods, laminar and turbulent flows and pipe system analysis are considered, including fluid friction, momentum and energy losses in fittings. THERMODYNAMICS:  Following an introduction on energy consumption, generation and supply from conventional and alternative sources the basic principles of heat and work transfer are described and system thermal efficiency. Thermal properties of working fluids (both liquids and gases) are described. The 1st law of thermodynamics is introduced with applications to processes and cycles for closed and steady-flow systems.

The module provides an overview of the industrial production of major chemicals at the larger scale, and their use in society. This includes aspects of chemical processes including economics, societal effects, health and safety, and engineering. The module also introduces the numerous interlinked chemical processes, both natural and anthropogenic, that take place within the Earth's environment. This includes coverage of the impact they may have for life on Earth along with potential solutions to current environmental issues.

This module provides an introduction to separation processes in general, but with particular emphasis on equilibrium staged separations of binary mixtures.  Processes covered include binary distillation, liquid-liquid extraction and gas absorption and desorption in tray columns. This gives students an appreciation of what lies beneath chemical engineering flow-sheeting and design software packages. This appreciation is enhanced by hands on experience with HYSYS, an industry standard chemical engineering design simulation package. The module makes connections to real-world chemical engineering separation processes examples, and relates how chemical engineering design plays a role in sustainability of the chemical industry.

Heat Transfer: Knowledge of heat transfer is vital for Chemical Engineers. In order to effectively design and operate many unit operations, such as heat exchangers and reactors, a sound understanding of the fundamentals of heat transfer is required. This part of the module is intended to introduce students to the basic mechanisms of heat transfer and to allow them to apply this understanding to the design of heat exchangers. The laboratory element extends upon the skills developed in FHEQ Level 4 of the degree programmes, with particular attention to investigations that demonstrate and reinforce concepts of several FHEQ Level 5 modules.

There is an increasing demand in the chemical and process engineering industry for computational tools to collect and analyse data, design, simulate and automate processes. To keep up with the development and implementation of new technological tools, the content new chemical engineers are taught needs to keep up with this constant change. This module builds on the modules ENG1084 Mathematics 1, ENG1085 Mathematics 2 and ENG1083 Transferable Skills and Laboratory Skills from FHEQ level 4 and contextualises this content with a focus on building the computational skills and digital capabilities for the modern chemical engineer. This, in turn, should lead to the students being able to correctly identify the computational tools required for a given problem, and allow them to use computational tools to model and simulate chemical engineering processes as well as solve process optimisation problems.

The Engineering Systems sub-module introduces students to the systems approach for engineering design and analysis. It provides an introduction to the steps involved in chemical process design with detail on the preparation of graphical representations of processes i.e. BFDs, PFDs, and P&IDs. The design of pressure vessels is also covered. The Engineering Management sub-module provides an introduction to company financing, operation, pricing and costing, accounting and reporting, marketing, project evaluation and project management in preparation for working in a professional engineering environment. This sub-module also provides an introduction to the legal responsibilities of companies and employees to the health and safety of all in the workplace. It serves as an introduction to techniques used by engineers to evaluate and reduce levels of danger in the work place.

Today, control systems are widely used in engineering applications. Simple machines like a water dispenser and complex systems like a formula 1 car, an airliner, or a chemical production plant, all rely in some form of control system. A control system is a combination of hardware and software that operate together to provide the desired response from any system, and thus helps to develop and describe the relationship between input and output of any system. A simple example is a control system to keep the level of a tank at the desired level despite fluctuations in the input flow rate.

This module aligns with the following Pillars of the Surrey Curriculum Framework: Sustainability; Employability; Resourcefulness and resilience.   Mass Transfer: Mass transfer is essential knowledge for chemical engineers, governing the underlying operations in many industrial processes involving, for example, separation and reaction. The purpose of the module is to introduce students to mechanistic and semi-empirical descriptions of mass transfer, and to apply such understanding to the design of process such as gas absorption and drying. Fluid mechanics: The main part of the syllabus concentrates on developing the student’s understanding of internal flows. Knowledge of turbulent flow is extended by the introduction of the Universal Velocity Profile. Furthermore, more complex flows, which may include multiple phases or compressibility, are introduced.  The issues of drag and terminal velocity of particles is tackled and the features and flow of some non-Newtonian fluids discussed. A short introduction is given on the simulation of real-life Mass-Transfer and Fluid Mechanics problems using commercial software.

The module addresses the essential concepts and applications of thermodynamics that are required by Chemical Engineers. The course is divided into two distinct sections, the first (65%) focussing on Chemical Thermodynamics and the second on Applied Thermodynamics. The content enriches student understanding related to energy minimisation and utilisation to improve the sustainability of processes and operations. Moreover, fundamental principles of the thermodynamics of equilibria are used to appraise the optimum use of energy. Chemical Thermodynamics: Starting from the fundamental laws of thermodynamics, the course builds up to the prediction of equilibrium states for complex reaction mixtures, and vapour-liquid systems that exhibit both ideal and non-ideal behaviours. Principles are covered to effectively interpret thermodynamic packages and approaches used within commercial process simulation packages such as HYSYS and ChemCAD, thus enhancing student digital capabilities in the employment of such software. Applied Thermodynamics: This section of the module extends the material covered in the introductory lectures at FHEQ Level 4. Specifically, the use of the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics to analyse and design simple power and refrigeration cycles is introduced. The content provides basic understanding of efficient cycle design to maximise energy utilisation, as well as a review of the sustainable use of energy.

The heart of any chemical or biochemical processes is often said to be the reactor. A comprehensive understanding of reactors’ performances is a pre-requisite for the process design. This Reaction Engineering module builds on the reaction kinetic knowledge from level 1 and applies it to the design of homogeneous chemical reactors and bio-reactors. The module creates connections to real-world chemical process design examples, and covers some important aspects of chemical engineering design called green chemistry and sustainability of chemical industry.

This module provides students with the knowledge and skills to complete chemical reaction engineering analysis on biological, catalytic, and fluid-solid reactors. The students will acquire knowledge about different heterogeneous reactor configurations and be able to apply chemical engineering principles to model kinetic behaviour applicable to reaction engineering. By completing this module students will develop a solid understanding of reactor design principles that are relevant to a wide variety of industries.

Multicomponent separation is the most commonly used industrial separation process world-wide and a sound understanding of the fundamental principles (material/energy balances, vapour-liquid, liquid-solid, gas-solid and liquid-liquid equilibrium, separation efficiency and system hydrodynamics) defining the operation of such processes is essential to a graduate engineer. This module extends students' knowledge and understanding to include multicomponent systems involving distillation, ultra-filtration and adsorption.

