Reaction Engineering Reflections
Chapter 1: Mole Balance
In this chapter 1: Mole Balance, I have learn a lot of things. Before our first class session start, we were given videos that related to the Chapter 1. From my point of view, watching videos before the class lecture was a great idea because students will get prepared when they come to the class.
​
During the class session, Mr Afiq ask us to write down the key words that related to the chapter 1, Reaction Engineering on the piece of paper. After 1 minutes, we have to see our friends' key words and note down the new difference keywords. After that, we were provided with the memo pads and marker to write down the important keywords.
​
After writing down the important keywords on the memo pads, we have to paste it at the white board and make a mind map for that particular chapter. This technique helps me to remember what I have learnt.
​
At the end of the class, I'm able to define rate of reactions, differentiate between the 4 reactors, understand and able to write down the equation and etc.
​
​
Chapter 2: Conversion and Reactor Sizing
In this chapter 2, conversion and reactor sizing,
the starting of the class was the same. We were given the memo pads to write down the keywords and paste it on the white board to do the mind mapping.
What really catch my attention during the class was teaching the friends. I have never gone through any class before that ask me to teach friends during the class. By helping my friend by teach them about this chapter, actually helps me a lot.
Its not only me who understand that chapter but at the same time I have the opportunity to help my friends as well to understand that chapter. Compared to the traditional class system, lecturers are the one who teach us and we are only receiving the information directly from them. Unlike class that use the PBL systems, it help me to understand better and increase my confident level by teaching my friends.
​
This kind of activities help to motivate myself to study and understand that particular chapter.
At the end of the class, I've already know how to derive the equation and know about the process of the flow reactor as well as batch reactor. I also learn how to draw the graph, do the calculation and also learn about which reactor, CSTR or PFR need to use first in order to reduce the cost of the reactor.
​
In this chapter 2, conversion and reactor sizing,
the starting of the class was the same. We were given the memo pads to write down the keywords and paste it on the white board to do the mind mapping.
What really catch my attention during the class was teaching the friends. I have never gone through any class before that ask me to teach friends during the class. By helping my friend by teach them about this chapter, actually helps me a lot.
Its not only me who understand that chapter but at the same time I have the opportunity to help my friends as well to understand that chapter. Compared to the traditional class system, lecturers are the one who teach us and we are only receiving the information directly from them. Unlike class that use the PBL systems, it help me to understand better and increase my confident level by teaching my friends.
​
This kind of activities help to motivate myself to study and understand that particular chapter.
At the end of the class, I've already know how to derive the equation and know about the process of the flow reactor as well as batch reactor. I also learn how to draw the graph, do the calculation and also learn about which reactor, CSTR or PFR need to use first in order to reduce the cost of the reactor.
​
Chapter 3: Rate Law and Stoichiometry
Chapter 3: Rate Law and Stoichiometry
In this chapter, Rate Law and Stoichiometry, I learn about how to construct the stoichiometry table as well as learning about the zero, first and second order. It couldn't be denied that this chapter is quite tough compared to the chapter 1 and 2 but after watch the videos many times and have been explained in the class many times, at the end, I manage to understand about this chapter.
I also learn many things in class when my friends teach me through the mind mapping method in the class. Since this chapter was included in our first test, at first, I wasn't really understand to answer the question. But, since Dr Tazli give us the second chance by re-do the test in a group, this help me much in understanding the question when my friend explain about this stoichiometry table to me.
​
Before we start into this chapter, we have been given a task to create a PFR reactor and have been given some questions that need to be answered. That question is related to this tobic where we need to fill in the stoichiometry table.
​
In this chapter, Rate Law and Stoichiometry, I learn about how to construct the stoichiometry table as well as learning about the zero, first and second order. It couldn't be denied that this chapter is quite tough compared to the chapter 1 and 2 but after watch the videos many times and have been explained in the class many times, at the end, I manage to understand about this chapter.
I also learn many things in class when my friends teach me through the mind mapping method in the class. Since this chapter was included in our first test, at first, I wasn't really understand to answer the question. But, since Dr Tazli give us the second chance by re-do the test in a group, this help me much in understanding the question when my friend explain about this stoichiometry table to me.
​
Before we start into this chapter, we have been given a task to create a PFR reactor and have been given some questions that need to be answered. That question is related to this tobic where we need to fill in the stoichiometry table.
​
Chapter 4: Isothermal Reactor Design and PBL
In this chapter, Isothermal Reactor Design, we have learnt so many new things and have been gone through the first PBL. In this chapter, it combines all the chapter that we have learn in chapter 1,2 and 3. I have learn on how to derive the equation of the combination starting from chapter 1 until 3. Other than that, I also learn about the Damkohler number and CSTR in series and parallel. Last but not least about the turbulent reactor. Since this chapter is related to PBL, thus we really need to pay attention in this topic.
​
In the PBL, there are 2 questions that we need to construct. From PBL, I learn about HOTS questions and I learn about the bloom taxonomy as well. It's not that easy to construct the questions. We take one week to construct these 2 questions with the halp of our lecturer.
From my point of views, I think in this chapter we need to think instead of memorise. This is because, there are lots of equation that we need to derive. It's not only about the calculation but it's also about how to solve the solving problem question. For an example, sometimes we need to find the value of expansion if it is in the gas form which is compressible, but sometime we dont have to because it is in liquid form and it is incompressible. Thus we need to assume that v=v0. So in this case we need to understand instead of memorising.
