Reactor or Separation Process Design

8 weeks · 0 milestones

Design a reactor or separation unit for a defined chemical process objective — reactor design (sizing for a target conversion), distillation column design (sizing for a separation specification), liquid-liquid extraction, or absorption column. The design must include: a clear design basis statement (feed composition, target conversion or separation, operating temperature and pressure), design equations with documented derivation or standard reference (CSTR, PFR, or distillation design methods), sizing calculations with equipment dimensions (volume, height, diameter) and operating conditions, a performance analysis showing the design meets the specification under the base case conditions and identifying the sensitivity to the most important design variable, and identification of the key engineering assumptions and their effect on reliability of the result. Preferred proof: design calculations from a real project. Accessible alternative: DWSIM (free, open-source) with reactor or separation unit operation models — input file submitted alongside the results; for hand calculations, Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook is accessible through many university open-access portals, and many design equations are in open textbooks and NIST resources. Proof artifacts: the design equations and sizing calculation (analysis artifact) and the design summary with performance analysis (documentation artifact). Verification: a chemical engineer reviews the sensitivity analysis — 'your design has X% conversion margin; at what feed temperature would this margin be consumed, and what does the process do then?' — requiring specific reasoning from your own design parameters.

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