Energy and Industrial Systems is a module roughly divided into 2 related parts. The Industrial Systems section introduces the basic principles of industrial systems thinking and detail as applied to the chemical industry, providing real-world insights into how many of the theoretical content taught in previous levels is applied in industry. The Industrial Systems section introduces tools needed to understand the management of streams to be released into the environment ('waste management') under normal circumstances and to prevent accidental releases, teaching our future engineers the importance of sustainability and social responsibility. The Energy Systems section covers methods and tools employed in energy systems integration decision making. It addresses the issues surrounding energy supply. The content ranges from technical detail (the engineering) through to national and international policy making, discussing the energy transition, emissions reduction, and energy efficiency to ensure our graduates can contribute to creating cleaner and more sustainable process industries. The module is also important in preparing students for the Design Project, due to the focus on integrated systems, and industrial design.

The module is designed to develop a student’s applied analytical skills and knowledge of the complex mass transport phenomena in selected types of liquid/gas, solid/gas and liquid/solid/gas contact equipment commonly encountered in chemical process plants. The complexity of the design procedure is covered with selected process examples in which simultaneous heat and mass transfer, mass transfer without chemical reactions, and physical fluid/particle separation are studied in depth. Students will be introduced to the design equations for various unit operations, including the evaporative cooling systems (humidifiers, air-conditioning systems, and cooling towers), crystalisers, filters, and centrifuges, which develop their engineering knowledge and competence in sustainability, digital capabilities, and employability. 

The financial and operational management of a chemical process is essential to Chemical Industry; students who have first-hand experienced these activities will become more rounded and employable graduates.  Following a comprehensive grounding in the science of Crystallisation students will complete a number of Case Studies related to the performance and operation of the pilot plant rig processing a crystallising system.  Following comprehensive training in the safe operation of the pilot plant students will then adopt a number of different rolls in the management and operating structure of the unique pilot plant and will manage/operate the unit in semi-batch mode for 4x12hr consecutive days of production.

The detailed design of a chemical process paying appropriate consideration to sustainability, economic and operational feasibility and engineering practicality is a key skill for chemical engineers and requires a robust understanding of all aspects of chemical engineering.  This module comprises a sequence of learning opportunities designed to integrate and consolidate most of the fundamental science and engineering expertise acquired during the previous levels of the degree programme.  The assessment is design with 67% based on individual work and 33% based on group activity.  

This mathematics module is designed to reinforce and broaden basic A-Level mathematics material, develop problem solving skills and prepare students for the more advanced mathematical concepts and problem-solving scenarios in the semester 2 modules.The priority is to develop the students’ ability to solve real- world problems in a confident manner.  The concepts delivered on this module reflect the skills and knowledge required to understand the physical around us. This is vital as mathematics plays a critical role in the students’ future employability and achievement on their respective undergraduate choices.

This module introduces several principles and processes which underpin most physical science and engineering disciplines, which you are likely to study beyond the Foundation Year. Specifically, you will study topics that include S.I. units and measurement theory, electric and magnetic fields and their interactions, the properties of ideal gases, heat transfer and thermodynamics, fluid statics and dynamics, and engineering instrumentation and measurement. You will attend several lectures and a tutorial each teaching week alongside guided independent study opportunities to develop your understanding of topics more deeply, supported by the use of the university’s virtual learning platform.

The emphasis of this module is on the development of digital capabilities, academic skills and problem-solving skills. The module will facilitate the development of competency in working with software commonly used to support calculations, analysis and presentation. Microsoft Excel will be used for spreadsheet-based calculations and experimental data analysis. MATLAB will be used as a platform for developing elementary programming skills and applying various processes to novel problem-solving scenarios. The breadth and depth of digital capabilities will be further enhanced by working with HTML, CSS and JavaScript within the GitHub environment to develop a webpage, presenting the student's research project narrative. The project provides students with an opportunity to carry out guided research and prepare an online article on one of many discipline-specific topic choices. Students will develop a wide range of writing, referencing and other important academic skills and learn how to use embedded and/or interactive online content to support the presentation of their online article.

This module builds on ENG0011 Mathematics A and is designed to reinforce and broaden A-Level Calculus, Vectors, Matrices and Complex Numbers. The students will continue to develop their ability to solve real- world problems in a confident manner.  The concepts delivered on this module reflect the skills and knowledge required to understand the physical world around us. This is vital, as mathematics plays a critical role in the students’ future employability and achievement on their respective undergraduate courses. On completion of the module students are prepared for the more advanced Mathematical concepts and problem solving scenarios in the first year of their Engineering or Physical Sciences degree.

This module introduces several principles and processes which underpin most physical science and engineering disciplines, which you are likely to study beyond the Foundation Year. Specifically, you will study topics that include vectors and scalars, equations of motion under constant acceleration, momentum conservation, simple harmonic motion and wave theory. You will attend several lectures and a tutorial each teaching week alongside guided independent study opportunities to develop your understanding of topics more deeply, supported by the use of the university’s virtual learning platform.

The module covers the principles of chemistry relevant to degree-level study in disciplines requiring a strong background in this subject, (e.g. the BEng in both the Chemical and Civil Engineering programmes at the University of Surrey). There will be a strong focus placed on the fundamental principles of physical chemistry, with a basic introduction to organic and analytical chemistry techniques.  Learning will include examples of industrial processes and case studies and there will be an overarching theme of sustainability running through the module linked to several topics (in particular, fuels, combustion and polymers).  Module content will be delivered via weekly lectures, interspersed with opportunities for you to reflect on what you have just learned. Additional support is provided in weekly tutorials. There are guided independent study opportunities to develop your understanding of topics more deeply, supported by the use of the university’s virtual learning platform.

During this year-long module, students develop a range of laboratory and transferable skills through both individual laboratory work and group project work. The content of this module is designed to consolidate knowledge gained in ENG0013 (semester 1) and ENG0015/16/17 (semester 2) modules.   Semester 1 focuses on core Engineering and Physical Sciences laboratory work and guides students through the basic skills of laboratory work, recording work in a lab diary, and lab report writing. Alongside this individual laboratory work, students participate in a group project; this involves working in a small group (5-8 students) to design an experiment, collect data, present their experimental findings as an academic poster, and report their findings to peers via a group oral presentation. Students are guided through the development of teamworking, project management, presentation, and digital skills (e.g., in using MS Teams as a group communication platform) whilst working on this project.   Semester 2 provides an opportunity for subject-stream specific practical work (individual) where students will build on the laboratory and lab report writing skills developed in semester 1 to produce a full lab report. Students participate in a further group project in semester 2 where they build upon the skills developed in semester 1.  Students work as a team to find and develop an engineering / physical sciences idea into a potentially viable business case.  Student groups produce a written business case report and pitch their ideas to a panel including University Student Enterprise experts.

The Materials element of this module provides an introduction to a range of common material properties and outlines major classes of material. The Sustainability element provides an introduction to the fundamentals of sustainability and its engineering applications.  

This module is designed to give students entering the Chemical Engineering programmes a sufficient grounding in Physics, Chemistry and Cell Biology. An introduction of certain aspects of Physics is necessary as background to the fluid and particle mechanics taught in the course. An introduction to the essential basics of cell biology and chemical kinetics is required by all chemical engineers working in the environmental, pharma and related industries. We start with an overview of cell biology and biochemistry. Then we take a closer look at bacteria, fungi and mammalian cells, how they work, and how they behave and reproduce. We look at industrial processes that use, exploit or produce these cells. We introduce the concepts of solution properties and chemical, enzyme and microbial kinetics. An introduction to certain aspects of chemistry is necessary as a preparation for the Industrial Chemistry module and as a background in chemical kinetics for the reaction engineering modules.

