Catalog of Courses for Chemical Engineering
Student-led special topic courses which vary by semester.
Includes the formulation and analysis of the first and second laws of thermodynamics; energy conservation; concepts of equilibrium, temperature, energy, and entropy; partial molar properties; pure component and mixture equations of state; processes involving energy transfer as work and heat; reversibility and irreversibility; and closed and open systems and cyclic processes. Corequisite: APMA 2120
Introduces the field of chemical engineering, including material and energy balances applied to chemical processes, physical and thermodynamic properties of multi-component systems. Three lecture and one discussion hour. Prerequisite: CHEM 1410 or CHEM 1610 or CHEM 1810, and APMA 1110 or MATH 1320.
Mathematical and computational tools for the analysis and simulation of chemical processes and physicochemical phenomena. Mathematical and numerical methods. Three lecture and one laboratory hour. Prerequisite CHE 2215, CS1110 or CS1111 or CS1112 or CS 1113; Co-requisite: APMA 2130 or MATH 3250, or APMA 2501 topic "Differential Equations & Linear Algebra"
Introduction to the fundamentals of biochemistry and molecular and cell biology emphasizing their relevance to industrial applications of biotechnology. Three lecture hours. Prerequisite: CHEM 1410 or CHEM 1810.
Chemical Engineering special topics vary by section.
Principles of chemical thermodynamics developed and applied to chemical and phase equilibria. Principles and methods for staged separation processes including distillation, absorption and stripping, extraction, and adsorption systems. Four Lecture Hours. Prerequisite: CHE 2202 and 2215.
Determination of rate equations for chemical reactions from experimental data. Use of kinetics and transport relations in the design of both batch and continuous reactors; homogeneous, heterogeneous, uncatalyzed and catalyzed reactions. Three lecture hours. Prerequisite: CHE 2216, 3316; corequisite: CHE 3322.
Fundamental principles of momentum transport will be discussed and mathematical methods will be used to describe transport in steady state and unsteady state situations. This course will emplasize the application of these principles and quantitative relations to fluid flow problems. Three lecture hours . Prerequisite: APMA 2130, CHE 2215, 2216.
Fundamental concepts of heat and mass transfer; applications of these concepts and material and energy conservation calculations for design of heat exchanger and packed absorption/stripping columns. Four lecture hours. Prerequisites: CHE 2216, 3316, 3321.
Quantitative engineering aspects of industrial applications of biology including the microbial synthesis of commercial products, environmental biotechnology, and the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals through recombinant microorganisms, transgenic animals, and plants. Three lecture hours. Prerequisite: CHE 2216, CHE 2246, CHE 3321; corequisite: CHE 3318, and 3322.
Experimental study of selected operations and phenomena in fluid mechanics and heat transfer. Students plan experiments, analyze data, calculate results and prepare written and/or oral planning and final technical reports. One hour discussion, four laboratory hours. Prerequisite: CHE 2215 and CHE 3316 and CHE 3321; corequisite: CHE 3322
This course will cover the fundamentals of Physical Chemistry with an emphasis on engineering-relevant topics and applications. This course will connect molecular properties to macroscopic observables via the fundamentals of thermodynamics, quantum theory, statistical mechanics, and chemical kinetics. Prerequisites: APMA 2130 and CHEM 1420 or equivalent
Introduces the fundamental principles of tissue engineering. Topics: tissue organization and dynamics, cell and tissue characterization, cell-matrix interactions, transport processes in engineered tissues, biomaterials and biological interfaces, stem cells and interacting cell fate processes, and tissue engineering methods. Prerequisites: CHEM 1620, APMA 2130, and an introductory course in cell and molecular biology or instructor permission.
Combining chemical engineering unit operations to create complete manufacturing processes, including safety, environmental, and economic considerations. Modeling processes using commercial simulation software. Analysis and design of control systems for chemical plants. Three lecture hours. Prerequisite: CHE 3318 and CHE 3322; Corequisite CHE 4475
Factors underlying interfacial phenomena, emphasizing thermodynamics of surfaces, structural aspects, and electrical phenomena. Application to areas such as emulsification, foaming, detergency, sedimentation, fluidization, nucleation, wetting, adhesion, flotation, and electrophoresis. Three lecture hours. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
This course will cover the fundamentals of Process Safety. We will apply chemical engineering fundamentals to identify various hazards within chemical processes and will assess the risks associated with these hazards. This course will also cover the process design approaches and other commonly adopted industry practices used to mitigate, control and/or manage risks associated with chemical processes. Coreq: CHE 3322 or MAE 3140; Prereq: CHE 3321 or MAE 3210
Principles of bioseparations engineering, including specialized unit operations not normally covered in regular chemical engineering courses. Processing operations downstream of the initial manufacture of biotechnology products, including product recovery, separations, purification, and ancillary operations such as sterile processing, clean-in place and regulatory aspects. Three lecture hours. Prerequisite: CHE 3322
Analyzes the mechanisms and kinetics of various polymerization reactions; relations between the molecular structure and polymer properties, and how these properties can be influenced by the polymerization process; fundamental concepts of polymer solution and melt rheology. Applications to polymer processing operations, such as extrusion, molding, and fiber spinning. Three lecture hours. Pre- or Co-requisite CHE 3321 or BME 3240 or MAE 3140
Overview of energy technologies with an emphasis on materials research and development concepts and current production. The scope of these technologies within the broader contexts of innovation and energy policy. Topics will include fossil fuels, electrochemical energy storage, fuel cells, and photovoltaics. Prerequisite (CHEM 1410 or CHEM 1610 or CHEM 1810) AND (CHE 2202 or MAE 2100 or MSE 3050).
