Advanced Chemical Engineering (UoA)

Undergraduate | 2026

Course page banner
Mode icon
Mode
Mode
Your studies will be on-campus, and may include some online delivery
On campus
area/catalogue icon
Area/Catalogue
CHEM 4003
Course ID icon
Course ID
205684
Campus icon
Campus
Adelaide City Campus East
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course owner
Course owner
School of Chemical Engineering
Course coordinator
Course coordinator
Nam Nghiep Tran
Course level icon
Course level
4
Work Integrated Learning course
Work Integrated Learning course
No
Study abroad and student exchange icon
Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes

Course overview

This course is composed of two equal parts. Part A is concerned with advanced process dynamics and control. Part B is focussed on particulate properties and design. The course aims to introduce you to advanced process control design tools (Part A). In this section, considerable use will be made of the Matlab and Simulink software packages to specify and design conventional and advanced controllers. As well, design heuristics will be introduced to provide you with the skills to synthesize plant-wide control systems. Part B will focus on particulate technology and its challenges when applied to chemical processing. Key topics to be covered in Part A include: Revision of level III work; analysis and design of controllers by frequency response techniques; analysis and design of complex control systems; practical examples of difficult to control systems; discrete control issues; and, finally, multivariable (MIMO) modelling and control design. Key topics to be covered in Part B include: Storage and flow of powders; solids mixing and segregation; particle size reduction; size enlargement; hazards of fine powders. By the end of this course you should be able to model non-linear dynamic processes, design appropriate analog or digital controllers, deal with interaction in MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) systems, and finally perform basic design calculations and analysis of typical industrial processes involving particulate matters.

Course learning outcomes

  • Complete plant tests to determine dynamic characteristics (e.g. in a first-order plus dead time model)
  • Tune various forms of controllers (P, PI, PID) using a number of techniques (e.g. open-loop step test, closed-loop step test)
  • Explain typical control structures for a variety of commonly encountered processes
  • Specify advanced controllers (e.g. dead time compensation, feed-forward, IMC, model-based controllers)
  • Devise plant-wide control structures
  • Use the z-transform in digital control
  • Design controllers for discrete systems
  • Characterise and describe particulate systems in terms of their basic physical properties
  • Perform basic design calculations and analysis of typical particulate processes, such as mixing, size reduction and enlargement, storage and transport of powders
  • Work and communicate effectively as part of a small group

Availability

Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 27/03/2026
Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 13/03/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 10/04/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 08/05/2026

Class details

Adelaide City Campus East

Class number
Class number 24651
Section
Section PR01
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 30
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
11 May - 11 May Monday 9:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Engin and Maths Sciences, 106
Class number
Class number 24650
Section
Section PR02
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 30
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
11 May - 11 May Monday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Ingkarni Wardli, 2.36
Class number
Class number 24652
Section
Section TU01
Size
Size 60
Available
Available 60
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
23 Feb - 13 Apr Monday 2:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 333
4 May - 1 Jun Monday 2:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 333
Class number
Class number 24653
Section
Section WS01
Size
Size 60
Available
Available 60
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
27 Feb - 17 Apr Friday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 333
8 May - 5 Jun Friday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 333

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

  • must not have completed CHEMENG4050 Advanced Chemical Engineering at the University of Adelaide

Fee calculator

To display course fees, please select your status and program below:

We’re updating this Fee Calculator. It currently shows fees for programs only. Please check the relevant program for full fee details.

Study Abroad student tuition fees are available here.

Only some Postgraduate Coursework programs are available as Commonwealth Supported. Please check your program for specific fee information.

If you are studying in a Professional Pathway Psychology or Clinical Psychology program, please refer to the Student Contributions amounts published here.

The Student Contribution amount displayed below is for students commencing a new program from 2021 onwards. If you are continuing in a program you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, or are commencing an Honours degree relating to an undergraduate degree you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, you may be charged a different Student Contribution amount from the amount displayed below. Please check the Student Contribution bands for continuing students here. If you are an international student, or a domestic student studying in a full fee paying place, and are continuing study that you commenced in 2025 or earlier, your fees will be available here before enrolments open for 2026.