The conservation of both Mass and Energy are fundamentals on which all Chemical Processing is based.  Being able to properly formulate and solve material and energy balances and in so doing integrate and interpret physical property data from different sources and in a variety of different units is an essential skills for an engineer.   The module covers the fundamental concept used when analysing the mass and energy flows in chemical processing and allows students to apply them to the analysis of a wide variety of real-world situations such as distillation and crystallisation processes that are commonly found in industrial manufacturing plants.  

A first level engineering mathematics module designed to briefly revise and then extend A-Level maths material and introduce more mathematical techniques to support engineering science modules.

This module consists of two parts.   The first part, Laboratory Skills, contains experiments selected so as to support other parts of the level 1 curriculum and to develop a range of generic skills including practical laboratory skills, data handling and understanding experimental uncertainty. The second part, Transferable skills, is focused on academic research skills, writing skills and presentation skills. These skills, whilst of generic importance to undergraduate study, are examined largely in the context of presenting the findings of experimental work or information relevant to Year 1 Chemical Engineering students.

Mathematics is an essential tool which engineers use to understand and solve problems. A good understanding of mathematics is therefore essential for us to tackle the complex problems which our world faces. This module builds on the foundations learned in ENG1084 – Mathematics 1 and will teach you the mathematical concepts used to describe the physical phenomena which are important for engineering applications. The mathematics covered will also open a window into the extraordinary discoveries of 18th to 20th century physics, ranging from Newtonian mechanics to Einstein’s theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. You will apply the knowledge of mathematics learned in this module to analyse applied engineering problems, reaching substantiated conclusions from first principles.  

First year common module in thermo-fluids for MES + Chemical Engineering students. FLUID MECHANICS: The basic concepts underlying fluid flows and behaviour are described together with simple fluid properties. The calculation of static fluid forces is the starting point before moving to dynamic fluid effects including mass-flow and energy conservation. Non-dimensional analysis methods, laminar and turbulent flows and pipe system analysis are considered, including fluid friction, momentum and energy losses in fittings. THERMODYNAMICS:  Following an introduction on energy consumption, generation and supply from conventional and alternative sources the basic principles of heat and work transfer are described and system thermal efficiency. Thermal properties of working fluids (both liquids and gases) are described. The 1st law of thermodynamics is introduced with applications to processes and cycles for closed and steady-flow systems.

The module provides an overview of the industrial production of major chemicals at the larger scale, and their use in society. This includes aspects of chemical processes including economics, societal effects, health and safety, and engineering. The module also introduces the numerous interlinked chemical processes, both natural and anthropogenic, that take place within the Earth's environment. This includes coverage of the impact they may have for life on Earth along with potential solutions to current environmental issues.

This module provides an introduction to separation processes in general, but with particular emphasis on equilibrium staged separations of binary mixtures.  Processes covered include binary distillation, liquid-liquid extraction and gas absorption and desorption in tray columns. This gives students an appreciation of what lies beneath chemical engineering flow-sheeting and design software packages. This appreciation is enhanced by hands on experience with HYSYS, an industry standard chemical engineering design simulation package. The module makes connections to real-world chemical engineering separation processes examples, and relates how chemical engineering design plays a role in sustainability of the chemical industry.

Heat Transfer: Knowledge of heat transfer is vital for Chemical Engineers. In order to effectively design and operate many unit operations, such as heat exchangers and reactors, a sound understanding of the fundamentals of heat transfer is required. This part of the module is intended to introduce students to the basic mechanisms of heat transfer and to allow them to apply this understanding to the design of heat exchangers. The laboratory element extends upon the skills developed in FHEQ Level 4 of the degree programmes, with particular attention to investigations that demonstrate and reinforce concepts of several FHEQ Level 5 modules.

There is an increasing demand in the chemical and process engineering industry for computational tools to collect and analyse data, design, simulate and automate processes. To keep up with the development and implementation of new technological tools, the content new chemical engineers are taught needs to keep up with this constant change. This module builds on the modules ENG1084 Mathematics 1, ENG1085 Mathematics 2 and ENG1083 Transferable Skills and Laboratory Skills from FHEQ level 4 and contextualises this content with a focus on building the computational skills and digital capabilities for the modern chemical engineer. This, in turn, should lead to the students being able to correctly identify the computational tools required for a given problem, and allow them to use computational tools to model and simulate chemical engineering processes as well as solve process optimisation problems.

The Engineering Systems sub-module introduces students to the systems approach for engineering design and analysis. It provides an introduction to the steps involved in chemical process design with detail on the preparation of graphical representations of processes i.e. BFDs, PFDs, and P&IDs. The design of pressure vessels is also covered. The Engineering Management sub-module provides an introduction to company financing, operation, pricing and costing, accounting and reporting, marketing, project evaluation and project management in preparation for working in a professional engineering environment. This sub-module also provides an introduction to the legal responsibilities of companies and employees to the health and safety of all in the workplace. It serves as an introduction to techniques used by engineers to evaluate and reduce levels of danger in the work place.

Today, control systems are widely used in engineering applications. Simple machines like a water dispenser and complex systems like a formula 1 car, an airliner, or a chemical production plant, all rely in some form of control system. A control system is a combination of hardware and software that operate together to provide the desired response from any system, and thus helps to develop and describe the relationship between input and output of any system. A simple example is a control system to keep the level of a tank at the desired level despite fluctuations in the input flow rate.

This module aligns with the following Pillars of the Surrey Curriculum Framework: Sustainability; Employability; Resourcefulness and resilience.   Mass Transfer: Mass transfer is essential knowledge for chemical engineers, governing the underlying operations in many industrial processes involving, for example, separation and reaction. The purpose of the module is to introduce students to mechanistic and semi-empirical descriptions of mass transfer, and to apply such understanding to the design of process such as gas absorption and drying. Fluid mechanics: The main part of the syllabus concentrates on developing the student’s understanding of internal flows. Knowledge of turbulent flow is extended by the introduction of the Universal Velocity Profile. Furthermore, more complex flows, which may include multiple phases or compressibility, are introduced.  The issues of drag and terminal velocity of particles is tackled and the features and flow of some non-Newtonian fluids discussed. A short introduction is given on the simulation of real-life Mass-Transfer and Fluid Mechanics problems using commercial software.