This course provides a practical introduction to data science and machine-learning for chemical engineers. These tools, not covered in the core UG ChE curriculum, have become increasingly relevant and widely used in the chemical engineering industry. Course topics include data storage and retrieval, dimensional reduction, classification, regression algorithms, resampling and regularization, and case studies in chemical engineering. Pre-requisite: (CS 1110 or CS 1111 or CS 1112 or CS 1113 or CS 1110 place-out exam) OR (APMA 2130 or MATH 3250) OR APMA 3110 OR CHE 2216 OR equivalent
The course focuses on engineering's role in commercialization of vaccines and biologics. Biologics are more complex than small molecule drug products. This course includes an overview of vaccines and biologics from historical context, product, process and analytical technologies, immunology, clinical, regulatory and ethical considerations, economics, risk mitigation, and impact on human health. Prerequisites: 4th year in CHE or BME
Combining chemical engineering unit operations to create complete manufacturing processes, including safety, environmental, and economic considerations. Modeling processes using commercial simulation software. Analysis and design of control systems for chemical plants. Three lecture hours. Prerequisite: CHE 3318 and CHE 3322; Corequisite CHE 4475
Understanding hazards and risk in a chemical process, managing risk by providing the appropriate layers of protection to reduce the frequency and severity of incidents, and learning from incidents when they happen. Introduction to the engineering and industry concepts. This course is an introduction to the engineering and industry concepts. One lecture hour. Prerequisites: CHE 3318 and CHE 3322. Co-requisite: CHE 4474
Application of academically acquired skills to the practice of chemical engineering in an industrial environment: industrial economics; process synthesis and selection; flow sheet development; equipment sizing; plant layout and cost estimation. Report preparation and oral presentations. Use of commercial process simulation software. Two lecture hours, two discussion hours, and design laboratory. Prerequisite: CHE 2216 and CHE 3318 and CHE 3322 and CHE 4474 and CHE 4475.
Continuation of CHE 3398; emphasizes separations, chemical reaction, and process dynamics and control. One discussion and four laboratory hours. Prerequisite: CHE 3318, 3322, and 3398.
Applies engineering science, design methods, and system analysis to developing areas and current problems in chemical engineering. Topics are announced at registration. Prerequisite:Third or Fourth-year standing and instructor permission.
Applies engineering science, design methods, and system analysis to developing areas and current problems in chemical engineering. Topics are announced at registration. Prerequisite: Fourth-year standing and instructor permission.
Library and laboratory study of an engineering or manufacturing problem conducted in close consultation with a departmental faculty member, often including the design, construction, and operation of laboratory scale equipment. Requires progress reports and a comprehensive written report. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
The course focuses on engineering's role in commercialization of vaccines and biologics. Biologics are more complex than small molecule drug products and present unique challenges in commercialization. This course includes an overview of vaccines and biologics from historical context, product, process and analytical technologies, immunology, clinical, regulatory and ethical considerations, economics, risk mitigation, and impact on human health. Prerequisites: 4th year or higher CHE or BME standing or Instructor Permission
Applies engineering science, design methods, and system analysis to developing areas and current problems in chemical engineering. Topics are announced at registration.
Applies engineering science, design methods, and system analysis to developing areas and current problems in chemical engineering. Topics are announced at registration.
