CHE 264 Syllabus
Fall 2010, Unique Numbers - M - 14700, Th -14705
Instructor:
Professor Michael E. Poehl
CPE 5.404, Cell 512.809.3030, hornzup@sbcglobal.net
Office Hours: On request or Mon 1100 – 1200 / Wed 1300 - 1400
TA’s: Distillation –Marty Gran - mlgran@mail.utexas.edu ,
Distillation Efficiency-Marty Gran - mlgran@mail.utexas.edu ,
Reactor Albert Lee - matthew@che.utexas.edu, PRC 133, Office 1.306D, 232-2801
Pump –Wen-Yueh Yu - wenyueh@che.utexas.edu
Nano Experiments –
English Grader: - Andrew Costigan - Andrew_Costigan@post.harvard.edu
Prerequisites:
CHE 363 and CHE 353M at least a grade of C
Writing format website: http://www.engr.utexas.edu/che/techwriting/
Your effort in this course will consist of five standard experiments and one special
project. Short lectures will be given on designated class periods (Monday 1-1:30 and
Thursday 1-1:30). You will perform experiments and work on projects for the balance
of the afternoon. Assignments are shown on the Class Calendar with grading basis is
given in Table 1.
Each student will perform each of the five standard experiments in 5 of the 10 weeks
allotted for Standard Experiments ( SE ). The assigned random groups will be posted on
Blackboard and outside CPE 5.404.You will do the following for each standard
experiment:
1. Review the problem statement and laboratory manual.
2. Prepare a typed draft of background sections (Introduction, Methods, Sample
Calculations, Safety, References Cited) due electronically NOON- day of the
experiment.
3. TEAM WRITE-UPS are required for your first and last standard labs,
EXCLUDING NANO LAB.
4. Perform experiment on the day assigned.
5. Prepare as a group analyzed data tables (spreadsheet), and draft figures, due at
the end of the lab period and graded as part of your draft report.
6. Final report (one for each student) in memo format - due at noon 2 weeks later.
( Last report will be due ONE week after completing your experiment )
All assignments will be submitted and returned electronically via Blackboard.
Possible topics for the special project will be distributed on September 14; your
selections are due September 17. Assignments will be posted on September 21st. The
special projects team will be the same as your lab team, with shuffling to accommodate
individual research, and to balance teams. A planning conference will be held with the
instructor and TA during the week starting September 28th. Oral progress report will be
made on November 9 or 12, and written progress report will be due on November 16 or
19. We will expect substantial progress, with at least some experimental data. The final
written report will be due in research report format on December 3rd, 2 pm
Report style guide and format specifications for the technical memo and research report
are available as a handout and on the web. Safety hints are attached to this syllabus.
Class Calendar: Lecture Schedule
Dates
8/30, 9/2
Special Course Overview
on-line safety training (OH201- lab safety) (Rachel LeBansky) at
http://www.utexas.edu/safety/ehs/lab/labman/
8/27
Standard Experiment (SE) Teams & Assignments Posted
9/9, 9/13
"Special Project Approach"
9/15
Special Project (SP) Selections Due
9/17
Special Projects Assignments Posted
9/20,23
“Safety Planning”
9/27,9/30
Special Project Planning Conferences
10/4,10/6*
Special Project Planning Conferences
10/11,10/14
Special Project Safety Plan Due
10/18,10/21
"Preparing Oral Progess Report" &
"Preparing Written Progess & Final Report"
11/8,11/11
Special Project Oral Progress Reports
11/15,11/18
Special Project Written Progress Reports
11/25,26
Thanksgiving Break
12/2 - 2 pm
SP Final Written Reports Due
11/29, 12/2
SP Final Oral Reports
Lecture Dates in YELLOW
TABLE 1: Grading Basis
Standard Experiments --Technical Memo Format
For each experiment
Draft Intro, Methods, safety, refs cited (individual) - 25
Tabular analyzed data, draft figs (group or indv.) - 55
Final Individual or Team Report 80
English
20
The graded draft report must be attached to the final report.
Reactor
100
Distillation - Flooding
100
Distillation - Efficiency
100
Liquid/liquid extraction
100
Pump
100
Special Project (group grades)
Safety Plan
20
Progress Reports
Written, Technical Memo Format
Oral
100
80
Final Report
Written, Research Report Format
200
Oral
100
1,000
Note: No late reports are accepted.