The module addresses the essential concepts and applications of thermodynamics that are required by Chemical Engineers. The course is divided into two distinct sections, the first (65%) focussing on Chemical Thermodynamics and the second on Applied Thermodynamics. The content enriches student understanding related to energy minimisation and utilisation to improve the sustainability of processes and operations. Moreover, fundamental principles of the thermodynamics of equilibria are used to appraise the optimum use of energy. Chemical Thermodynamics: Starting from the fundamental laws of thermodynamics, the course builds up to the prediction of equilibrium states for complex reaction mixtures, and vapour-liquid systems that exhibit both ideal and non-ideal behaviours. Principles are covered to effectively interpret thermodynamic packages and approaches used within commercial process simulation packages such as HYSYS and ChemCAD, thus enhancing student digital capabilities in the employment of such software. Applied Thermodynamics: This section of the module extends the material covered in the introductory lectures at FHEQ Level 4. Specifically, the use of the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics to analyse and design simple power and refrigeration cycles is introduced. The content provides basic understanding of efficient cycle design to maximise energy utilisation, as well as a review of the sustainable use of energy.

The heart of any chemical or biochemical processes is often said to be the reactor. A comprehensive understanding of reactors’ performances is a pre-requisite for the process design. This Reaction Engineering module builds on the reaction kinetic knowledge from level 1 and applies it to the design of homogeneous chemical reactors and bio-reactors. The module creates connections to real-world chemical process design examples, and covers some important aspects of chemical engineering design called green chemistry and sustainability of chemical industry.

This module provides students with the knowledge and skills to complete chemical reaction engineering analysis on biological, catalytic, and fluid-solid reactors. The students will acquire knowledge about different heterogeneous reactor configurations and be able to apply chemical engineering principles to model kinetic behaviour applicable to reaction engineering. By completing this module students will develop a solid understanding of reactor design principles that are relevant to a wide variety of industries.

Multicomponent separation is the most commonly used industrial separation process world-wide and a sound understanding of the fundamental principles (material/energy balances, vapour-liquid, liquid-solid, gas-solid and liquid-liquid equilibrium, separation efficiency and system hydrodynamics) defining the operation of such processes is essential to a graduate engineer. This module extends students' knowledge and understanding to include multicomponent systems involving distillation, ultra-filtration and adsorption.

Energy and Industrial Systems is a module roughly divided into 2 related parts. The Industrial Systems section introduces the basic principles of industrial systems thinking and detail as applied to the chemical industry, providing real-world insights into how many of the theoretical content taught in previous levels is applied in industry. The Industrial Systems section introduces tools needed to understand the management of streams to be released into the environment ('waste management') under normal circumstances and to prevent accidental releases, teaching our future engineers the importance of sustainability and social responsibility. The Energy Systems section covers methods and tools employed in energy systems integration decision making. It addresses the issues surrounding energy supply. The content ranges from technical detail (the engineering) through to national and international policy making, discussing the energy transition, emissions reduction, and energy efficiency to ensure our graduates can contribute to creating cleaner and more sustainable process industries. The module is also important in preparing students for the Design Project, due to the focus on integrated systems, and industrial design.

The module is designed to develop a student’s applied analytical skills and knowledge of the complex mass transport phenomena in selected types of liquid/gas, solid/gas and liquid/solid/gas contact equipment commonly encountered in chemical process plants. The complexity of the design procedure is covered with selected process examples in which simultaneous heat and mass transfer, mass transfer without chemical reactions, and physical fluid/particle separation are studied in depth. Students will be introduced to the design equations for various unit operations, including the evaporative cooling systems (humidifiers, air-conditioning systems, and cooling towers), crystalisers, filters, and centrifuges, which develop their engineering knowledge and competence in sustainability, digital capabilities, and employability. 

The financial and operational management of a chemical process is essential to Chemical Industry; students who have first-hand experienced these activities will become more rounded and employable graduates.  Following a comprehensive grounding in the science of Crystallisation students will complete a number of Case Studies related to the performance and operation of the pilot plant rig processing a crystallising system.  Following comprehensive training in the safe operation of the pilot plant students will then adopt a number of different rolls in the management and operating structure of the unique pilot plant and will manage/operate the unit in semi-batch mode for 4x12hr consecutive days of production.

The detailed design of a chemical process paying appropriate consideration to sustainability, economic and operational feasibility and engineering practicality is a key skill for chemical engineers and requires a robust understanding of all aspects of chemical engineering.  This module comprises a sequence of learning opportunities designed to integrate and consolidate most of the fundamental science and engineering expertise acquired during the previous levels of the degree programme.  The assessment is design with 67% based on individual work and 33% based on group activity.  

This mathematics module is designed to reinforce and broaden basic A-Level mathematics material, develop problem solving skills and prepare students for the more advanced mathematical concepts and problem-solving scenarios in the semester 2 modules.The priority is to develop the students’ ability to solve real- world problems in a confident manner.  The concepts delivered on this module reflect the skills and knowledge required to understand the physical around us. This is vital as mathematics plays a critical role in the students’ future employability and achievement on their respective undergraduate choices.

This module introduces several principles and processes which underpin most physical science and engineering disciplines, which you are likely to study beyond the Foundation Year. Specifically, you will study topics that include S.I. units and measurement theory, electric and magnetic fields and their interactions, the properties of ideal gases, heat transfer and thermodynamics, fluid statics and dynamics, and engineering instrumentation and measurement. You will attend several lectures and a tutorial each teaching week alongside guided independent study opportunities to develop your understanding of topics more deeply, supported by the use of the university’s virtual learning platform.

The emphasis of this module is on the development of digital capabilities, academic skills and problem-solving skills. The module will facilitate the development of competency in working with software commonly used to support calculations, analysis and presentation. Microsoft Excel will be used for spreadsheet-based calculations and experimental data analysis. MATLAB will be used as a platform for developing elementary programming skills and applying various processes to novel problem-solving scenarios. The breadth and depth of digital capabilities will be further enhanced by working with HTML, CSS and JavaScript within the GitHub environment to develop a webpage, presenting the student's research project narrative. The project provides students with an opportunity to carry out guided research and prepare an online article on one of many discipline-specific topic choices. Students will develop a wide range of writing, referencing and other important academic skills and learn how to use embedded and/or interactive online content to support the presentation of their online article.

This module builds on ENG0011 Mathematics A and is designed to reinforce and broaden A-Level Calculus, Vectors, Matrices and Complex Numbers. The students will continue to develop their ability to solve real- world problems in a confident manner.  The concepts delivered on this module reflect the skills and knowledge required to understand the physical world around us. This is vital, as mathematics plays a critical role in the students’ future employability and achievement on their respective undergraduate courses. On completion of the module students are prepared for the more advanced Mathematical concepts and problem solving scenarios in the first year of their Engineering or Physical Sciences degree.

This module introduces several principles and processes which underpin most physical science and engineering disciplines, which you are likely to study beyond the Foundation Year. Specifically, you will study topics that include vectors and scalars, equations of motion under constant acceleration, momentum conservation, simple harmonic motion and wave theory. You will attend several lectures and a tutorial each teaching week alongside guided independent study opportunities to develop your understanding of topics more deeply, supported by the use of the university’s virtual learning platform.

The module covers the principles of chemistry relevant to degree-level study in disciplines requiring a strong background in this subject, (e.g. the BEng in both the Chemical and Civil Engineering programmes at the University of Surrey). There will be a strong focus placed on the fundamental principles of physical chemistry, with a basic introduction to organic and analytical chemistry techniques.  Learning will include examples of industrial processes and case studies and there will be an overarching theme of sustainability running through the module linked to several topics (in particular, fuels, combustion and polymers).  Module content will be delivered via weekly lectures, interspersed with opportunities for you to reflect on what you have just learned. Additional support is provided in weekly tutorials. There are guided independent study opportunities to develop your understanding of topics more deeply, supported by the use of the university’s virtual learning platform.

