Master’s Programme Process Systems Engineering

B2 Intermediate module in Process Systems Engineering (KE420-2)

Person in charge: Professor Sirkka-Liisa Jämsä-Jounela

Compulsory for all (11 cr):

Mathematics 3-II 5 cr

After the course the student

1. Can choose a suitable method for solving a system of linear equations.
2. Can calculate matrix factorizations and understands their applications.
3. Can solve a linear system of differential equations using the matrix method.
4. Understands the basic principles of stability theory.
5. Can apply the method of separation of variables for the basic types of partial differential equations.

Content:

Calculus with matrices and diagonalization. LU-factorization. Solving systems of differential equations. Stability properties of equilibria. Separation of variables in partial differential equations.

Classification of quadratic forms. Cholesky decomposition. Linearization as a method to study equilibria. Classification of partial differential equations and the main properties of their solutions.

Singular value decomposition. Matrix exponential. Condition numbers and ill-posed problems.

Assessment Methods and Criteria: Final exam

 

Basics in Production Planning and Control 6 cr

After completing the course, the student

• Knows the most important systems of the production planning and control used in the process industries, their structure and operation principles;
• Knows the most important operation research areas and their typical problems;
• Is able to use linear programming: Simplex methods and its variants;
• Knows the methods for transportation and networks optimization;
• Knows dynamic proramming, integer programming and nonlinear programming methods and their use;
• Knows inventory theory, forcasting and scheduling methods and their use.

Content: The aim of the course is to give knowledge about methods used in
production planning and control of industrial processes.
Applications of production control are also discussed.

Assessment Methods and Criteria: Lectures, exercises and exam.

 

Students with advanced module in Process automation:

Process Modeling and Simulation 6 cr

After completing the course, the student

• Understands the 1.and 2. order process dynamics;
• Is able to formulate dynamic models for the unit processes based on the physical-chemical phenomena;
• Is able to solve dyn models mathematically;
• Is familiar with the Matlab/Simulink software tools and knows how to use them;
• Is able to formulate and solve dynamic models in discrete time space;
• Undestands the main principles of the model identification;
• Knows the main online identification algorithms;
• Is familiar with the identification toolbox;
• Understands Kalman filtering.

Content: The aim of the course is to give an introduction to dynamic mechanistic modelling and simulation using computer tools. The course also includes basics in experimental modelling and system identification.

Assessment Methods and Criteria: Lectures, exercises, homeworks, final exam (written and computer exam). Possibility for bonus points to the exam from the homeworks.

 

Process Modeling and Simulation in Practice 3 cr

After completing the course, the student

• Knows how to formulate the mechanistic, dynamic model for a lab unit process and simulate it using the experimental data;
• Knows how to formulate the discrete time model for a lab unit process and how to identify the model parameters using the collected online process data.

Content: The course consist of two modelling assignments: the first assignment deals with chemical-physical first principles modelling of a heat exchanger, the second assignment is to create an ARX model for a mixing tank and to identify the model parameters using process data.

Assessment Methods and Criteria: Lectures and assignments

 

Total 20 cr

 

Students with advanced module in Plant design:

Fundamentals of Separation Processes 5 cr

After the course student will be able to

1. know the basics of chemical engineering thermodynamics
2. understand the basics of unit operations and mass transfer.

Content: Important unit operations in chemical engineering: distillation, extraction, leaching and membrane separations. Basics of mass transfer and thermodynamic methods.

Assessment Methods and Criteria: 2 home exercises that must be completed before the final examination. The examination consists of two parts: theory and calculation.

 

Process Simulation 3 cr

Learning Outcomes:

1. Students acquire the engineering knowledge and experience to use commercial process simulator Pro II
2. Can calculate physical and equilibrium properties of components
3. Can simulate heat exchanger, flash, columns (distillation, absorption, stripping), extraction and reactors
4. Can use calculator, controller and optimizer in simulation
5. Can carry out a detailed steady state simulation of a chemical process and analyze process flow sheets

Content: Fundamentals of steady state chemical process simulation, flowsheeting, and optimization. Course focuses on the simulation of physical properties, equilibrium properties, flash. Columns, distillation, adsorption and extraction. Reactors. Other equipment and processes. Controllers, optimization using Pro/II simulation program.

Assessment Methods and Criteria: Examination, exercise participation and accepted home work.

 

Book exam on Plant Design 1 cr

 

Total 20 cr

 

Students with advanced module in Chemical Engineering:

Process Development P 4 cr

Learning Outcomes: Understanding the steps of process development.

Content: Nowadays the same time scale of process development must be short to be competitive. The stops of process development from idea to product or process are taught to find innovative solutions to technical problems and process configurations. Case based learning.

Assessment Methods and Criteria: Lectures, exercises and exam.