PBL 2: Terephthalic Acid
In PBL2, my teammates were asked to design a reactor separator system which can produce 30000 tonnes of crude terephthalic acid (CTA) per year and also had to think of strategies to maximise the selectivity and the yield of CTA formed. It is very difficult as it was the first time for us to do this kind of design, it much more like Final Year Project. We were also asked to do an oral presentation on the design and strategy we had proposed. PBL2 required my knowledge on both reaction engineering especially chapter 6 and separation processes, combining all processes from Separation Process till Separation Process II. Our team mates had different opinions regarding the design of reactor separator system so we faced a lot of arguments but then we managed to come out with a best solution, which I believed satisfied all of us.
​
​ At first, I felt very scared and stress when I read through the questions because I still have not understand the whole chapter 6 reaction (during that time) and also some of the processes in Separation Process I, I had forgotten already. The question is too hard to be understood, and the journal also not too complete so we need to do another research which all of us did not know whether it is true or not. Frankly speaking, I felt like I want to give up because it is to tiring (as our group always slept at 4am, searching for the best design but still we have not found one) but later on, I found out that by doing this PBL 2, I managed the have a better understanding in reaction and also separation process.
​
​The best thing I learnt from PBL 2 is that, it helps me to give me a clear understanding and also show me how the face the real life whether during my final year project later or maybe during my internship or else during working later on. For sure, I will take this as my experience so that I managed to overcome any difficulties in the future, in sha Allah. However, the bad thing that I get from this PBL 2 is that it is too stressful and too tiring, and I am already half way giving up with this PBL 2, but as I got the best team mates and also a lot of supportive friends, I managed to overcome all those things, alhamdulillah.
​
During my research on the reactor- separator equipment, I found out that, it was too many operating conditions of the equipment until I did not know what to choose as I have not exposed to the chemical industry before. During my attempt on doing calculations for drying part, I make some mistakes in the mass balance but somehow after I tried it for numerous time, I managed to get a correct answer.
​
In conclusion, I think PBL 2 is an excellent way in providing students on for problem solving but still, the time need to be extended a little bit so that, we could have more longer time to do our research properly. In fact, I really got to learn a lot of things from this PBL2 even though it is quite stressful.
​
For my upcoming 4 months break, I feel like I want to do some research on this reactor-separator and I want to know better so that in the future, I can strengthen my common sense and theory in reaction engineering and separation processes as it is important for my plant design projects and final year project later on.
Chapter 5 : Collection and Analysis of Rate Data
For this chapter, Dr Tazli had organized a fishbowl discussion in the class. Each of the group had to send a representative to discuss about the question assigned and I volunteered myself as the representative to represent my group. I felt really satisfied as I was given such a chance to present share out my ideas to others. From this fishbowl activity, I was able to realize the mistakes I made from my own attempt on the question which allowed me to get more points to strengthen my explanation part in my answers for the questions in the future.
​
In Chapter 5, I had learnt two different methods to analyse rate data namely the differential and integral methods. The differential method can be divided into 3 different methods which are the graphical, finite difference and polynomial approach. But we only covered the graphical and finite difference method. The integral method is a trial and error method to determine the reaction order and rate constant of the reaction.
Chapter 6 : Multiple Reactions
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 did not managed to watch any of the video lectures because i had other commitments to settle so, it was a little bit tough for me to understand the chapter during the class but alhamdulillah, I managed to watch all of the videos a week after that. I found this chapter was difficult as compared to previous chapter, and also it is related to PBL 2 which we only had about less than a month to settle it. It makes me felt so stressful as I need to master the chapter in order to complete the PBL 2. So, I am taking some ways to understand this chapter by reading textbook, doing online learning especially from You Tube videos, asking for senior guidance and also doing some research with other group member.
In Chapter 6, I had learnt how to differentiate a series and parallel reaction. Apart from that, I had also learnt how to maximize the yield and selectivity of a reaction. I found this chapter was quite difficult when compared to the previous chapter and this chapter was the main coverage for the PBL2 this semester. I felt really scared and confused when I read through the lecture notes since there are many cases in maximizing the yield and selectivity of reaction. I find it interesting where different type of reactor such as parallel, series and independent 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 longer time to understand the concept of this chapter than the previous ones.
Chapter 8 : Steady State Non Isothermal Reactor
For this chapter, there was no video lectures that had been provided for us. I found this chapter was the most difficult chapter so far and at the same time, I felt worried because I could not understand what Dr Tazli was teaching in the class furthermore, finals are just around the corner. I had realised that the main reason I could not grasp the idea of the topic is because I had no preparation before entering the class. I did not read the lecture notes before the class, and I understand that is my fault. I think maybe I have to study before enter the class so that I can at least have an overview of the lecture on that day. But as for the next class, I was able to solve the questions given during the Socrative quiz and also Kahoot competition. The reason is because I had study before the class. I learnt from my past mistake. I felt very grateful.
In Chapter 8, I had learnt how to apply energy balance in designing a non-isothermal reactor. It is a little bit different as compared to previous chapter, as we learnt about isothermal reactor before. I also learnt to evaluate the design equation for a chemical reactors when temperature varies along the length of a PFR or when the heat is released from a CSTR. It also refreshed my mind on how to calculate the heat of reaction which was important for the designing equation. I realised that somehow it is related with what I already learnt in Thermodynamics last semester.