Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Chemical Engineering School
Fundamentals of heat and mass transfer. Concepts of heat exchange and heat exchanger selection. Differential and stage-wise mass transfer processes. Case studies of equipment for heat and mass transfer unit operations.
This courseﾠ covers the fundamental physical phenomena involved in heat transfer and mass transfer processes. Our approach to learning in this course will be (a) to describeﾠ the fundamental phenomena (or mechanisms), (b) to develop mathematical representations of these phenomena (i.e. mathematical models and equations),ﾠ and (c) to apply these principles and models to solve engineering problems, such as design process equipment, and analyseﾠ environmental systems.ﾠ
What is heat transfer?ﾠ The topic of heat transfer covers the generation, use, conversion, and exchanger of thermal energy (i.e. heat) between physical systems. The three core mechanisms involved in heat transfer include conduction, convection, and radiation. Transfer of energy by phase change is also a heat transfer mechanism but that topic is outside the scope of CHEE2040. Heat transfer is driving by thermal gradients from a region of high temperature to another region of lower temperature (i.e. Second Law of Thermodynamics).
Heat transfer is all around you. Some examples of heat transfer processes include your human body constantly ejecting heat to the environment (and you can control this rate of heat transfer by say putting on a jumper/sweater), a solar hot water heater, refrigeration and air conditioning systems, the hot BBQ plate at a CHESS smoko, electronic chips in your computer and smartphone. Industrial process examples include power plants, boilers, heat exchangers in petrochemical plants, food manufacturing, and evaporators. See Chapter 1 of Cengel and Ghajar (2015) for more examples.
What is mass transfer?ﾠ Cengal and Ghajar (2015, p.833) define "Mass transfer requires the presence of two regions of different chemical compositions, and mass transfer refers to the movement of a chemical species from a high concentration region toward a lower concentration one."
Some examples of mass transfer applications include: sustained release of pesticide or pharmaceuticals, bubblers to purify water, CO2 capture processes by gas-liquid absorption (some of these also involve reactions), membrane processes for water desalination, design of an artificial kidney (see Middleman 1998, p.5).
Links to your other Chem Eng courses:
- Year 2 chemical engineering courses: This course builds on the knowledge and skills in (i) mass and energy balances developed in CHEE2001 ﾠand (ii) momentum transfer developed in CHEE2003.
- Engineering Mathematics courses: To formulate and solve models of heat and mass transfer problems we will apply tools (e.g. linear algebra and calculus) from MATH1051, MATH1052/72, and MATH2000/2001.ﾠ
- Semester 2 Year 2 and Semester 2 Year 3 courses: Heat and mass transfer has common concepts and approaches to (i) principles of thermodynamics studied in CHEE2030 and (ii) process and system analysis methods and skills developed in CHEE3020.
- Future courses in your program:ﾠ You will use the knowledge and skill in analysis of heat transfer and mass transfer processes developed inﾠ CHEE2040 later in courses such as CHEE3004 Unit Operations, CHEE3005 Reaction Engineering, CHEE3007 Process Modelling & Dynamics, CHEE4009 Transport Phenomena, and Process Engineering Design Project CHEE4001.ﾠﾠ
Course requirements
Assumed background
Content and skills developed in ENGG1500, CHEE2001 (mass and energy balancing).
Skills to solve engineering mathematics problems that are developed in MATH1051, MATH1052 (or MATH1072), and MATH2000 (or MATH2001).
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
CHEE2001 to be completed prior to or concurrently with this course.
Companion or co-requisite courses
You'll need to complete the following courses at the same time:
CHEE2030
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
CHEE3002
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Ming Lim
Tutor
Miss Uduak Eyibio
Mrs Hafiza Mahreen Fatima
Mrs Niken Listyorini
Mr Nathan Parry
Mr Ben Streeton
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Lectures and Tutorials commence from week 1.
ﾠPrac sign-on will be via Allocate+.
