Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering – Bachelor of Engineering with Honours

Building on basic chemical principles, this course provides the atomic and molecular foundations for understanding chemistry and the life sciences. Starting from the structure of the atom and an understanding of Gibbs energy, it builds a chemical model for bonding, the composition of molecules, non-covalent interactions, chemical equilibria, acids/bases, chemical reactivity, and biological macromolecules. The theory is supported by practical experiments.

Restrictions: 123101, 123171

An examination of how the properties of atoms and molecules determine the properties and behaviour of matter. The transfer of energy that occurs during chemical and physical processes and the rates of these processes are discussed and rationalised using atomic and molecular properties. Techniques for characterising matter and materials are introduced.

Restrictions: 123102, 123172

This physics course provides foundational knowledge for study in engineering, food technology, and physical sciences. The emphasis is on applying physical principles to problem solving in mechanics, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics. A practical course.

Restrictions: 124101, 124111, 124171

A course focusing on the fundamental techniques and applications of calculus including differentiation and integration of functions of one real variable, differential equations, numerical methods, and an introduction to power series with applications to mathematical models. 160.101, alongside 160.102, forms a foundation for further study in mathematics. It is essential for students intending to study Mathematics, Physics, Food Technology or Engineering, or for anyone who wants a strong mathematical component to their degree.

Restrictions: 160112, 160133, 228172

A course focusing on the fundamental techniques and applications of linear algebra including vector and matrix algebra, vector representation of lines and planes, projections, Gaussian elimination, eigenvectors and complex numbers. 160.102, alongside 160.101, forms a foundation for further study in mathematics. It is essential for students intending to study Mathematics, Physics, Food Technology or Engineering, or for anyone who wants a strong mathematical component to their degree.

Restrictions: 160112, 160133, 228172

An introduction to the fundamental technology and engineering skills required for professional engineers and technologists. Students will develop practical skills to design and solve engineering and technology problems carrying out simple design projects and creating new innovative solutions. Projects will include consideration of cultural, ethical and safety aspects and students will develop skills to effectively communicate design solutions.

Restrictions: 141111 and 228111

A project-based, interdisciplinary course introducing students to the applied scientific thinking and theories that underpin the relationship between applied science and sustainability. Students will explore the intersection of science and community through exemplars of partnership between industry and Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) in Aotearoa New Zealand. By examining the interactions between human, cultural, environmental and technological systems, students will develop their critical thinking, communication and information literacy skills as they develop solutions to contemporary challenges in sustainability in a team-based project.

Restrictions: 247177, 141111, 141112, 228111, 228112, 247155, 119155, 246102, 247111, 247112, 247113

This course is an integrated introductory study of plants. Major themes include: plant form and function (anatomy, morphology, photosynthesis, respiration, transport systems, mineral nutrition); regulation of growth and development, especially in response to the environment; plant diversity (systematics, evolution, life cycles, New Zealand flora); and plants and people (crop domestication, plant breeding and production, Māori plant use).

This course provides an introduction to computer programming for Technology and Engineering disciplines. The language is C++ which is a "real world" language heavily used in games, real-time applications and the control of devices. The course guides students through all the steps needed to write, compile and debug simple C++ programs with lots of practical examples. No previous programming experience is required.

Restrictions: 159101

Molecular processes are inherently random and yet we can meaningfully predict the yield or the rate of a chemical reaction. In this course we discover that this apparent paradox is explained by the idea that although single molecules behave randomly, large numbers of molecules and atoms do behave in a predictable manner. We develop the principles of thermodynamics and kinetics from this idea and apply these principles to physical, chemical, biochemical and industrial processes. The lab course focuses on broadly applicable skills in measurement, analysing and presenting physical chemistry data, understanding sources of uncertainty in physical measurements and written communication skills.

Prerequisites: One of (123102, 123105, 124104 or 123172) and one of (160101, 160102, 160105, 160132 or 160133)

The chemistry of materials under-pins all chemical processing industries. This course facilitates a fundamental understanding of aqueous solutions, organic, inorganic and polymer chemistry relevant to material science, including soft materials such as gels and colloids. The laboratory training develops skills in a range of synthesis, separation and analysis techniques relevant to materials chemistry.

Prerequisites: (123101, 123104 or 123171) and (123102, 123105 or 123172)

The design, development and on-going operation of manufacturing processes is central to the daily activities of most food technologists. This course explores the key variables that impact the design, development and operation of food manufacturing processes within the context of an applied project.

Prerequisites: (123105 or 123172), (124104 or 124172), (160102 or 228172) and (141112 or 228112 or 228115) Corequisites: 123201, 280201, 280272 Restrictions: 228212

The development of new and improved products is a key role of most practising engineers. This course provides the structured process and tools required for successful product development in the context of an applied project.

Prerequisites: (228115, 247114) or (124172, 228172, 228112 and (123172 or 159172) Restrictions: 141211

This is a core course that provides key mathematical tools for modelling and analysing engineering problems. These tools represent a balance of stochastic and deterministic modelling approaches along with their mathematical underpinnings. Topics include random variables and distributions; analytical and numerical solution methods for linear systems of ordinary differential equations including Laplace transform techniques; sensitivity analysis, optimization, curve-fitting and interpolation for data sets.

Prerequisites: 228172 or (160101 and 160102) Restrictions: 228222, 228223

An industry focused course in microbiology with particular reference to the importance of microorganisms and their application in selected industries. This programme of study examines the growth and control of industrially important microorganisms, the role of microbes in the production of food products, their application in both waste treatment and in industrial fermentation, and the role of microbes in the health sector. A laboratory course.