All experiments must be completed with a grade of 60 or better to pass the course. You
must rewrite the report if you grade is below 60, but 60 will be your grade.
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
[Your TA’s Name]
[Your Name]
[Date the work was delivered]
[Name of experiment] Technical Memo Format
Summary:
[If you are writing an Enumerated summary, present the main points of your work in a
list like the following. Use complete sentences.
Whichever summary you use, write it last, after you have completed the report.]
1. Place conclusions and recommendations first as a concise summary of your work.
2. Enumerate.
3. Concisely restate conclusions developed in the discussion of results.
4. Direct recommendations based on the design problem to management.
5. Show consistency in your report. Do not recommend a design and at the same time
recommend that further experiments should be performed.
6. Use complete sentences and appropriate punctuation.
Introduction: [Begin with a sentence summarizing the purpose or objective of the
experiment. Follow with a few sentences that give an overview of what procedures you
followed and what analytical methods you used. Give the reader an idea of what to
expect.]
This is an example of a memo report format. You should concisely present your work
with 1200-2000 words (about 3 pages) of single-spaced, typed text plus figures, tables,
and appendices. The memo should be divided into five sections with one or more
paragraphs in each. The appendices should include data, sample calculations, references
cited, an effort report, and any other supplementary information. The appendix of this
memo is the grading sheet that will be used.
The introduction should be a restatement of the design problem and its
significance. It should summarize the purpose or objective of the experiment and present
the approach to the problem. It may briefly outline the conditions of your experiment.
Methods: [Give a brief description of the experimental apparatus. You may cite the lab
manual and specify any modifications to the standard. Give distinctive features and
critical dimensions.
Next, give a brief description of the materials and procedures. What did you measure
and how? Cite the lab manual but specify modifications. Again, you may reference a
fuller description in the appendix.
Finally, include a brief discussion of the theoretical basis of this experiment. Give one
or two equations to represent the theoretical result. (See FAQs for how to handle numbers
and equations.) In the Results section, you will compare your results to the theory, so
prepare your reader for that discussion here.]
Apparatus and Procedure - Describe briefly the experimental apparatus and procedure (in
the past tense). Discuss features necessary to scale-up the results and to interpret errors
in the data. Include a drawing or schematic of the apparatus to present details and
minimize textual discussion. Describe briefly measurements and calculations necessary
to obtain final results. Do not list instructions.
Theory - This section should present the theory needed to interpret your experiment. If
possible, present only one or two equations to represent the theoretical result. Define any
algebraic variables that would not be in common use. Give the assumptions and
limitations of the theory. Reference a source giving the derivation of the theory, or, if
necessary, derive the theory in an appendix.
Results: [Begin this section with an overview, summarizing the key results. Next, present
your data in figures or tables. (See FAQs for instructions in preparing figures and tables.)
Specify what data you are presenting, how you analyzed it, and what you concluded from
your analysis. Compare your results to the theory, and discuss the implications.
Remember to maintain consistency with the Methods section, and do not introduce new
theory here.
Check with your course instructor for more specific detail about this section.]
Present your results in figures or tables and develop quantitative conclusions. Avoid
redundant presentation of results. Compare your results to theory. Discuss quantitatively
important errors in your measurements and their effects on the reliability of your final
results. Develop conclusions. Describe and present the results of your design
calculations.
(Do not include the additional sections: conclusions and recommendations and
abstract.)
Appendices:
Safety - Emphasize safety problems and practices specific to this experiment. Avoid
generic stuff. Use past tense.
References - Your text should cite all sources used, including the lab handout. List the
references at the end of the appendix. Use APA documentation style through NoodleBiB
(UT Library) [LINK]. For example, you may cite a source like this in the text (Henry,
1998). The reference would look like this:
Henry, J. (1998, Summer). Liquid-Liquid Extraction. Lab Handout ChE 264, The
University of Texas at Austin.
Data - Include spreadsheet of raw data with intermediate and final calculated results to
permit good partial credit. All data that appear on figures in the report should be
tabulated somewhere.
Sample Calculations - Select one data set and show all calculations by hand in detail.
Show units.
Effort report – Estimate the number of hours that you personally spent on this lab. Break
down as hours before the lab, hours in the lab, and hours after the lab.
