Chemical Engineering Systems Analysis Minor

Overview for Chemical Engineering Systems Analysis Minor

The minor in chemical engineering systems analysis provides students with a sophisticated understanding of the application of scientific knowledge to the solution of a vast array of practical problems in which chemistry plays a critical role. Students are taught the systems methodologies that chemical engineers employ to analyze and solve real world problems involving distinct chemical components, chemical reaction, multiple phases, and mass transfer.

Notes about this minor:

  • This minor is closed to students majoring in chemical engineering or any combined accelerated degree (BS/MS) that includes the BS in chemical engineering.
  • Posting of the minor on the student's academic transcript requires a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the minor.
  • At least nine semester credit hours of the minor must consist of specific courses not required by the student’s degree program.

The plan code for Chemical Engineering Systems Analysis Minor is CHME-MN.

Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Chemical Engineering Systems Analysis Minor

Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements

Course
Required Courses
CHME-182
Chemical Engineering Insights II
This course examines how chemical engineering analysis can be applied to address some of society’s current and future challenges. Particular attention is focused on the size and scale of a system and its affect on the engineering constraints and the ultimate solution of problems. The course enables students to recognize that the processes and equipment that chemical engineers design to solve local problems affect the broader problems that society faces, such as the supply of energy and preservation of the environment. The course demonstrates the power of the system balance as an essential tool for engineering analysis, and provides students with some elementary training in its use. (This class is restricted to CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND Major students.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
CHME-230
Chemical Process Analysis
A first course for chemical engineers, introducing units, dimensions and dimensional analysis, simple material balances for batch and continuous systems in steady and unsteady states with and without chemical reaction, and elementary phase equilibrium in multiple component systems. Energy balances on non-reactive systems in open and closed systems are introduced. (Prerequisites: CHMG-142 and CHME-182 or equivalent courses or student standing in CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND. Co-requisite: MATH-182 or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall).
CHME-310
Applied Thermodynamics
This is a course in the fundamentals of both single and multiple-component thermodynamics. The first and second laws of thermodynamics and concepts of entropy and equilibrium are examined in open and closed control volume systems. Energy, work, and heat requirements of various unit operations are examined. Equations of states and properties of fluids are explored. Phase transition and equilibrium involving single-and multiple components are examined for both ideal and non-ideal systems. Energy released/absorbed during chemical reaction and solution creation are imbedded in analysis of chemical engineering processes (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Spring).
CHME-330
Mass Transfer Operations
This course covers the analysis and design of chemical processes for the separation and purification of mixtures. The course includes an introduction to the fundamentals of diffusion leading up to mass transfer coefficients and their use in solving a variety of engineering problems. Design methodologies are examined for equilibrium based processes (such as absorption, stripping, and distillation). Rate-based separation processes, including packed columns and batch adsorption, are examined and contrasted with equilibrium-based processes. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and CHME-310 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Spring).
CHME-340
Reaction Engineering
The fundamentals of chemical kinetics are integrated with the concepts of mass and energy conservation, from both a macroscopic and microscopic perspective, to develop models that describe the performance of chemical reactors. Topics include mass action kinetics and absolute rate theory, series and parallel reaction systems, and the mathematical modeling of various reactor configurations. The conceptual framework and tools are developed to understand and design chemical reactor processes and to interpret experimental data obtained on a laboratory scale to design pilot scale and full scale manufacturing processes. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and CHME-310 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Fall).
Electives
Choose one course from the following groups:
Alternate Energy Systems
   CHEM-201
Clean Energy: Hydrogen Fuel Cells
