Foundations of Chemical Reaction Engineering

Understanding how chemical reactions behave and designing the vessels that contain them is the cornerstone of chemical engineering. This comprehensive text-based course guides you from the fundamental principles of kinetics to the practical sizing and analysis of industrial reactors. You will develop a strong intuitive and mathematical grasp of reaction rates, stoichiometry, and ideal reactor types, enabling you to analyze and design chemical processes with confidence. What you'll learn: - Understand foundational chemical kinetics, reaction rates, and rate laws - Analyze ideal reactors including batch, plug flow (PFR), and continuous stirred-tank reactors (CSTR) - Apply mass balances and stoichiometry to size reactors for single and multiple reaction systems - Determine reaction mechanisms and rate constants from experimental data using graphical and numerical methods - Explore modern computational tools and iterative methods used to solve complex reactor design equations - Evaluate basic safety, yield optimization, and sustainability factors in modern reactor design The course begins with essential terminology, basic definitions, and the physical chemistry of reactions before moving systematically into the mathematical modeling of ideal reactors and kinetic data analysis. This course is designed for beginners, engineering students, and professionals seeking a solid refresher, requiring only basic calculus and general chemistry. Start reading today to build a practical, industry-relevant foundation in chemical reaction engineering.