ChE 264
Standard Experiment Report Grading Sheet
Student _______________________
Lab Title _________________________
Final Due Date__________
Lab Date ________
Final Received Date __________
Draft
Final
Technical ( 80%)
Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations
_____(10 %)
Introduction
_____(5 %)
_____(1 %)
Methods
_____(7 %)
_____(5 % )
Results
_____(35 %)
Appendix
Sample calcs, data
_____(10 %)
Safety
_____(2 %)
References cited
_____(1 %)
Totals
Technical subtotal, Draft and Final
English
_____(25 %)
_____(4 %)
_____(55 %)
_____(80 %)
______(20
%)
Final Total Grade
%)
______(100
Course Objective:
The course objective is for students to connect and extend the material covered in their
core Chemical Engineering courses through experimentation. Students gain hands-on
experience in unit operations through experiments employing small-scale chemical
process equipment. The students are expected to address process and equipment scale-up
and design problems. Students work in teams of three or more as they collect, analyze,
and interpret data. Based on experimental experiences, students are expected to solve
scale-up and design problems. Students learn to prepare technical memos and research
reports and deliver oral presentations.
Knowledge, Abilities and Skills Students Should Gain in this Course:
1. Laboratory safety protocols; proper ways of disposing solid and liquid wastes; fire
safety protocols; methods of pressure relief
2. Ability to tackle open-ended problems through the proper design of experiments
3. Ability to identify important/governing variables or parameters in a problem
4. Ability to size full-scale equipment from laboratory measurements
5. Hands-on experience with chemical process equipment
6. Trouble shooting and problem solving skills
7. Ability to coordinate and work in groups
8. Oral presentation skills
9. Ability to apply classroom concepts in a hands-on environment
10. Ability to apply spreadsheet calculations to analyze collected data
11. Concepts of accuracy and precision
12. Ability to communicate specialized results to a general science audience.
These 12 topics lead to your ability to meet the following ABET criteria for accreditation
for the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Texas at Austin:
b) Ability to design and conduct experiments, as well to analyze and interpret
data.
g) Ability to communicate effectively.
ABET Undergraduate Program Outcomes
The objective of the chemical engineering degree program is to prepare students for
professional practice after they earn the bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree.
Chemical engineering graduates from the University of Texas at Austin are expected to
be able to:
1. Successfully apply fundamentals of science and engineering to solve problems of
analysis and design of components, systems, and processes important in chemical
engineering practice and research.
2. Demonstrate interpersonal skills required to lead and/or participate effectively in
interdisciplinary projects.
3. Recognize the importance of life-long learning in meeting professional and personal
goals, so they can be successful in their chosen profession, including graduate school.
4. Exhibit effectiveness in communication skills.
5. Articulate and practice professional, ethical, environmental and societal
responsibilities, and value different global and cultural perspectives.
Contributions of this course to meeting the Chemical Engineering Department
Program Outcomes :
Ethics: For each experiment, the honest evaluation of data is stressed. Commitment of
team members to joint goals and to each other are emphasized by encouraging
preparation and
participation.
Safety: Students are required to safety glasses and long pants. Hard hats are required for
experiments with large scale equipment. Safety issues for each experiment are discussed
by asking students to identify potential hazards. The teaching assistant adds additional
information if necessary. Safety hazards are discussed in course handouts.
Teamwork: Teamwork is emphasized by discussing not only the planning of work prior
to coming to the laboratory, but also the necessity for each team member to participate
fully and competently in planning and executing the experiment.
Relationship to all ABET program outcomes for Chemical Engineering:
Bold criteria covered in ChE 264 ( b ) and ( g)
a.) An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering.
b) An ability to design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze and interpret
data
c) An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within
realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health
and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
d) An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams.
e) An ability to indentify, formulate and solve engineering problems.
f) An understanding of professional ethical responsibility.
g) An ability to communicate effectively.
h) The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a
global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
i) A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
j) Knowledge of contemporary issues.
k) An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for
engineering practice.
http://www.utexas.edu/safety/ehs/index.php
http://www.utexas.edu/safety/ehs/lab/labman/toc.html
Training required for laboratory use at the University of Texas
http://www.utexas.edu/safety/ehs/train/labtraining2.html