ﾠAll students must complete a chemical engineering safety induction prior to undertaking the prac. Instructions for the chemical engineering safety induction will be provided on Blackboard one week prior to the first laboratory session. Students who are not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) will not be permitted to participate in the prac.ﾠ
Aims and outcomes
Our aim in CHEE2040 is to understand fundamental heat transfer and mass transfer phenomena, and apply this understanding to analyze heat transfer and mass transfer problems including, their application to creative and effective design of industrial processes and equipment, and to problem-solving in environmental systems. We will apply mathematical models (equations) to describe rate processes for the fundamental transfer phenomena, and use these models in illustrative examples of equipment design and problem solving across a range of process industries and environmental systems.ﾠ
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate engineering problem solving skills - Describe the fundamental phenomena involved in heat transfer and mass transfer processes, and describe how multiple modes of heat and/or mass transfer can be simultaneously involved in a system.
LO2.
Demonstrate engineering problem solving skills - Analyse and solve problems involving heat transfer processes in a wide range of contexts (domestic, environmental, process industries) and degrees of complexity.
LO3.
Demonstrate engineering problem solving skills - Analyse and solve problems involving mass transfer processes in a wide range of contexts (domestic, environmental, process industries) and degrees of complexity.
LO4.
Demonstrate engineering problem solving skills - Perform a thermal design and/or critical analysis of a design of common types of heat transfer equipment used in process industries. For example, students demonstrate a thermal design of a double-pipe heat exchanger or a shell-and-tube heat exchanger.
LO5.
Demonstrate engineering problem solving skills - Perform a preliminary process design and/or critical analysis of a design of common types of mass transfer equipment used in process industries. For example, students demonstrate a preliminary process design of gas-liquid absorption column.
LO6.
Demonstrate engineering problem solving skills - Discuss the significance and limitations of your solutions to heat and mass transfer problems, including discussion of potential safety and sustainability impacts of your engineering solutions.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution | Chemical Engineering Lab Safety Induction | Compulsory prior to prac attendance, pass or fail. |
28/07/2025 - 25/08/2025 |
| Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Problem Sets
|
25% |
11/08/2025 - 28/10/2025
14:00 |
| Examination |
Exam In-Semester Outside Class time
|
20% |
1/09/2025 6:00 pm
18:00-20:00 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Lab - heat & mass transfer | 10% |
15/09/2025 - 24/10/2025
14:00 |
| Examination |
Exam – during Exam Period (Central)
|
45% hurdle |
End of Semester Exam Period 8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Chemical Engineering Lab Safety Induction
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- Compulsory prior to prac attendance, pass or fail.
- Due date
28/07/2025 - 25/08/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L06
Task description
Students are required to complete a School of Chemical Engineering undergraduate safety induction before you can do any practical work within the school and so before our prac. This induction comprises two parts. Part one is an online module and assessment, and the second is an onsite pre-lab briefing (at the time of your prac). Please do the online lab induction before you come to the lab.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
The induction should be completed prior to the prac. Students who do not complete the online lab induction are not eligible to enter the lab and perform the prac.
Problem Sets
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
11/08/2025 - 28/10/2025
14:00
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
6 problem set submissions are due at 14:00 on the following days:
Set 1: 12/08/25; Set 2, 26/08/25; Set 3, 09/09/25; Set 4, 23/09/25; Set 5, 14/10/25; Set 6, 28/10/25
Problem sets are submitted in Blackboard, individually.
Your best 5 problem set scores will count toward the final scores of your problem sets. Each worth 5 marks.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Submit a scanned copy of your solutions as a single PDF in Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Marking for problem sets will be returned in 14 days. An extension request is not considered late until 24 hours after the assessment due date & time.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Assessments must be submitted on or before the due date.
Penalties Apply for Late Submission
Refer PPL Assessment Procedure Section 3 Part C (48)
Exam In-Semester Outside Class time
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
1/09/2025 6:00 pm
18:00-20:00
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L04
Task description
Mid-semester exam will cover the contents from weeks 1 to 4.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Calculator options | Any calculator permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - specified written materials permitted |
| Materials | One A4 sheet of handwritten or typed notes, single sided, is permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Lab - heat & mass transfer
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
15/09/2025 - 24/10/2025
14:00
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L06
Task description
We will have two pracs, the first prac is on heat transfer, in weeks 5 and 6; the second prac is on mass transfer, in weeks 9 and 10. Each prac lasts 2 hours.