During this year-long module, students develop a range of laboratory and transferable skills through both individual laboratory work and group project work. The content of this module is designed to consolidate knowledge gained in ENG0013 (semester 1) and ENG0015/16/17 (semester 2) modules.   Semester 1 focuses on core Engineering and Physical Sciences laboratory work and guides students through the basic skills of laboratory work, recording work in a lab diary, and lab report writing. Alongside this individual laboratory work, students participate in a group project; this involves working in a small group (5-8 students) to design an experiment, collect data, present their experimental findings as an academic poster, and report their findings to peers via a group oral presentation. Students are guided through the development of teamworking, project management, presentation, and digital skills (e.g., in using MS Teams as a group communication platform) whilst working on this project.   Semester 2 provides an opportunity for subject-stream specific practical work (individual) where students will build on the laboratory and lab report writing skills developed in semester 1 to produce a full lab report. Students participate in a further group project in semester 2 where they build upon the skills developed in semester 1.  Students work as a team to find and develop an engineering / physical sciences idea into a potentially viable business case.  Student groups produce a written business case report and pitch their ideas to a panel including University Student Enterprise experts.

The Materials element of this module provides an introduction to a range of common material properties and outlines major classes of material. The Sustainability element provides an introduction to the fundamentals of sustainability and its engineering applications.  

This module is designed to give students entering the Chemical Engineering programmes a sufficient grounding in Physics, Chemistry and Cell Biology. An introduction of certain aspects of Physics is necessary as background to the fluid and particle mechanics taught in the course. An introduction to the essential basics of cell biology and chemical kinetics is required by all chemical engineers working in the environmental, pharma and related industries. We start with an overview of cell biology and biochemistry. Then we take a closer look at bacteria, fungi and mammalian cells, how they work, and how they behave and reproduce. We look at industrial processes that use, exploit or produce these cells. We introduce the concepts of solution properties and chemical, enzyme and microbial kinetics. An introduction to certain aspects of chemistry is necessary as a preparation for the Industrial Chemistry module and as a background in chemical kinetics for the reaction engineering modules.

The conservation of both Mass and Energy are fundamentals on which all Chemical Processing is based.  Being able to properly formulate and solve material and energy balances and in so doing integrate and interpret physical property data from different sources and in a variety of different units is an essential skills for an engineer.   The module covers the fundamental concept used when analysing the mass and energy flows in chemical processing and allows students to apply them to the analysis of a wide variety of real-world situations such as distillation and crystallisation processes that are commonly found in industrial manufacturing plants.  

A first level engineering mathematics module designed to briefly revise and then extend A-Level maths material and introduce more mathematical techniques to support engineering science modules.

This module consists of two parts.   The first part, Laboratory Skills, contains experiments selected so as to support other parts of the level 1 curriculum and to develop a range of generic skills including practical laboratory skills, data handling and understanding experimental uncertainty. The second part, Transferable skills, is focused on academic research skills, writing skills and presentation skills. These skills, whilst of generic importance to undergraduate study, are examined largely in the context of presenting the findings of experimental work or information relevant to Year 1 Chemical Engineering students.

Mathematics is an essential tool which engineers use to understand and solve problems. A good understanding of mathematics is therefore essential for us to tackle the complex problems which our world faces. This module builds on the foundations learned in ENG1084 – Mathematics 1 and will teach you the mathematical concepts used to describe the physical phenomena which are important for engineering applications. The mathematics covered will also open a window into the extraordinary discoveries of 18th to 20th century physics, ranging from Newtonian mechanics to Einstein’s theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. You will apply the knowledge of mathematics learned in this module to analyse applied engineering problems, reaching substantiated conclusions from first principles.  

First year common module in thermo-fluids for MES + Chemical Engineering students. FLUID MECHANICS: The basic concepts underlying fluid flows and behaviour are described together with simple fluid properties. The calculation of static fluid forces is the starting point before moving to dynamic fluid effects including mass-flow and energy conservation. Non-dimensional analysis methods, laminar and turbulent flows and pipe system analysis are considered, including fluid friction, momentum and energy losses in fittings. THERMODYNAMICS:  Following an introduction on energy consumption, generation and supply from conventional and alternative sources the basic principles of heat and work transfer are described and system thermal efficiency. Thermal properties of working fluids (both liquids and gases) are described. The 1st law of thermodynamics is introduced with applications to processes and cycles for closed and steady-flow systems.

The module provides an overview of the industrial production of major chemicals at the larger scale, and their use in society. This includes aspects of chemical processes including economics, societal effects, health and safety, and engineering. The module also introduces the numerous interlinked chemical processes, both natural and anthropogenic, that take place within the Earth's environment. This includes coverage of the impact they may have for life on Earth along with potential solutions to current environmental issues.

This module provides an introduction to separation processes in general, but with particular emphasis on equilibrium staged separations of binary mixtures.  Processes covered include binary distillation, liquid-liquid extraction and gas absorption and desorption in tray columns. This gives students an appreciation of what lies beneath chemical engineering flow-sheeting and design software packages. This appreciation is enhanced by hands on experience with HYSYS, an industry standard chemical engineering design simulation package. The module makes connections to real-world chemical engineering separation processes examples, and relates how chemical engineering design plays a role in sustainability of the chemical industry.

Heat Transfer: Knowledge of heat transfer is vital for Chemical Engineers. In order to effectively design and operate many unit operations, such as heat exchangers and reactors, a sound understanding of the fundamentals of heat transfer is required. This part of the module is intended to introduce students to the basic mechanisms of heat transfer and to allow them to apply this understanding to the design of heat exchangers. The laboratory element extends upon the skills developed in FHEQ Level 4 of the degree programmes, with particular attention to investigations that demonstrate and reinforce concepts of several FHEQ Level 5 modules.

There is an increasing demand in the chemical and process engineering industry for computational tools to collect and analyse data, design, simulate and automate processes. To keep up with the development and implementation of new technological tools, the content new chemical engineers are taught needs to keep up with this constant change. This module builds on the modules ENG1084 Mathematics 1, ENG1085 Mathematics 2 and ENG1083 Transferable Skills and Laboratory Skills from FHEQ level 4 and contextualises this content with a focus on building the computational skills and digital capabilities for the modern chemical engineer. This, in turn, should lead to the students being able to correctly identify the computational tools required for a given problem, and allow them to use computational tools to model and simulate chemical engineering processes as well as solve process optimisation problems.

