SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
Chemical engineering is a discipline in which the principles of mathematical, ohvsical and natural sciences are used to solve problems in a ~ ~ l i e d chemistrv. Chemical engineers design, develop, and optimise procc?sses and operate them, manage personnel and capital, and conduct research necessary for new developments. Through their efforts, new petroleum products, plastics, agricultural chemicals, household prod- ucts, pharmaceuticals, electronic and advanced materials, photographic materials, chemical and biological compounds, various food and other products evolve.
The Departmentoffersfour degree programmes: Bachelor of Engineering (BEng), Master of Science (MSc), Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Faculty
Professor and Head of Department:
P. L. YUE, BEng, PhD McGill Professor:
H. K. CHANG, BS National Taiwan; MS Stanfore PhD Northwestern (Dean of Engineering)
Reader:
Chi-Ming CHAN, BS Minnesota; MS, PhD California lnst of Tech Lecturers/Assistant Professors:
Chak K. CHAN, BS Univ of Texas, Austin; PhD California lnst of Tech Ping GAO, BSc Dalian; PhD Cambridge
Tze-Man KO, BEng Cooper Union; PhD Univ of Wisconsin, Madison
Xiang-Ming LI, BS, ME South China Univof Tech; PhD Univof Michigan, Ann Arbor Yongli MI, BS Heifei; PhD Syracuse
Undergraduate Programme
The underaraduate curriculum is desianed to Drepare students for emplovment in industry after gr&uation or for postgraduatestudy. dracluates of chemical engineering will have acquired a broad knowledge of chemical engineering fundamentals, including:
thermodynamics; transport phenomena; reactor design and process control; applied mathematical and computer skills in simulation, control and artificial intelligence; and the skills necessary for effective communication. They will be well-prepared to pursue a professional career in traditional areas of the chemical, petroleum and pharmaceutical industries as well as in emerging areas of environmental engineering, biotechnology and solid-state processing. Within each area, career options include research and develop- ment, process and plant design, technical management, sales and marketing, and customer technical service. Chemical enaineers also plav an increasinalv im~ortant role in businessand policy planning. ~lternati&l~, many chemical engineeriGgraduates may choose to pursue advanced studies in science or engineering, as well as in business, law or medicine.
School of Engineering
Admission Requirements 1995-96
In addition to the general entrance requirements of the University, acceptable grades are required in either (1) two AL subjects and two AS subjects or (2) three AL subjects. The AL and AS subjects must be chosen from Applied Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering Science, Physics, Pure Mathematics, and Mathematics and Statistics.
Curriculum for BEng in Chemical Engineering
It should be noted that the third-year curriculum is provisional.
First Year Fall Semester
I
CENG 101 C Chemical Process Principles [3-1-0:3]CENG 103 C Products and Processes [3-1-0:3]
CHEM 101 C Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry [3-0-0:3]
COMP 102 R Computer Fundamentals and Programming [3-0-2:4]
(1) LANG 001 Language Skills Enhancement I [O-3-1:0]
MATH 100 C Introduction to Multivariable Calculus [2-1-0:2]
MATH 11 3 C Introduction to Linear Algebra [2-1-0:2]
17 credits Spring Semester
CENG 131 C Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics [3-1-0:3]
CENG 151 C Introduction to Materials Science and [3-1-0131 Selection
CHEM 102 C Physical Chemistry: Fundamentals and [3-0-0:3]
Applications
H&SS E Humanities and Social Science Elective [3-0-0:3]
MATH 150 C lntroduction to Ordinary Differential Equations [2-1-0:2]
SB&M E Business and Management Elective [3-0-0:3]
-
17 credits
Second Year Fall Semester
CENG 21 1 C Reaction and Reactor Engineering [3-1-0:3]
CENG 231 C Process Fluid Mechanics [3-1-0:3]
CENG 241 C Heat and Mass Transfer [3-1-0:3]
CENG 297 C Chemical Engineering Laboratory I [O-1-42]
H&SS E Humanities and Social Science Elective [3-0-0:3]
MATH 230 C Introduction to Numerical Methods [2-1-0:2]
School of Engineering
Spring Semester
CENG 201 C Process Dynamics and Control [3-0-1:3]
CENG 202 C Process Design and Integration [2-0-2:3]
CENG 221 C Separation Processes [3-1-0:3]
CENG 252 R lntroduction to Polymer Engineering [3-1-0131 CENG 298 C Chemical Engineering Laboratory II [O-1-8141 MATH 252 C lntroduction to Partial Differential Equations [2-1-0:2]
18 credits Third Year /
Fall Semester
CENG 303 C Plant Design and Economics [3-0-0:3]
CENG 371 R Environmental Control I [3-0-0131
CENG 398 C Investigation Project [O-1-6:3]
(2) CENG E Chemical Engineering Elective [3-0-0:3]
H&SS E Humanities and Social Science Elective [3-0-0131
LANG 103 C Technical Communication [O-3-0131
18 credits Spring Semester
CENG 361 R Biochemical Engineering I [3-0-0131
CENG 397 C Design Project [O-1-12161
(2) CENG E Chemical Engineering Elective [3-0-0:3]
H&SS E Humanities and Social Science Elective [3-0-0:3]
SB&M E Business and Management Elective [O-3-0:3]
18 credits (1) Students exempted from this course by the Language Centre may replace it with
a Humanities and Social Science Elective.