Each prac group will contain about 4 students, each group member should submit the individual prac report in Blackboard.
Each student must attend both pracs, otherwise a penalty of 30% of this report will apply for the prac he/she misses.
The first heat transfer prac report will be due on 19 Sept 2025, at 2 pm; the second mass transfer prac report will be due on 24 Oct 2025, at 2 pm. Each prac worth 5 marks.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit in Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
An extension request is not considered late until 24 hours after the assessment due date & time. Marking for prac reports will be completed in 3 weeks after the deadline.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Assessments must be submitted on or before the due date.
Penalties Apply for Late Submission
Refer PPL Assessment Procedure Section 3 Part C (48)
Exam – during Exam Period (Central)
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 45% hurdle
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
Content covered: Weeks 1-13 of the course.
Closed book exam. It will be invigilated.
You will be provided with an equation sheet, and any required thermophysical data or properties.
A calculator is required. Calculator must be UQ approved and labelled.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
HURDLE: you must get at least 45.0 % of the final exam to pass the courseExam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 180 minutes |
| Calculator options | (In person) Casio FX82 series only or UQ approved and labelled calculator |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Typically 0-29.9% course aggregate score less than 20.0% in the final exam. |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Typically 30 - 44.9% course aggregate score and at least 20.0% in the final exam. Grade scores below 3 indicate deficiencies in understanding the fundamental concepts of heat and mass transfer, and a lack of professional competence in the course material to the degree that staff believes would unacceptably inconvenience or endanger any future employer or stakeholders of the student's work if remedial action were not taken. Such students are consistently unable to satisfactorily meet the requirements of the analysis and solution protocol required for a grade of 3, and/or have failed to complete sufficient assessment items for these requirements to be assessed. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Typically 45.0 - 49.9% course aggregate score and at least 30.0% in the final exam. Falls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass, due to not demonstrating required competence in assessment and/or failure to complete sufficient assessment for competence to be reasonably assessed. Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of the course learning outcomes. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Typically 50.0-64.9% course aggregate score with at least 45.0 % in the final exam. Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement in heat and mass transfer concepts. Analyses and attempts solutions consistently and clearly following this recommended protocol, developing a clear and useful schematic representing the scenario, correctly identifying the modes of heat and/or mass transfer involved and/or not involved, and consistently demonstrating the additional competency of clearly showing and explaining the working associated with problem formulation to reach a possible solution. |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Typically 65.0 -74.9% course aggregate score with at least 58.0% in final exam. As for grade of 4 with demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Considered evaluation of data, cases, problems and their solutions, and implications. Develops or adapts convincing arguments and provides coherent justification for decisions and recommendations in engineering problem solving. |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Typically 75 - 84.9% course aggregate score with at least 70.0% in the final exam. Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning objectives. Substantial knowledge of concepts in heat and mass transfer. Demonstrated critical evaluation of data, cases, problems and their solutions, and implications. Perceptive insights in identifying, generating and synthesising solutions to engineering problems. Demonstrated use of conventions of the chemical engineering discipline to communicate at a professional level. |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Typically > 85.0% course aggregate score with at least 80.0% in the final exam. Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning objectives. Mastery of heat and mass transfer concepts from this course. Expert and critical evaluation of data, cases, problems and their solutions, and implications. Significant and sophisticated insights in identifying, generating and synthesising solutions to engineering problems and communicating the solutions. Original, novel and/or creative application of engineering knowledge and skills to solve problems. Exploits the conventions of the discipline to communicate at an expert level. |
Additional course grading information
To pass, you must get at least 50.0% in the course aggregate score and at least 45.0% in the final exam.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Marks for a piece of assessment can only be changed within 4 weeks of assessment being returned to students (as opposed to when you collect your assessment). Marks will not be changed after 4 weeks has elapsed. It is your responsibility to check that your mark on Grade Centre in Blackboard is correct.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