The Engineering Systems sub-module introduces students to the systems approach for engineering design and analysis. It provides an introduction to the steps involved in chemical process design with detail on the preparation of graphical representations of processes i.e. BFDs, PFDs, and P&IDs. The design of pressure vessels is also covered. The Engineering Management sub-module provides an introduction to company financing, operation, pricing and costing, accounting and reporting, marketing, project evaluation and project management in preparation for working in a professional engineering environment. This sub-module also provides an introduction to the legal responsibilities of companies and employees to the health and safety of all in the workplace. It serves as an introduction to techniques used by engineers to evaluate and reduce levels of danger in the work place.

Today, control systems are widely used in engineering applications. Simple machines like a water dispenser and complex systems like a formula 1 car, an airliner, or a chemical production plant, all rely in some form of control system. A control system is a combination of hardware and software that operate together to provide the desired response from any system, and thus helps to develop and describe the relationship between input and output of any system. A simple example is a control system to keep the level of a tank at the desired level despite fluctuations in the input flow rate.

This module aligns with the following Pillars of the Surrey Curriculum Framework: Sustainability; Employability; Resourcefulness and resilience.   Mass Transfer: Mass transfer is essential knowledge for chemical engineers, governing the underlying operations in many industrial processes involving, for example, separation and reaction. The purpose of the module is to introduce students to mechanistic and semi-empirical descriptions of mass transfer, and to apply such understanding to the design of process such as gas absorption and drying. Fluid mechanics: The main part of the syllabus concentrates on developing the student’s understanding of internal flows. Knowledge of turbulent flow is extended by the introduction of the Universal Velocity Profile. Furthermore, more complex flows, which may include multiple phases or compressibility, are introduced.  The issues of drag and terminal velocity of particles is tackled and the features and flow of some non-Newtonian fluids discussed. A short introduction is given on the simulation of real-life Mass-Transfer and Fluid Mechanics problems using commercial software.

The module addresses the essential concepts and applications of thermodynamics that are required by Chemical Engineers. The course is divided into two distinct sections, the first (65%) focussing on Chemical Thermodynamics and the second on Applied Thermodynamics. The content enriches student understanding related to energy minimisation and utilisation to improve the sustainability of processes and operations. Moreover, fundamental principles of the thermodynamics of equilibria are used to appraise the optimum use of energy. Chemical Thermodynamics: Starting from the fundamental laws of thermodynamics, the course builds up to the prediction of equilibrium states for complex reaction mixtures, and vapour-liquid systems that exhibit both ideal and non-ideal behaviours. Principles are covered to effectively interpret thermodynamic packages and approaches used within commercial process simulation packages such as HYSYS and ChemCAD, thus enhancing student digital capabilities in the employment of such software. Applied Thermodynamics: This section of the module extends the material covered in the introductory lectures at FHEQ Level 4. Specifically, the use of the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics to analyse and design simple power and refrigeration cycles is introduced. The content provides basic understanding of efficient cycle design to maximise energy utilisation, as well as a review of the sustainable use of energy.

The heart of any chemical or biochemical processes is often said to be the reactor. A comprehensive understanding of reactors’ performances is a pre-requisite for the process design. This Reaction Engineering module builds on the reaction kinetic knowledge from level 1 and applies it to the design of homogeneous chemical reactors and bio-reactors. The module creates connections to real-world chemical process design examples, and covers some important aspects of chemical engineering design called green chemistry and sustainability of chemical industry.

This module provides students with the knowledge and skills to complete chemical reaction engineering analysis on biological, catalytic, and fluid-solid reactors. The students will acquire knowledge about different heterogeneous reactor configurations and be able to apply chemical engineering principles to model kinetic behaviour applicable to reaction engineering. By completing this module students will develop a solid understanding of reactor design principles that are relevant to a wide variety of industries.

Multicomponent separation is the most commonly used industrial separation process world-wide and a sound understanding of the fundamental principles (material/energy balances, vapour-liquid, liquid-solid, gas-solid and liquid-liquid equilibrium, separation efficiency and system hydrodynamics) defining the operation of such processes is essential to a graduate engineer. This module extends students' knowledge and understanding to include multicomponent systems involving distillation, ultra-filtration and adsorption.

Energy and Industrial Systems is a module roughly divided into 2 related parts. The Industrial Systems section introduces the basic principles of industrial systems thinking and detail as applied to the chemical industry, providing real-world insights into how many of the theoretical content taught in previous levels is applied in industry. The Industrial Systems section introduces tools needed to understand the management of streams to be released into the environment ('waste management') under normal circumstances and to prevent accidental releases, teaching our future engineers the importance of sustainability and social responsibility. The Energy Systems section covers methods and tools employed in energy systems integration decision making. It addresses the issues surrounding energy supply. The content ranges from technical detail (the engineering) through to national and international policy making, discussing the energy transition, emissions reduction, and energy efficiency to ensure our graduates can contribute to creating cleaner and more sustainable process industries. The module is also important in preparing students for the Design Project, due to the focus on integrated systems, and industrial design.

The module is designed to develop a student’s applied analytical skills and knowledge of the complex mass transport phenomena in selected types of liquid/gas, solid/gas and liquid/solid/gas contact equipment commonly encountered in chemical process plants. The complexity of the design procedure is covered with selected process examples in which simultaneous heat and mass transfer, mass transfer without chemical reactions, and physical fluid/particle separation are studied in depth. Students will be introduced to the design equations for various unit operations, including the evaporative cooling systems (humidifiers, air-conditioning systems, and cooling towers), crystalisers, filters, and centrifuges, which develop their engineering knowledge and competence in sustainability, digital capabilities, and employability. 

The financial and operational management of a chemical process is essential to Chemical Industry; students who have first-hand experienced these activities will become more rounded and employable graduates.  Following a comprehensive grounding in the science of Crystallisation students will complete a number of Case Studies related to the performance and operation of the pilot plant rig processing a crystallising system.  Following comprehensive training in the safe operation of the pilot plant students will then adopt a number of different rolls in the management and operating structure of the unique pilot plant and will manage/operate the unit in semi-batch mode for 4x12hr consecutive days of production.

The detailed design of a chemical process paying appropriate consideration to sustainability, economic and operational feasibility and engineering practicality is a key skill for chemical engineers and requires a detail and robust understanding of all aspects of chemical engineering.  This module comprises a sequence of learning opportunities designed to integrate and consolidate most of the fundamental science and engineering expertise acquired during the previous levels of the degree programme.  The assessment is design with 67% based on individual work and 33% based on group activity.  The equipment design report (UOA 2) is based on a piece of equipment of advanced complexity (grade C or higher).  

Module purpose:  This module was conceived to answer the SARTOR 3 requirement that each MEng student participates in a multi-disciplinary design activity. It involves students from Aerospace, Civil, Chemical, Electronic, Mechanical and Medical Engineering working in groups which contain at least 3, and often 4, disciplines. The projects are conceived by Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) Visiting Professors from Industry (who enjoy the active support of their sponsoring organisation). It aims to emulate an intensive Industrial Design Project.      

Nowadays, the design, planning and operations management relay on mathematical models the complexity of which depends on the detail of models and complexity of the problem they represent. In process industry these design and operation planning functions are particularly complex and a wide range of optimisation processes and methodologies are used to minimise risks and/or improve quality in making concomitant decisions. Consequently, the module intends to introduce to students the formulation of the decision making problems and application of optimisation techniques to support decisions with real-life worked examples.