This course focuses on clean energy sources, theories of different fuel cell operations, hydrogen infrastructure, and the introduction of devices that employ hydrogen. Principles of energy utilization as they relate to the issues of global warming are presented. The fundamentals of electrochemistry, acid-base reactions, organic chemistry, polymers, thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, photochemistry, and plasma chemistry will be covered to develop a foundation for an understanding of renewable energy and hydrogen technology. Topics in the course include technical aspects of hydrogen utilization for power generation and transportation. Disposal schemes for by-products are also discussed. (Prerequisites: CHMG-121 or CHMG-131 or CHMG-141 or CHEM-151 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring, Summer).
   MECE-529
Renewable Energy Systems
This course provides an overview of renewable energy system design. Energy resource assessment, system components, and feasibility analysis will be covered. Possible topics to be covered include photovoltaics, wind turbines, solar thermal, hydropower, biomass, and geothermal. Students will be responsible for a final design project. (Prerequisites: MECE-310 or equivalent course. This course is restricted to MECE-BS or MECEDU-BS students.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
Advanced Materials
   CHMA-222
 Chemical Separations
   CHMG-201
 Introduction to Organic Polymer Technology
The first part of the course covers the fundamentals of organic chemistry. The organization, nomenclature, structure, bonding and basic reactions of organic compounds will be discussed, in particular those concepts that are relevant to understand polymer chemistry. The second part of the course will introduce the nomenclature and classification of synthetic polymers. The reactions leading to the formation of relevant polymers, their chemical and physical behavior, and some of their many applications will be discussed. (Prerequisites: CHMG-121 or CHMG-131 or CHMG-141 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
   MECE-557
 Applied Biomaterials
This course provides an overview of materials used in biomedical applications. Topics covered include structure and properties of hard and soft biomaterials, material selection for medical applications, material performance and degradation in hostile environments, and typical and abnormal physiological responses to biomaterials/environments. Some experiments will be performed in class and a major project is required. (Prerequisite: MECE-305 or BIME-370 and MECE-210 or BIME-320 or equivalent course and restricted to MECE-BS or BIME-BS Major students.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
Biomedical Engineering
   BIME-200
 Introductory Musculoskeletal Biomechanics
This course is an introduction to engineering mechanics in the context of biomechanics. The course is designed to provide students with an understanding of how the musculoskeletal system reacts to various mechanical forces applied to it in both static and dynamic conditions. Sporting examples are used to illustrate how classical Newtonian mechanics is applied in human locomotion externally, in interactions with the environment. The course describes how basics of kinetics and kinematics are used to analyze the mechanics of human movement and inanimate objects. The main areas addressed are static equilibrium, mechanical stability, linear and angular kinematics, motion with constant and non-constant acceleration, collision and conservation of momentum, work, energy, and power. The course develops an awareness and appreciation of both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods within the field of biomechanics. In addition to rigid body mechanics, the course also introduces students to the concepts of stress and strain and how they affect muscle tissue and bones. Mechanical properties such as stiffness, strength, toughness, and fatigue resistance are considered in the context of bone structures and loading. (Prerequisites: PHYS-211 or PHYS-211A or 1017-312 or 1017-312T or 1017-389 or PHYS-206 and PHYS-207 or equivalent course and student standing in the BIME-BS or ENGRX-UND program.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
   BIME-370
 Introduction to Biomaterials Science
This course is intended to provide an overview of materials used in biomedical applications, both internal and external to the human body. The specific objective of this course is to present the principles which apply to the properties and selection of materials used in medical applications. Topics include an introduction to deformable mechanics and viscoelasticity; structure and properties of metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites; fundamental composition of biological tissues; and principles associated with the interaction between biological tissues and artificial materials. (Prerequisites: BIME-200 and CHMG-142 or equivalent courses. Co-requisite: BIOG-141 or BIOG-240 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
   MECE-358 
 Contemporary Issues in Bioengineering
   MECE-407
 Biomedical Device Eng
Chemical Engineering
   CHME-320
 Process Transport I