This course is intended to educate scientifically literate persons on the status of the energy challenge and to motivate them to contribute to solutions for energy needs. Historic patterns and future predictions for energy consumption, production and resources are reviewed, with a particular focus on transportation fuels and electric power generation. Challenges for fossil fuels, renewable energy and nuclear energy are discussed. Prerequisite: 4th year or higher standings in SEAS or Instructor Permission
Introduction to dynamics and control of process systems, controllers, sensors, and final control elements. Development and application of time- and frequency-domain characterizations of subsystems for stability analyses of closed control loops. State-space models, principles of sampled-data analysis and digital control techniques. Elementary systems identification with emphasis on dead time, distributed parameters, and nonlinearities. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
Factors underlying interfacial phenomena, with emphasis on thermodynamics of surfaces, structural aspects, and electrical phenomena; applications such as emulsification, foaming, detergency, sedimentation, flow through porous media, fluidization, nucleation, wetting, adhesion, flotation, electrocapillarity. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
This course will cover the fundamentals of Process Safety. We will apply chemical engineering fundamentals to identify various hazards within chemical processes and will assess the risks associated with these hazards. This course will also cover the process design approaches and other commonly adopted industry practices used to mitigate, control and/or manage risks associated with chemical processes. Prerequisites: Chemical Engineering graduate student
Introduction to properties, production, and use of biological molecules of importance to medicine and industry, such as proteins, enzymes, and antibiotics. Topics may include fermentation and cell culture processes, biological mass transfer, enzyme engineering, and implications of recent advances in molecular biology, genomics, and proteomics. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
Principles of bioseparations engineering including specialized unit operations not normally covered in regular chemical engineering courses. Processing operations downstream of the initial manufacture of biotechnology products, including product recovery, separations, purification, and ancillary operations such as sterile processing, clean-in place and regulatory aspects. Bioprocess integration and design aspects. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
Analyzes the mechanisms and kinetics of various polymerization reactions; relations between the molecular structure and polymer properties, and how these properties can be influenced by the polymerization process; fundamental concepts of polymer solution and melt rheology. Applications to polymer processing operations, such as extrusion, molding, and fiber spinning. Three lecture hours. Prerequisite: CHE 3321 or instructor permission.
Overview of energy technologies with an emphasis on materials research and development concepts and current production. The scope of these technologies within the broader contexts of innovation and energy policy. Topics will include fossil fuels, electrochemical energy storage, fuel cells, and photovoltaics.
This course is a practical introduction to data science and machine learning with specific focus on chemical engineering applications. Lectures focus first on foundational programming skills, and the course continues with an overview of various techniques and algorithms used to solve real world chemical engineering problems. Substantial time is devoted to model selection and validation, and case studies in chemical engineering are explored. Prerequisites: Chemical Engineering graduate student
Factors that determine the genesis and evolution of a process. Principles of marketing and technical economics and modern process design principles and techniques, including computer simulation with optimization. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
Special Topics in CHE
The course provides practical instruction on the conduct of research at UVa. Students will be introduced to such topics as research infrastructure, responsible conduct of research, laboratory safety, time management, data management, literature searching methods, critical reviewing of the scientific literature, writing research proposals, and presenting scientific research findings.
Development of the thermodynamic laws and derived relations. Application of relations to properties of pure and multicomponent systems at equilibrium in the gaseous, liquid, and solidphases. Prediction and calculation of phase and reaction equilibria in practical systems. Prerequisite: Undergraduate-level thermodynamics or instructor permission.
Fundamentals of chemical reaction kinetics and mechanisms; experimental methods of determining reaction rates; introduction to heterogeneous catalysis; application of chemical kinetics, along with mass-transfer theory, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics, to the design and operation of chemical reactors. Prerequisite: CHE 6625 and 6665.
Integrated introduction to fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and mass transfer. Development of the basic equations of change for transport of momentum, energy, and mass in continuous media. Applications with exact solutions, consistent approaches to limiting cases and approximate solutions to formulate the relations to be solved in more complicated problems. Prerequisite: Undergraduate transport processes
Fundamental principles common to mass transfer phenomena, with emphasis on mass transfer in diverse chemical engineering situations. Detailed consideration of fluxes, diffusion with and without convection, interphase mass transfer with chemical reaction, and applications. Prerequisite: CHE 6625 and 6665.
Methods for analysis of steady state and transient chemical engineering problems arising in fluid mechanics, heat transfer, mass transfer, kinetics, and reactor design. Prerequisite: Undergraduate differential equations, transport processes, and chemical reaction engineering.
Weekly meetings of graduate students and faculty for presentations and discussion of research in academic and industrial organizations. May be repeated.
Detailed study of graduate course material on an independent basis under the guidance of a faculty member.
Formal record of student commitment to project research for Master of Engineering degree under the guidance of a faculty advisor. May be repeated as necessary.
Special subjects at an advanced level under the direction of staff members. Prerequisite: Permission of the staff.
Advanced study of reacting systems, such as experimental methods, heterogeneous catalysis, polymerization kinetics, kinetics of complex reactions, reactor stability, and optimization. Prerequisite: CHE 6618 or instructor permission.
For master's students.
Detailed study of graduate course material on an independent basis under the guidance of a faculty member.
Formal record of student commitment to master's thesis research under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Registration may be repeated as necessary.
For doctoral students.
Formal record of student commitment to doctoral research under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Registration may be repeated as necessary.