Prerequisites: (123101 or 123104 or 123171) and (123102 or 123105 or 123172 or 122102) Restrictions: 162212, 162214

This course extends the concepts of the conservation and transport of heat and mass and thermodynamics in processing systems, the material and system properties that affect these processes and the sourcing or prediction of appropriate material and system data. Unit operations in food or chemical processing industries will be used to demonstrate the application of these principles. A practical course.

Prerequisites: (124104, 160102 and 228115) OR (124172 and 228172)

This course extends the concepts of fluid flow and particulate systems. The principles of fluid mechanics and characterisation of rheological properties are applied for Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. The characterization and dynamics of particulate systems are introduced and applied to unit operations used in the food and chemical industries, such as cyclones, settlers, centrifuges, fluid beds and filtration. A practical course.

Prerequisites: (123104 or 123172), (124104 or 124172), (160102 or 228172)

Technology must be effectively interfaced with society and the environment to succeed. Overarching social and environmental constraints are responded to using a systematic application of process engineering. Project based learning is undertaken on supply of utility inputs to and waste treatment outputs from an industrial process.

Prerequisites: 280271, 280272, 228211, 141212 Corequisites: 280341 Restrictions: 280394, 280346

This is a core course that provides essential grounding in statistical inference and modelling for engineers and technologists. Students will learn how to develop statistical models to describe random phenomena, and use them to test engineering questions of practical interest.

Prerequisites: 228271

The principles and practice of bioseparations and purification processes. The following unit operations will be included: distillation, leaching, liquid/liquid extraction, protein fractionation, flocculation and chromatographic separations. A laboratory course.

Prerequisites: (141294 and (280299 or 141221)) or (280271 and 280272) Restrictions: 142304

This course will review physical, chemical, and biological principles and processes to treat pollutants with emphasis on the design and operation of biological treatment processes based on bioenergetics and biokinetics principles. Students are introduced to the processes for waste management, nutrient removal, hazardous pollutant detoxification, energy generation from waste, and the use of algae and macrophytes in environmental technology.

Prerequisites: 280201

The application of engineering principles to operations used in the food or chemical processing industries. Operations such as evaporation, drying , membrane technologies, refrigeration and process cooling systems will be used as examples of how the underlying principles of thermodynamics, conservation and transport of heat, mass and momentum can be used to select, design and optimise industrial processes.

Prerequisites: 280271 and 280272 Restrictions: 280391

A systematic approach to modelling processing operations in terms of heat, mass and momentum transfer. Modelling reactions and reactor systems to predict the progress of reactions in food preservation and processing operations, chemical and enzymatic catalysis, and biochemical reaction systems. A laboratory course.

Prerequisites: 123201, 123271, 228271, 280271, 280272, 280201 Restrictions: 280391 and 280392

The customer/contractor interface and preparation of specifications; ozone depletion, global warming and refrigerant choice; estimation of heat loads; prediction of chilling and freezing and design of chillers and freezers; product weight loss; refrigeration plant layout and design; operational efficiency of refrigeration systems; absorption refrigeration; water vapour and refrigeration.

Restrictions: 142760

This course marks the culmination of the BE(Hons) degree, that integrates the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the programme. It places specific emphasis on a commercial basis for complex engineering problem solving where success will be measured not only by the elegance of the engineering solution but also by the appropriateness of that solution within a defined commercial context.

Prerequisites: 228311 or 228312 Restrictions: 228485, 280430

A comprehensive study of a specific area of engineering or technology employing appropriate research practice to derive recommendations with respect to a pre-determined hypothesis.

Prerequisites: 228311 or 228312

Practical process control techniques including tuning single proportional integral derivative controllers, choosing appropriate control loops for a processing plant and measurement instrumentation. An overview of advanced control techniques. Programmable logical controllers. A practical course.

Prerequisites: (228222 or 228271) and (280371 or 280391) Restrictions: 142402

This course critically appraises key industrial processes by establishing their core reaction engineering and thermodynamics, identifying theoretical limits in terms of material and heat balances across product life cycles and by defining their current effectiveness. ‘Potential for further improvement’ is evaluated, such as new emerging competitor processes, alternative reaction pathways, process intensification concepts, hazard mitigation, or emerging life cycle custodianship practises.

Prerequisites: 228312, 280371, 280372 Restrictions: 142400, 142405, 142411, 280400, 280405, 280411

Integrated design of processes based on the application of thermodynamic and transport phenomena principles. Systematic methods for the development of dynamic modelling, simulation and visualisation of heat and mass transport applied to chemical and bioprocessing industries.

Prerequisites: 280371 and 280372 Restrictions: 280403

The properties of packaging materials and requirements of labelling/legislation and the implications of choice on product shelf life, integration with processing, transport, traceability and information systems, and impact on consumer interaction with the product, sustainability and product cost are explored as part of this course.

This course covers: innovation and operations management within food industry production and supply chain systems; design, planning, control and continuous improvement of processes in industrial systems; methods and measures for quality control and daily decision-making in food and related businesses; and leadership and management of teams in the workplace.

Restrictions: 287342

The customer/contractor interface and preparation of specifications; ozone depletion, global warming and refrigerant choice; estimation of heat loads; prediction of chilling and freezing and design of chillers and freezers; product weight loss; refrigeration plant layout and design; operational efficiency of refrigeration systems; absorption refrigeration; water vapour and refrigeration.

Restrictions: 142760

A practical course in modelling, simulation and optimisation of systems in industry.

Restrictions: 143458, 282458

An advanced course of study of innovation management practices applied to product innovation, including new product strategy, portfolio management, organisational management and performance measurement and knowledge management. Investigation of current literature and industry practice, applied to companies of different sizes and types.

Prerequisites: 228311 or 228312 Restrictions: 287703