Chapter 1 : Mole Balances
I have learned about how to identify different type of chemical species and the types of reaction occurred with different changes in the chemical compound. Next, I've learned about the reaction rate and the 4 different types of reactors. Those 4 reactors are PFR, PBR, CSTR and Batch reactor. I found out that Batch reactor is not affected by size but affected by time. Besides that, the difference between PFR and CSTR is that PFR reactions changes gradually while CSTR reactions changes directly. In additon to that, I can already define the design equations in terms of moles.
Chapter 2 : Conversion & Reactor Sizing
I have learned about conversion, which is a way of describing how far a reaction produce or proceeds to the right. I have also developed specific equations for each reactor by relating conversion and moles of reactant. For this chapter, we applied the jigsaw activity to solve some past years exam questions. After doing some past years questions during class, I am able to apply the equations formed to calculate whats needed. I have also learned how to evaluate the best reactor arrangement by using the graph of Fa0/-ra againts x. At first i was confused during graph drawing for reactors in arrangement as i was not sure of where i should mark the intermidiate X. But I have confirmed this already as I need to mark the most lowest point of Fa0/-ra aginats x.
Chapter 3 : Rate Law and Stochiometry
In this chapter, I have learned about different types of reaction. Next, I have learned how to define rate laws. There are two types of rate laws which are elementary and non-elementary. At first i was not clear about the difference between these two but after doing some questions that required me to identify the rate law, I am now more clear on how to differentiate it. Furthermore, I am now able to define the reaction order of a reaction based on the knowledge of rate laws. I am also ale to construct a stochiometry table based on the reaction given. The stochiometry table for batch and flow systems are different. Through the classes of this chapter, I have confirmed that expansion factor only exist in gas phase. Overall, this chapter was straight-forward and the expert group exercises was doable. Other than that, I wished the lecturer could provide answers or discussion to the questions given in the video lecture/notes.
Chapter 4 : Isothermal Reactor Design
In this chapter, I basically need to apply my knowledge from the previous 3 chapters and combine it to evaluate the question. I have learned that k value is constant in any type of reactor. This is why we usually find the value of k through evaluating a batch reactor first. I have also learned a new term which is Damkohler number for the design of CSTR. To strengthen our knowledge on this chapter, we were required to do some exercise whereby each exercise focuses on each part of this chapter. Although it looked hard at first, but after trying to do it, Ive managed to undderstand a part of it and the rest was discussed during class. At first this chapter was messy for me since it is used for PBL. But after trying to solve the PBL question, I have a clearer view on how the chapter flows. In order to increase and improve my understanding, I would try to solve the PBL questions made by other groups to further practice solving this chapter.
Chapter 5- Collection and Analysis of Rate Data
Chapter 5 is my favourite chapter so far. For this chapter, I've watched the provided video lecture first and there were some parts missing in it like how to do the graphs and all. Sp during class, Dr Tazli taught us how to and it gave me a clearer understanding. We also did the fishbowl activities using previous PBL questions from Jan16 as our class activity. One thing I would like to change/ improve on this activity is that the fishes isnt suppose to just read the answers but to explain thoroughly because when we did this in class. Its like gearing repeatative answers from each group and some did not even pay attention. I hope you can make changes about his
Problem Based Learning - 1st Cycle(PBL 1)
The aim for this activity was to study chapter 4 based on two situation(problem) given. My group and I are supposed to come up with two high quality questions. At first, we were blanked on how to start. We started PBL with problem restatement and the KNL table so that we understand the details of what we were supposed to do. Confused and lost, we tried to study on our own first through the video lectures. I did come up with a few problem along the way like how to derive the Damkohler number for different type of orders. But everything was clarified during the peer teaching session. Then comes the hard part, to produce the questions.
Since we need to produce questions that needs to be based Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) and Bloom Taxonomy (Level 4-6), we start by evaluating on how one question can satisfy this two criteria. We found out that we need to use certain verbs like evaluate, explain, suggest rather than determine or define. Besides that, we produced our question based on a daily life scenario of a chemical engineer to make it as HOTS rather than directly giving a direct chemical reaction. We cracked our brains to come up with a question, imagine doing two! And we thought that to produce the question is hard enough, but to provide the complete solution was harder and complicated than expected as some answers were illogical as we only gave some datas which we didnt know were appropriate for that certain type of reaction. But, after sleepless nights, we managed to come up with the perfect two questions that we think is good enough.
Chapter 6: Multiple Reactions
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Chapter 8: Non-Isothermal Reactors
For this chapter, we were given a video lecture and this chapter is specifically made for our Problem Based Learning 2. To be honest, during the first class of Chapter 6, I only managed to watch the first video lecture because i had other commitments to settle. I did not like the feeling of not knowing what someone else know. But, i managed to cover the whole chapter during the weekend after. I find it interesting where different position of reactor (parallel/series) have different strategies to maximize the yield and selectivity. I compared my pace of understanding other chapter and this chapter and I realized that I took less time to understand the concept of this chapter than the previous ones. I am looking forward to practice answering this chapter's past years questions to make me understand better.
For Chapter 8, there were no video lecture given and we were thought by Dr Tazli himself. From that one and only lecture, i only managed to understand half of the chapter.I understand everything that was thought in the class and was told that that was everything for Chapter 8 but when i want to attempt the questions, I really didnt know how to. I basically know what equations are used and why. But I cannot relate one to each other. I even tried to solve the tutorial questions before the class but I couldnt do it. Looking forward for the tutorial class so i could understand better. But the tutorial class didnt helped me too because even the GA is unsure of what to do. So, in order to survive, I have decided to self learn everything from the begining through video lecturers that are avaiable from other universities and the Fogler textbook because I think the lecture notes given were not that helpful.