Advanced laboratory practice, data analysis and technical communications are the focus for this course. Theoretical concepts in chemical engineering will be reinforced by experience with experimental apparatus. As a component of this course, experimental design which deals with the design and analysis of experiments with respect to the chemical and process industries will be included. A brief introduction to basic statistics is followed by more detail on the normal probability distribution and its use for hypothesis testing. Linear and multiple linear regression for data analysis is covered. Factorial design and response surface methodology and taught in some detail win the context of engineering problems in the chemical and process industries. Fractional factorial designs and blocking and confounding are also covered in an industrial context. MS Excel is utilised heavily throughout the course in addition to an introduction to specialist statistical packages. The tools and skills from this course are applicable for students’ current and future research project as well as optimisation work on existing unit operations and even extend to applications outside of science and engineering. The focus is on efficient design and robust, objective analysis.
Student will undertake experiments, data analysis, and provide reports in oral and written form.