CHBE 4515: Chemical Process Safety

Instructor: Yoshiaki Kawajiri

Course Objectives:
Specific outcomes of instruction. This course introduces basic concepts relating to chemical
hazards, risk, and ethics. The interaction and trade-offs of these concepts are stressed in order
to establish approaches to selection and evaluation of processes and their implementation
into small and large scale plants/laboratories. Quantitative analyses of chemical releases and
dispersion using thermodynamic, transport, and reaction/reactor considerations are used to
develop an appreciation for and understanding of chemical incidents and the possible
consequences to plant facilities, workers, and the general public. Examples of problems that
can occur with inadequate process design, improper process modification, and disregard for
ethical decision making are discussed using numerous case studies. Explicitly indicate which
of the student outcomes listed in Criterion 3 or any other outcomes are addressed by the
course.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course, a student should be able to:
1. Develop an awareness of safety culture
2. Evaluate effect of toxicants and other hazards
3. Quantitatively analyze release and dispersion of liquids and vapors
4. Analyze fire and explosion hazards
5. Integrate safety concepts into chemical process design
6. Recognize the role that ethics plays in process design and operation
7. Perform hazard identification and risk assessment
Text:
D. Crowl and J. Louvar, Chemical Process Safety: Fundamentals with Applications Third
Ed., Prentice-Hall, 2011. If you are using an older or international edition, be very careful
about the differences in numbering of the end-of-chapter problems. If you solve the wrong
problem in an assignment, you will get zero point.
Prerequisites:
Chemical Process Principles (ChBE 2100), Thermodynamics I (ChBE 2130),
Numerical Methods (ChBE 2120), Thermodynamics II (ChBE 3120), Transport Phenomena
I (ChBE 3200), Transport Phenomena II (ChBE 3210), Kinetics and Reactor Design (ChBE
4200), Differential Equations (Math 2403), all courses with a minimum grade of C.
Class web site: T-Square http://t-square.gatech.edu
Class meeting time: 8:05-8:55am on Fridays in Molecular Sciences & Engineering G011
Teaching assistants: Andrew Grimes
Claudia Okonkwo
Office hours:

Claudia Okonkwo

Wednesdays 1pm-2:30pm in 1358 ES&T

grading Assignments 1, 3, 5

Andrew Grimes

Mondays 2pm-3:30pm in computer lab

grading Assignments 2, 4, 6

Yoshiaki Kawajiri

Wednesdays 3-4pm and Fridays 4-5pm in L1224 ES&T

Grading:

Homework (due at start of class)

Quizzes
Attendance
Final Exam

15%
35%
15%
35%

Attendance is required and actively participating in class is strongly encouraged. It amounts

to up to 15% of the course grade. Attendance will be taken by 8:20am during each class
period; after that time, no attendance sheet sign-up will be allowed and you will be marked
absent.
At the end of the semester, no additional "bailout" or "rescue" make-up assignments will be
given for any reason to be fair with all students who work hard throughout the semester.
However, the instructors will be always happy to see you and discuss how to perform better
in the final exam to improve your final grade. Feel free to drop by during the office hours if
you feel that you need help.
Exams
There will be only the final exam, and no midterm exam. Details on the final exam will be
posted separately.
Please note the conflict with the exam of ChBE 4510 Process and Product Design &
Economics, we need to reschedule the final exam which was originally scheduled in 8am10:50am on 12/12(Mon). While you have the option of taking the exam on this original
schedule, we will prepare another date and time for those who are taking ChBE 4510.
Quizzes
Five quizzes will be given as shown on the class schedule.
Quizzes will always begin at 8:05am. This time will be enforced strictly. Late submission
will not be accepted without any exception.
Unexcused absence on the day of a quiz will result in a zero on the quiz; a scanned copy of
the official document (e.g. invitation letter to a job interview, and doctors note) must be
submitted in advance through Piazza (attach a scanned electronic file). Excused absences

will be approved only for official or unavoidable reasons, such as attending official events,
job interviews, health issues, and other emergencies.
Homework
Homework assignments are to be turned in electronically through T-Square. The files must
be uploaded before 8:20am on the day it is due. This deadline is rigidly enforced by TSquare. We do not consider email attachment as homework submission (we do not use email,
and all submissions must be done through T-Square Assignments).
All assignments should be submitted electronically. You can use any electronic format (e.g.
scanned copy, MS Word, PDF). Photo of your handwriting using your cell phone is allowed
only if it is taken clearly. A scanner is also available in the computer lab L2230 ES&T.
You must confirm yourself that your file is submitted on T-Square. Many students forget to
click the submit button after uploading their files (this is the reason for the problem in
100% of all cases in our experience). You are also able to resubmit your file as many times as
you like until the deadline.
Paper submission of your hand calculations is also allowed, but not encouraged. If you still
prefer the option of paper submission, you take all of the following penalty risks: (1) Paper
submission must be done to the instructor by 8:20am. Any late submission after this time
would be subject to the penalty of 50-100% (see below). (2) Failure to staple multi-page
paper submission would result in a 30 percent penalty. We will not be responsible for any
loss of pages from unstapled submissions. If you still would like to submit your assignment
on paper, then that is your choice.
The homework turned in must be your own work. You may discuss technical concepts
relating to the homework with your classmates, but must work the problems and write the
code by yourself. Copying directly from another persons homework or exam is a serious
violation of the Georgia Tech Honor Code (http://www.honor.gatech.edu/).
Late submission for homework
50% until the end of class (8:55am) on the due date. After this time, no submission will be
accepted without any exception.
Communicating with instructors and TA
Students are always encouraged to ask questions. We are always available during office
hours. If you have trouble following lectures, please try to see us as soon as possible. The
instructor will be happy to help you by giving supplemental practice problems and
discussing your study plan.
You are always welcome to ask questions even out of class, but you should choose the most
appropriate communication format depending on your situation. In particular, please note
that we do not use email in this course. See below for communication options:

T-Square Piazza: All electronic communications should be done through T-Square

Piazza. Questions on assignments, quizzes, and final exam should be posted as public
questions. Personal questions should be posted as personal posts. Please allow at least
12-24 hours for responses. See below for details.
Office hours: You are always encouraged to come to the instructor's and TAs' office
hours. If these hours do not work, you can make an appointment (see below).
T-Square Piazza

In this course, we use Piazza on T-Square as the official communication tool instead of
email. You can post any question here (projects, lectures, course schedule, etc). Public
questions will be viewed by other students, and it can be helpful to others. We ask you to
state your questions clearly in a respectful manner (we may need to skip unclear questions).
You can also send private messages to instructors and TAs through Piazza. We use Piazza
instead of regular email for personal communications such as concerns about your grade or
appointments.
Questions on Forums will not be responded by the instructor or TA for the first 12 hours. We
will wait for other students at least for 12 hours. If nobody answers correctly, the instructors
or TAs will step in and answer your questions.
Regrading
Requests for regrading of a homework assignment or an exam may be submitted in writing
within one week of the day the homework or exam is handed back to the class (regardless of
whether or not you attend class that day). You must justify in writing the technical basis for
the regrade. If the regarding request is accepted, your entire homework or exam may be
regarded (your grade may decrease after regarding). Please do not assume that your grade
will always go up after regrading.
To create a fair environment for all students, all deadlines will be strictly enforced. If you
experience a personal situation that makes it difficult for you to meet the requirements of this
course, please consider contacting the Dean of Students, who can act as an advocate on your
behalf (http://www.deanofstudents.gatech.edu/).