This course focuses on an introduction both fluid flow and heat transfer. In the first two thirds of the course, mass and force balances on control volumes are considered in both static and dynamic situations. Hydrostatic effects in manometers and static forces are calculated. Bernoulli’s Equation and applications are considered. Head losses and pumping requirements are considered in piping systems with laminar and turbulent flow. Friction factors for internal flows are also studied. In the last third of the course, fundamentals of heat transfer are introduced from a point-wise yet continuum perspective involving conduction, convection, and radiation. Simplifying approximations of conduction, convection, and radiation dominated heat transfer are introduced, and combined modes of transfer are analyzed. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and MATH-231 and PHYS-211 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
   CHME-350
 Multiple Scale Material Science
This course provides the student with an overview of structure, properties, and processing of metals, polymers, ceramics and composites. Structural imperfections, atom packing, and phase diagrams are also discussed. The course develops a basic understanding of the structure/properties relationship in materials and introduces the principles governing phenomena occurring on the smallest continuum scales. Topics include force fields and interatomic bonding, crystallography, microscopy, order-disorder transitions and solidification phenomena. Conventional chemical engineering analyses topics, such as transport processes and thermodynamics, are adjusted and extended to the micro[nano]-scale. (Prerequisites: CHME-310 and CHMO-231 and CHMO-235 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
   CHME-421
 Interfacial Phenomena
This course covers the fundamental principles of interfacial phenomena incorporating unique physics and chemistry associated with interfaces arising between liquids, gases, and solids. It is designed to introduce students to the significance of interfacial science in important engineering applications such as the wetting behavior of liquids on solid surfaces, the coating of thin liquid films, the formation of dispersed phases, and colloid & nanoparticle technology. (Prerequisites: CHMG-141 and CHME-310 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 .
   CHME-599
 Independent Study
Allows upper-level undergraduate students an opportunity to independently investigate, under faculty supervision, aspects of the field of chemical engineering that are not sufficiently covered in existing courses. Proposals for independent study activities must be approved by both the faculty member supervising the independent study and the department head. (Enrollment in this course requires permission from the department offering the course.) Ind Study (Fall, Spring).
Environmental
   ISEE-787 
Design for the Environment
This course will provide the student with systematic approaches for designing and developing environmentally responsible products. In particular, design trade-offs will be explored. (Prerequisites: ISEE-140 or ISEE-304 or MECE-304 or MECE-305 or students in SUSPRD-MN, ISEE-MS, SUSTAIN-MS, ENGMGT-ME, MECE-MS, MECE-ME, MIE-PHD programs.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
   MECE-357
Contemporary Issues in Energy And Environment
Semiconductor Processing
   MCEE-201
IC Technology
An introduction to the basics of integrated circuit fabrication. The electronic properties of semiconductor materials and basic device structures are discussed, along with fabrication topics including photolithography diffusion and oxidation, ion implantation, and metallization. The laboratory uses a four-level metal gate PMOS process to fabricate an IC chip and provide experience in device design - and layout (CAD), process design, in-process characterization and device testing. Students will understand the basic interaction between process design, device design and device layout. (This course is restricted to EEEE-BS or MCEE-BS students with at least 2nd year standing or with instructor approval.) Lab 3, Lecture 2 (Fall, Spring).
   MCEE-503
Thin Films
This course focuses on the deposition and etching of thin films of conductive and insulating materials for IC fabrication. A thorough overview of vacuum technology is presented to familiarize the student with the challenges of creating and operating in a controlled environment. Physical and Chemical Vapor Deposition (PVD & CVD) are discussed as methods of film deposition. Plasma etching and Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP) are studied as methods for selective removal of materials. Applications of these fundamental thin film processes to IC manufacturing are presented. (Prerequisites: MCEE-201 or equivalent course.) Lab 3, Lecture 2 (Fall).
   MCEE-505
Lithography Materials and Processes
Microlithography Materials and Processes covers the chemical aspects of microlithography and resist processes. Fundamentals of polymer technology will be addressed and the chemistry of various resist platforms including novolac, styrene, and acrylate systems will be covered. Double patterning materials will also be studied. Topics include the principles of photoresist materials, including polymer synthesis, photochemistry, processing technologies and methods of process optimization. Also advanced lithographic techniques and materials, including multi-layer techniques for BARC, double patterning, TARC, and next generation materials and processes are applied to optical lithography. (Prerequisites: CHMG-131 and CHMG-141 or equivalent courses.) Lab 3, Lecture 3 (Fall).

Contact

Program Contact
  • Brian Landi
  • Department Head
  • Department of Chemical Engineering
  • Kate Gleason College of Engineering
  • 585‑475‑4726
  • bjlsps@rit.edu