 

Fundamentals of Separation Processes 5 cr

After the course student will be able to

1. know the basics of chemical engineering thermodynamics
2. understand the basics of unit operations and mass transfer.

Content: Important unit operations in chemical engineering: distillation, extraction, leaching and membrane separations. Basics of mass transfer and thermodynamic methods.

Assessment Methods and Criteria: 2 home exercises that must be completed before the final examination. The examination consists of two parts: theory and calculation.

 

Total 20 cr

 

M Methodological studies (KE901-M)

Person in charge: Professor Reija Jokela

For foreign students:

Introduction to Academic Communication for Master’s Programs in English (o+w) 3 cr

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to

• Demonstrate competences for academic written and spoken communication, such as an understanding of
• Using formal language with an academic audience
• Ideas/concepts in their fields by providing explanations in their own words
• Clear structure and organization of contents
• Documenting sources properly
• Apply a process approach to the development of their oral and written work

Content:The course is intended for graduate students in international
master's programs who are not yet in the process of writing their
master's theses. The aim of the course is to prepare them for
spoken and written academic communication. Written assignments may
include strategies for avoiding plagiarism, outlining and
structuring paragraphs, as well as developing sentence structures.
Spoken tasks focus on the delivery of an effective presentation.
During the course, students also give and receive constructive peer
feedback.

Assessment Methods and Criteria:

• Course Assignments 20%
• Writing assignment + peer feedback 50%
• Oral presentation + peer feedback 30%

 

Writing for Master’s Students (w) 3-5 cr

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to

• Apply discourse conventions common to academic writing in a thesis, such as text flow, style, organization, and citations
• Apply a writing process to the composition of a thesis
• Revise aspects of academic writing to improve readability

Content: The course covers the structure of a thesis and the communicative objectives of the different parts, including which parts invite students' own insights and analyses and which parts are drawn strictly from the literature or empirical data. Accordingly, discourse and writing conventions are introduced to support these two different approaches within the thesis. Such conventions may include structuring information at the sentence, paragraph, and text level, integrating sources properly, and developing skills necessary for independently analyzing and improving one's writing. For improving one's own writing, students are also introduced to web-based tools that can be utilized. The course also supports collaborating on writing, where giving and receiving peer feedback is an essential component.   

Assessment Methods and Criteria:

• Portfolio 40%
• Extensive written task  30%
• Quizzes 20%
• Active participation 10%

 

For the rest of 6 cr students choose courses from the following list

W Elective studies (KE901-W)

Person in charge: Professor Reija Jokela

For foreign students:

Finnish IA 2 cr

Learning Outcomes: After the course, students are able to pronounce Finnish recognisably, remember some basic everyday vocabulary and is able to manage some very simple everyday conversations.

Content: Finnish sounds and alphabet. Basic vocabulary and grammar. Greetings. Countries, languages and nationalities. Consonant gradation in verbs and nouns, and verb types. Numerals and vocabulary needed for shopping. Colours. Days of the week, times and other central expressions relating to time. Discussing your family and daily schedule. Forming questions and answers. Vowel harmony. Partitive and genitive singular. The possessive structure (-lla on). Assessment Methods and Criteria: Studying and exercising grammar. Reading texts and vocabulary exercises. Simple discussions in pairs and groups. Written examination. In addition, passing the course requires regular attendance (max. two absences), active participation in class and doing the requisite coursework.

Assessment Methods and Criteria: Studying and exercising grammar. Reading texts and vocabulary exercises. Simple discussions in pairs and groups. Written exam. In addition, passing the course requires regular attendance (max. two absences), active participation in class and doing the requisite coursework.

 

Finnish IB 2 cr

Learning Outcomes: After the course, students are able to manage very simple everyday communicative situations and tell the basic things about themselves and their life in Finland.

Content: Basic vocabulary and grammar needed in everyday life and when talking about your life. Living and leisure time. Asking for location and directions. Expressing your opinion. Imperative singular. Local cases. Word types of nominals. Food and mass nouns.

Assessment Methods and Criteria: Studying and exercising grammar. Reading texts and doing vocabulary exercises. Simple discussions in pairs or groups. Written examination. In addition, passing the course requires regular attendance (max. two absences), active participation in class and doing the requisite coursework.

 

IT Services at TKK 1 cr

Learning Outcomes: Having completed this course you are familiar with the use of information systems at Aalto University School of Science and Technology. In addition you have formed a solid understanding of your relationship with information technology.

Content: Basic computer terminology. Use of common applications in Unix, WWW and MS Windows environments. One's relationship towards IT.

Assessment Methods and Criteria:Lectures 6 h, teaching in small groups 8 h (obligatory), home essay 4 h (obligatory), self study 36 h

 

For the rest of 15 cr students choose courses according to personal interests.

Course descriptions can be found at Noppa