The module is intended to introduce students to research methods in Chemical Engineering, with a focus on developing research ideas and planning a research study. Students work with an academic supervisor to undertake a literature review of a research topic, and ultimately plan a research study to address identified research questions or test research hypotheses. The module is intended to develop the skill base and subject knowledge of the students so that research work can be effectively undertaken for the generation of original results or new understanding.

The module is intended to provide a bridge between the research activities of CPE academics and the contents of the MEng programme in Chemical Engineering by providing students with an opportunity for independent research-based learning through individual projects. Advanced training is also provided on academic conferencing and publication skills, such as networking, research abstract / paper writing and presentation skills.

The Materials element of this module provides an introduction to a range of common material properties and outlines major classes of material. The Sustainability element provides an introduction to the fundamentals of sustainability and its engineering applications.  

This module is designed to give students entering the Chemical Engineering programmes a sufficient grounding in Physics, Chemistry and Cell Biology. An introduction of certain aspects of Physics is necessary as background to the fluid and particle mechanics taught in the course. An introduction to the essential basics of cell biology and chemical kinetics is required by all chemical engineers working in the environmental, pharma and related industries. We start with an overview of cell biology and biochemistry. Then we take a closer look at bacteria, fungi and mammalian cells, how they work, and how they behave and reproduce. We look at industrial processes that use, exploit or produce these cells. We introduce the concepts of solution properties and chemical, enzyme and microbial kinetics. An introduction to certain aspects of chemistry is necessary as a preparation for the Industrial Chemistry module and as a background in chemical kinetics for the reaction engineering modules.

The conservation of both Mass and Energy are fundamentals on which all Chemical Processing is based.  Being able to properly formulate and solve material and energy balances and in so doing integrate and interpret physical property data from different sources and in a variety of different units is an essential skills for an engineer.   The module covers the fundamental concept used when analysing the mass and energy flows in chemical processing and allows students to apply them to the analysis of a wide variety of real-world situations such as distillation and crystallisation processes that are commonly found in industrial manufacturing plants.  

A first level engineering mathematics module designed to briefly revise and then extend A-Level maths material and introduce more mathematical techniques to support engineering science modules.

This module consists of two parts.   The first part, Laboratory Skills, contains experiments selected so as to support other parts of the level 1 curriculum and to develop a range of generic skills including practical laboratory skills, data handling and understanding experimental uncertainty. The second part, Transferable skills, is focused on academic research skills, writing skills and presentation skills. These skills, whilst of generic importance to undergraduate study, are examined largely in the context of presenting the findings of experimental work or information relevant to Year 1 Chemical Engineering students.

Mathematics is an essential tool which engineers use to understand and solve problems. A good understanding of mathematics is therefore essential for us to tackle the complex problems which our world faces. This module builds on the foundations learned in ENG1084 – Mathematics 1 and will teach you the mathematical concepts used to describe the physical phenomena which are important for engineering applications. The mathematics covered will also open a window into the extraordinary discoveries of 18th to 20th century physics, ranging from Newtonian mechanics to Einstein’s theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. You will apply the knowledge of mathematics learned in this module to analyse applied engineering problems, reaching substantiated conclusions from first principles.  

First year common module in thermo-fluids for MES + Chemical Engineering students. FLUID MECHANICS: The basic concepts underlying fluid flows and behaviour are described together with simple fluid properties. The calculation of static fluid forces is the starting point before moving to dynamic fluid effects including mass-flow and energy conservation. Non-dimensional analysis methods, laminar and turbulent flows and pipe system analysis are considered, including fluid friction, momentum and energy losses in fittings. THERMODYNAMICS:  Following an introduction on energy consumption, generation and supply from conventional and alternative sources the basic principles of heat and work transfer are described and system thermal efficiency. Thermal properties of working fluids (both liquids and gases) are described. The 1st law of thermodynamics is introduced with applications to processes and cycles for closed and steady-flow systems.

The module provides an overview of the industrial production of major chemicals at the larger scale, and their use in society. This includes aspects of chemical processes including economics, societal effects, health and safety, and engineering. The module also introduces the numerous interlinked chemical processes, both natural and anthropogenic, that take place within the Earth's environment. This includes coverage of the impact they may have for life on Earth along with potential solutions to current environmental issues.

This module provides an introduction to separation processes in general, but with particular emphasis on equilibrium staged separations of binary mixtures.  Processes covered include binary distillation, liquid-liquid extraction and gas absorption and desorption in tray columns. This gives students an appreciation of what lies beneath chemical engineering flow-sheeting and design software packages. This appreciation is enhanced by hands on experience with HYSYS, an industry standard chemical engineering design simulation package. The module makes connections to real-world chemical engineering separation processes examples, and relates how chemical engineering design plays a role in sustainability of the chemical industry.

Heat Transfer: Knowledge of heat transfer is vital for Chemical Engineers. In order to effectively design and operate many unit operations, such as heat exchangers and reactors, a sound understanding of the fundamentals of heat transfer is required. This part of the module is intended to introduce students to the basic mechanisms of heat transfer and to allow them to apply this understanding to the design of heat exchangers. The laboratory element extends upon the skills developed in FHEQ Level 4 of the degree programmes, with particular attention to investigations that demonstrate and reinforce concepts of several FHEQ Level 5 modules.

There is an increasing demand in the chemical and process engineering industry for computational tools to collect and analyse data, design, simulate and automate processes. To keep up with the development and implementation of new technological tools, the content new chemical engineers are taught needs to keep up with this constant change. This module builds on the modules ENG1084 Mathematics 1, ENG1085 Mathematics 2 and ENG1083 Transferable Skills and Laboratory Skills from FHEQ level 4 and contextualises this content with a focus on building the computational skills and digital capabilities for the modern chemical engineer. This, in turn, should lead to the students being able to correctly identify the computational tools required for a given problem, and allow them to use computational tools to model and simulate chemical engineering processes as well as solve process optimisation problems.

The Engineering Systems sub-module introduces students to the systems approach for engineering design and analysis. It provides an introduction to the steps involved in chemical process design with detail on the preparation of graphical representations of processes i.e. BFDs, PFDs, and P&IDs. The design of pressure vessels is also covered. The Engineering Management sub-module provides an introduction to company financing, operation, pricing and costing, accounting and reporting, marketing, project evaluation and project management in preparation for working in a professional engineering environment. This sub-module also provides an introduction to the legal responsibilities of companies and employees to the health and safety of all in the workplace. It serves as an introduction to techniques used by engineers to evaluate and reduce levels of danger in the work place.

Today, control systems are widely used in engineering applications. Simple machines like a water dispenser and complex systems like a formula 1 car, an airliner, or a chemical production plant, all rely in some form of control system. A control system is a combination of hardware and software that operate together to provide the desired response from any system, and thus helps to develop and describe the relationship between input and output of any system. A simple example is a control system to keep the level of a tank at the desired level despite fluctuations in the input flow rate.

