This is a capstone process design course. In this course, a student, working both individually and within a group, will apply the process of design by walking from the initial concept, the fundamental heat and material balances, PFD, P&ID, early feasibility based on economics and sustainability. This course will focus on large scale multicomponent systems. Business cases will be reviewed in more detail. Modern safety case analysis will be discussed.
The timeline below provides a suggested timeline for project activities and key deadlines. These are generic tasks; students must prepare a detailed workplan specific for their project and assign specific activities to each group member. The detailed workplan must be presented in the form of a Gantt Chart as an appendix in all written reports. The workplan will be updated or modified as the year progresses.
750A / Semester 1 Week: Activity / Task Prior to Start of Semester Form groups; explore project ideas Week 1: Project allocation; contact project supervisor Week 2: Kick-off meeting with supervisor; prepare action plan for the term; establish project management structure; initiate literature review; explore design options Week 3: Continue literature review; rank design alternatives; select most promising option(s) Week 4: Perform basic evaluation of chosen design alternative: simple material balances, property estimations, market survey Week 5: Complete basic evaluation of selected design; prepare interim progress report including process diagrams, product specifications, or sketches as applicable Week 6: Midterm progress report due; Midterm group presentations Midsemester breakWeek 7: Design review period: consult with industry mentors, supervisors, and/or teaching assistants, on ways to improve or modify design as neededWeek 8: Design review period: consult with industry mentors, supervisors, and/or teaching assistants, on ways to improve or modify design as needed Week 9: Develop detailed evaluation of design, e.g., complete base case simulation or detailed property estimations Week 10: Continue detailed evaluation of design; document your work and agree on final report structure with your group and supervisor Week 11: Evaluate social, environmental, safety, and health impacts of your design; finalize major design tasks Week 12: Complete financial evaluation of proposed design; perform sensitivity analysis; compile report and proof read it; Design Basis Memorandum (DBM) report due 750B / Semester 2 Week: Activity / Task Week 1: Review meeting with supervisor: go over DBM comments and prepare plan of action for the winter term Week 2: DBM review: modify DBM and proposed design based on your supervisor’s feedback Week 3: Continue DBM review. Submit updated Project Plan and Contract. Week 4: Explore design modifications: attempt to optimize one or more performance metrics; document all design changes Week 5: Perform detailed evaluation of your improved design Week 6: Midterm progress report is due; Midterm group presentations Midsemester breakWeek 7: Explore detailed or advanced elements in your designWeek 8: Continue exploring detailed or advanced elements in your design Week 9: Establish final report structure and start filling gaps in it Week 10 Continue putting the finishing touches in your report. Week 11 Complete design testing and evaluation Week 12 Compile final report and proofread it; Final report is due After Lectures Finish: Final Presentations