(2) Chemical Engineering Electives to be chosen from CENG 301, 31 1, 321,341, 362,372,373, and 381.
A minimum of 104 credits is required for the BEng programme in Chemical Engineering.
Postgraduate Programmes and Research
The objectives of the postgraduate programmes are to ensure that each student attains an in-depth understanding in advanced but fundamental chemical engineering topics; exercises intellectual curiosity in probing frontier chemical engineering subjects;
develops an independent pursuit of new knowledge, both basic and applied; and engages in research that is at the cutting edge of this and related disciplines.
The postgraduate programmes emphasise academic excellence and industrial relevance. Wherever possible, the programmesareset in the light of local industrial needs and with the potential tocreate demand for newtechnologies. The Department is an active
School o f Engineering School o f Enpineerin~
participant in the interdepartmental MSc programme in Biotechnology and MSc pro- gramme in Materials Science and Engineering.
The Department is undertaking research and associated postgraduate pro- grammes in the following areas:
Advanced Materials
Over the last three decades, many 'high-technolw industries have evolved from mechanical-based to chemical-basedrna&facturing. Examples are seen in home entertainment. data storaae and mani~ulation. telecommunications. and the manufactur- ing of high-performance~polymers, advanced ceramics and composites. Chemical engineers have actively participated in research that has made these advances possible.
Research in the Department focuses on polymers, polymer blends, polymer composites, and thin-film materials.
Bioprocess Engineering
The Department's major bioengineering research programmes are evolving within the context of HKUST's Biotechnoloav Research Institute. This interde~artmental institute brings multidisciplinary expertis<io bear on problems of significance to the developing biotechnology industry in Hong Kong and China. The Department is currently planning projects in downstream processing and product recovery, cell engineering, and biosensors.
Environmental Engineering
Hong Kong is a densely populated urban environment where air, water, municipal and industrial pollution are facts of life. Research Droarammes at HKUST aim at developing appropriate technologies for improving the environmental quality in Hong Kong, as well as at pursuing fundamental studies of generic phenomena and exploring innovative methods for environmental protection. Research is proceeding in several directions, namely, emerging technologies, advanced oxidation, air pollution studies, and waste minimisation and resources recovery.
Modelling and Computing
The computer's ability to handle complex mathematics and to permit the exhaus- tive solution of detailed modds allows chemical engineers to model process physics and chemistw from the molecular scale to the ~ l a n t scale. to construct models that incornorate all relevant phenomena of a process, and to design, control and optimise more on the basis of computer predictions and less through empiricism. A considerable part of the research activities in modelling is linked with other research in the Department.
In addition, there will be a transputercontrolled rig for undergraduate and postgraduate project work, and for demonstrations to local industries of the feasibility and desirability of advanced process control. Another area of research concerns the use of artificial intelligence techniques for process design, operation and control, including knowledge-based systems and neural networks.
Master of Science (MSc) in Biotechnology
This multi-disciplinary programme is jointly offered by the Departments of Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Civil and Structural Engi- neering. For details, please refer to page 97.
