Environmental Engineering including an Industrial Year MEng

In this module, you’ll undertake a combined design and research project in a team of two to four students. In addition, you’ll gain detailed knowledge in the specific topic of study.

The aim is for you to gain skills in planning, executing and reporting on an individual research study thereby developing their powers of analysis, independence and critical judgement. You’ll spend one hour in tutorials and make use of group-study sessions each week studying for this module.

This module covers the following:

• Risk assessment principles (source, pathway, receptor) including conceptual frameworks, Greenleaves III, risk based regulation and environmental protection
• Risk characterisation, hazard identification, consequences, significance, handling uncertainty
• Tools and techniques: Qualitative risk assessment. Quantitative risk assessment, ie hands-on risk assessment modelling
• Risk management
• Fate and transport of contaminants, speciation of contaminants, environmental partitioning (fugacity)
• Health impact assessment: Public health, occupational health studies, toxicology, perception, exposure, causality, odds ratios, epidemiological studies, scientific evidence for landfill versus energy from waste (comparative assessment), odour

An Introduction to the selection and design of air pollution control processes.

Topic 1: Control of Particulates, including

• Cyclone design 
• Electrostatic Precipitator Design 
• Fabric Filter Design 
• Particulate Scrubbers

Topic 2: Design of Auxiliary Equipment, including:

• Hoods
• Ducts
• Fans
• Coolers

This module develops a risk based framework for the assessment of contaminated land based on the characterization and modelling of contaminant sources, pathways and receptors and the remediation of such linkages.

Case studies are used to illustrate the application of this approach, the typical uncertainties and the management of risk. A range of physical, biological, chemical and thermal in-situ and ex-situ remediation technologies are covered. The application of these technologies is demonstrated by case studies including design studies based on the emerging concept of sustainable remediation.

This module focuses on providing high quality teaching materials on renewable energy from different waste streams. The module will look at the potential of various waste streams in industry, domestic sources, and agriculture, as well as the different combustion technologies available.

The module includes a strong international focus, particularly on small to medium scale renewable energy schemes in developing countries. The module will also have dedicated socio-cultural, socio-economic, policy and guidance and techno-economic seminars to introduce students to the interdisciplinary nature of the subject.

The module looks at:

• Indigenous fuels around the world
• Fuel Types Characterisation of Fuels
• Supply Chains for the Energy Sector
• Small Scale Energy Production
• Alternative Small Scale technologies for fuels production -
• Future Energy Sources
• New Technologies
• Ethics, Engineering and Waste Management
• Life Cycle Assessment, CCALC (Carbon Calculations over the Life Cycle of Industrial Activities)
• Techno, Socio and Economic Considerations

This module aims to provide students with a comprehensive and in-depth introduction of the major existing and emerging technologies/proof of concepts and underlying physical and chemical principles for the low-carbon manufacturing of fuels and vital chemicals and materials, which underpin the required low carbon transitioning of chemical and energy process industries to combat climate change for sustainable development.

The module will enable students to gain advanced knowledge and understanding of key low-carbon technologies/concepts and to develop key conceptual skills needed in assessing related sustainability, economic, societal and ethical aspects.

The module will explore decision making in the presence of uncertainty. Risks of particular interest are those associated with large engineering projects such as the development of innovative new products and processes. The module will present and interpret some of the frameworks helpful for balancing risks and benefits in situations that typically involve:

• human safety
• potential environmental effects
• large financial and technological uncertainties

Case studies will be used to illustrate key points and these will centre on the use and recovery of plastics, metals, industrial minerals and energy. You'll spend three hours in tutorials per week.

This module aims to provide you with the fundamental knowledge of energy storage science and the practical skills related to this area. It covers the following topics:

• fuels storage (coal, oil, natural gas, biomass, hydrogen etc)
• mechanical energy storage (springs, compressed air, fly wheels etc)
• heat or thermal energy storage (phase transformation, endothermic and exothermic reactions etc)
• electricity storage (electrochemical means, such as batteries, fuel cells, redox flow batteries, supercapacitors)
• integration of storage with supplier and users (power electronics for interfacing energy stores with power grid, renewable sources and users)

You'll spend two hours in lectures and three hours in practicals per week.

This module covers:

• the formation and location of petroleum hydrocarbon reserves
• drilling and completion engineering including well control techniques
• basic reservoir physics and evaluation
• production management and enhancement
• primary separation

You'll spend two hours in lectures every week.

This module will introduce students to the flow properties of complex fluids. It will cover rheological models, outline characterisation techniques and explore selected applications.