Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (CHE-321)

Thermodynamics is a cornerstone of chemical engineering, providing the essential tools to determine the feasibility of a process. The concepts covered are fundamental to subsequent courses such as kinetics, separations, mass transfer, and design. This course reviews the first and second laws of thermodynamics, with a primary emphasis on the nonideal properties of single-component and multicomponent systems. A major portion of the course is devoted to phase equilibrium, which is critical for separations like distillation and extraction, and chemical equilibrium, which is essential for reactor design.

Course Description

Thermodynamics is a cornerstone of chemical engineering, providing the essential tools to determine the feasibility of a process. The concepts covered are fundamental to subsequent courses such as kinetics, separations, mass transfer, and design. This course reviews the first and second laws of thermodynamics, with a primary emphasis on the nonideal properties of single-component and multicomponent systems. A major portion of the course is devoted to phase equilibrium, which is critical for separations like distillation and extraction, and chemical equilibrium, which is essential for reactor design.

Student Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define a thermodynamic system and solve problems using the first and second laws of thermodynamics.
• Apply equations of state (EOS) to estimate the thermodynamic properties of real fluids using departure functions.
• Distinguish the differences between an ideal gas, an ideal solution, and a non-ideal solution.
• Calculate the equilibrium distribution of a component between multiple phases.
• Calculate the maximum extent of chemical reactions.
• Use simulation packages to design common equipment such as valves, compressors, and heat exchangers.

Required Textbook

• Introductory Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, 2nd edition, by J.R. Elliott and C.T. Lira.

Course Topics

The course covers the following major topics:

• Thermodynamics 1 Review and Introduction
• Classical Thermodynamics & Engineering EOS for PVT properties
• Departure Functions
• Phase Equilibrium in a Pure Fluid
• Phase Equilibrium in Multi-component Systems
• Phase Equilibrium in Mixtures by EOS & Activity Models
• Reaction Equilibrium

Grading Breakdown

• Homework Assignments: 10%
• In-class Quizzes: 10%
• Reading Quizzes: 5%
• Midterm Exams: 35%
• Final Exam: 40%