Master of Science (MSc) in Chemical Engineering
This programme is for students who wish to acquire an in-depth understanding of a particular area of chemical engineering while strengthening their overall knowledge at an advanced level. The MSc is a taught degree which normally requires one and a half years of full-time studies. Each student is required to complete at least 30 credits of approved subject work. Twenty of these, including an MSc project of six credits, should be in Chemical Engineering. The supervisor may be a faculty member in Chemical Engineering or may be co-opted from industry. Part-time MSc students may undertake, as their projects, in-depth case studies or investigations. All projects must be approved in advance by the Department.
Master of Science (MSc) in Materials Science and Engineering
This multi-disciplinary programme is jointly offered by the Departments of Chemistry, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. For details, please refer to page 99.
Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Chemical Engineering-
The MPhil is a research degree and students are required to complete 15 credits of postgraduate course work, at least 10 of which should be in Chemical Engineering. In addition, students must complete a thesis in order to demonstrate their competence in engineering research. If the student participates in an industrial project and writes a thesis on a work-related topic, the thesis is supervised jointly by a faculty member of the Department and a representative from the participating company. The MPhil degree normally takes one and a half years, but the time required depends in part on the individual's undergraduate background.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemical Engineering
The PhD degree is awarded upon the successful completion of a programme of advanced study which includes a minimum of 15 credits of postgraduate subjects, 10 in Chemical Engineering, 5 in a minor field, and a doctoral thesis of significant original research or development work. Students entering with a master's or equivalent degree in engineering or a related subject area may be granted a partial waiver of the PhD requirements. The programme usually takes a minimum of three years of full-time study beyond the bachelor's degree, or a minimum of two years beyond the master's degree.
After a student enters the PhD programme, a doctoral committee is established to supervise the programme of study and the thesis. To become a doctoral candidate, the student must passa two-part qualifying examination within the first and a half years of PhD studies. A written part, which covers undergraduate and first-year postgraduate material, evaluates the student's preparation for postgraduate study in chemical engineering. An
School of Engineering
oral examination is given by the doctoral committee after the student passes the written examination, with the purpose of establishing the student's ability to formulate and conduct original research in the chosen discipline. A .
Faculty Research Interests
Professor Po-Lock YUE, Head of Department
Detoxification of hazardous waste and wastewater by advanced oxidation, catalytic wet air oxidation and biological oxidation. Waste minimisation and resources recovery.
Applied catalysis, photocatalysis and novel reactor engineering. Knowledge-based systems for the design, operation and control of process industries, neural networks and applications of artificial intelligence.
Professor H. K. CHANG, Dean of Engineering
Biological transport phenomena; biofluid mechanics; monitoring of respiratory and hemodynamic parameters in critical core.
Dr Chi-Ming CHAN, Reader
Polymer blends and alloys. Conductive composite polymers. Cross-linking of polymers.
Polymer processing. Adhesion phenomena. Surface and interface science. Surface analysis techniques. Applicationof surface and interfaceanalysistechniques in rheological measurements.
Dr Chak-Keung CHAN, Assistant Professor
Aerosol physics and chemistry. Emission control and fate predictions of particulate pollutants; microcontamination control in ultraclean facilities; powder synthesis via novel aerosol reaction engineering. Air pollution control and instrumentation.
Dr Ping GAO, Assistant Professor
Diffusion in polymers and processing of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Low temperature processing for precision extrusion of high impact strength UHMWPE materials. Applications of oscillatory flow in baffled tubes to reaction and liquid1 liquid mixing.
Dr Tze-Man KO, Assistant Professor
Structure-property-processing relationships of solid-state polymers and polymeric com- posites. Polymers used in microelectronics and information storage such as photoresists, encapsulation, and magnetic and optical recording materials. Plasma etching and deposition. Advanced materials characterisation techniques including XPS, FTIR, SEM and TEM.
Dr Xiang-Ming LI, Assistant Professor
Optical sensors and biosensors for drug testing. and environmental monitoring.
Bioprocessing technology. Adsorptive bioreactors for wastewater treatment. Retention, mobilisation and detoxification of pollutants from wastewater by mangrove ecosystems.
Mathematical modelling and computer simulation of chemical and biochemical proc- esses.
Dr Yonali MI, Assistant Professor
Structure-permeability relationships of polymer membranes. Synthesis of new fluorine- containina oolvimides with enhanced ~ermeabilityand selectivity fortheseparation of gas mixtures.-~oibiliity and transport of .plasticisinggases in glassy polymers.
School of Engineering