This module aligns with the following Pillars of the Surrey Curriculum Framework: Sustainability; Employability; Resourcefulness and resilience.   Mass Transfer: Mass transfer is essential knowledge for chemical engineers, governing the underlying operations in many industrial processes involving, for example, separation and reaction. The purpose of the module is to introduce students to mechanistic and semi-empirical descriptions of mass transfer, and to apply such understanding to the design of process such as gas absorption and drying. Fluid mechanics: The main part of the syllabus concentrates on developing the student’s understanding of internal flows. Knowledge of turbulent flow is extended by the introduction of the Universal Velocity Profile. Furthermore, more complex flows, which may include multiple phases or compressibility, are introduced.  The issues of drag and terminal velocity of particles is tackled and the features and flow of some non-Newtonian fluids discussed. A short introduction is given on the simulation of real-life Mass-Transfer and Fluid Mechanics problems using commercial software.

The module addresses the essential concepts and applications of thermodynamics that are required by Chemical Engineers. The course is divided into two distinct sections, the first (65%) focussing on Chemical Thermodynamics and the second on Applied Thermodynamics. The content enriches student understanding related to energy minimisation and utilisation to improve the sustainability of processes and operations. Moreover, fundamental principles of the thermodynamics of equilibria are used to appraise the optimum use of energy. Chemical Thermodynamics: Starting from the fundamental laws of thermodynamics, the course builds up to the prediction of equilibrium states for complex reaction mixtures, and vapour-liquid systems that exhibit both ideal and non-ideal behaviours. Principles are covered to effectively interpret thermodynamic packages and approaches used within commercial process simulation packages such as HYSYS and ChemCAD, thus enhancing student digital capabilities in the employment of such software. Applied Thermodynamics: This section of the module extends the material covered in the introductory lectures at FHEQ Level 4. Specifically, the use of the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics to analyse and design simple power and refrigeration cycles is introduced. The content provides basic understanding of efficient cycle design to maximise energy utilisation, as well as a review of the sustainable use of energy.

The heart of any chemical or biochemical processes is often said to be the reactor. A comprehensive understanding of reactors’ performances is a pre-requisite for the process design. This Reaction Engineering module builds on the reaction kinetic knowledge from level 1 and applies it to the design of homogeneous chemical reactors and bio-reactors. The module creates connections to real-world chemical process design examples, and covers some important aspects of chemical engineering design called green chemistry and sustainability of chemical industry.

This module provides students with the knowledge and skills to complete chemical reaction engineering analysis on biological, catalytic, and fluid-solid reactors. The students will acquire knowledge about different heterogeneous reactor configurations and be able to apply chemical engineering principles to model kinetic behaviour applicable to reaction engineering. By completing this module students will develop a solid understanding of reactor design principles that are relevant to a wide variety of industries.

Multicomponent separation is the most commonly used industrial separation process world-wide and a sound understanding of the fundamental principles (material/energy balances, vapour-liquid, liquid-solid, gas-solid and liquid-liquid equilibrium, separation efficiency and system hydrodynamics) defining the operation of such processes is essential to a graduate engineer. This module extends students' knowledge and understanding to include multicomponent systems involving distillation, ultra-filtration and adsorption.

Energy and Industrial Systems is a module roughly divided into 2 related parts. The Industrial Systems section introduces the basic principles of industrial systems thinking and detail as applied to the chemical industry, providing real-world insights into how many of the theoretical content taught in previous levels is applied in industry. The Industrial Systems section introduces tools needed to understand the management of streams to be released into the environment ('waste management') under normal circumstances and to prevent accidental releases, teaching our future engineers the importance of sustainability and social responsibility. The Energy Systems section covers methods and tools employed in energy systems integration decision making. It addresses the issues surrounding energy supply. The content ranges from technical detail (the engineering) through to national and international policy making, discussing the energy transition, emissions reduction, and energy efficiency to ensure our graduates can contribute to creating cleaner and more sustainable process industries. The module is also important in preparing students for the Design Project, due to the focus on integrated systems, and industrial design.

The module is designed to develop a student’s applied analytical skills and knowledge of the complex mass transport phenomena in selected types of liquid/gas, solid/gas and liquid/solid/gas contact equipment commonly encountered in chemical process plants. The complexity of the design procedure is covered with selected process examples in which simultaneous heat and mass transfer, mass transfer without chemical reactions, and physical fluid/particle separation are studied in depth. Students will be introduced to the design equations for various unit operations, including the evaporative cooling systems (humidifiers, air-conditioning systems, and cooling towers), crystalisers, filters, and centrifuges, which develop their engineering knowledge and competence in sustainability, digital capabilities, and employability. 

The financial and operational management of a chemical process is essential to Chemical Industry; students who have first-hand experienced these activities will become more rounded and employable graduates.  Following a comprehensive grounding in the science of Crystallisation students will complete a number of Case Studies related to the performance and operation of the pilot plant rig processing a crystallising system.  Following comprehensive training in the safe operation of the pilot plant students will then adopt a number of different rolls in the management and operating structure of the unique pilot plant and will manage/operate the unit in semi-batch mode for 4x12hr consecutive days of production.

The detailed design of a chemical process paying appropriate consideration to sustainability, economic and operational feasibility and engineering practicality is a key skill for chemical engineers and requires a detail and robust understanding of all aspects of chemical engineering.  This module comprises a sequence of learning opportunities designed to integrate and consolidate most of the fundamental science and engineering expertise acquired during the previous levels of the degree programme.  The assessment is design with 67% based on individual work and 33% based on group activity.  The equipment design report (UOA 2) is based on a piece of equipment of advanced complexity (grade C or higher).  

Module purpose:  This module was conceived to answer the SARTOR 3 requirement that each MEng student participates in a multi-disciplinary design activity. It involves students from Aerospace, Civil, Chemical, Electronic, Mechanical and Medical Engineering working in groups which contain at least 3, and often 4, disciplines. The projects are conceived by Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) Visiting Professors from Industry (who enjoy the active support of their sponsoring organisation). It aims to emulate an intensive Industrial Design Project.      

Nowadays, the design, planning and operations management relay on mathematical models the complexity of which depends on the detail of models and complexity of the problem they represent. In process industry these design and operation planning functions are particularly complex and a wide range of optimisation processes and methodologies are used to minimise risks and/or improve quality in making concomitant decisions. Consequently, the module intends to introduce to students the formulation of the decision making problems and application of optimisation techniques to support decisions with real-life worked examples.

The module is intended to introduce students to research methods in Chemical Engineering, with a focus on developing research ideas and planning a research study. Students work with an academic supervisor to undertake a literature review of a research topic, and ultimately plan a research study to address identified research questions or test research hypotheses. The module is intended to develop the skill base and subject knowledge of the students so that research work can be effectively undertaken for the generation of original results or new understanding.

The module is intended to provide a bridge between the research activities of CPE academics and the contents of the MEng programme in Chemical Engineering by providing students with an opportunity for independent research-based learning through individual projects. Advanced training is also provided on academic conferencing and publication skills, such as networking, research abstract / paper writing and presentation skills.