All the required and recommended learning resources are available via UQ library.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Lecture |
Lecture: Heat transfer, rate of heat transfer, Fourier's law Course introduction. Heat transfer: modes of heat transfer, general energy balance equations and rate of heat transfer equations, Fourier's law, thermal properties, heat resistances in series and parallel. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial: Problem solving approach, rate of heat transfer, heat resistance in series and parallel Practice of questions on rate of heat transfer for 1D conduction, heat resistance in series and parallel. Tutors will demonstrate an example problem, then students will work in small groups or independently solve their own example problems. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L06 |
|
Lecture |
Lecture: for 1D steady state conduction, temperature distribution in plates, spheres, cylinders, fins Heat transfer: general heat conduction equation, for 1-D steady state conduction, how to calculate temperature distribution in systems like pipes, spheres, plates and fins. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial: 1-D conduction, temperature distribution Practice of questions on for 1D conduction, how to calculate temperature distributions in plates, sphere, cylinders, fins. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L06 |
|
Lecture |
Lecture: Transient heat transfer Heat transfer: transient conduction problems. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial: Transient heat conduction Practice of questions on how to calculate the temperature distribution and the amount of heat transfer under transient heat conduction for plate, sphere and cylinder. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Lecture |
Lecture: Convective heat transfer Heat transfer: Convection (natural, forced, internal, external); Correlations for HT coefficients. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L06 |
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial: Convection Convective heat transfer and using empirical correlations to estimate convective heat transfer coefficients. |
|
Lecture |
Lecture: Heat exchanger design Thermal design of heat exchangers (LMTD and NTU methods). Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04, L06 |
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial: Heat exchanger thermal design Heat exchanger thermal design using log mean temperature difference (LMTD) and Number of Transfer Units (NTU). Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04, L06 |
|
Lecture |
Lecture: radiation Heat transfer: radiation. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial: Radiation Radiation problems. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Lecture |
Lecture: intro to mass transfer Analogies between mass and heat transfer. Unit conversions and equilibrium relationships. Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial: Concentration & equilibrium relations Conversion between concentration units, Raoult's law, Henry's law, solubility. Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
|
Lecture |
Lecture: mass transfer diffusion Mass transfer diffusion and Fick's Law; intro to mass convection. Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial: Diffusion and diffusivity Practice of questions on unit conversion, Fick's law, mass transfer rate by diffusion, diffusivity. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L06 |
|
Lecture |
Lecture: Mass transfer coefficients Mass Transfer coefficients & transfer across a phase boundary (2 film theory). Learning outcomes: L03, L05 |
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial: Mass transfer coefficients Esitimating mass transfer coefficients, and converting between film and overall mass transfer coefficients. Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
|
Lecture |
Lecture: transient mass transfer Mass transfer coefficients by empirical methods. Learning outcomes: L03 |
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial: Transient mass transfer problems Obtain mass transfer coefficients by empirical methods. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L06 |
|
Lecture |
Mass transfer equipment: staged process This week we learn how to get the number of idea stages of a mass transfer unit using MaCabe Thiele Graphical method. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L06 |
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial: Staged process Mass Balance, draw equilibrium lines and operation lines, obtain the number of idea stages. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L06 |
|
Lecture |
Mass transfer equipment: differential process How to do differential analysis, how to obtain the height of a mass transfer unit by differential method. Learning outcomes: L01, L05, L06 |
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial: Differential process Understand the fundamental on differential analysis; calculate the height of an adsorption or stripping tower using differential method. Learning outcomes: L03, L05, L06 |
|
Lecture |
Week 13 Revision lecture series Course review and revision problems, a sample question on combined heat and mass transfer. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial: Review and Revision Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course:
- Safety Induction for Practicals
Course guidelines
Safety Induction for Practicals
Anyone undertaking courses with a practical component must complete the UQ Undergraduate Student Laboratory Safety Induction and pass the associated assessment.
Specific instructions, usage guidelines and rules for each of the undergraduate laboratories will be delivered as part of each course.
In some cases, students may be required to attend a specific face-to-face laboratory induction/training session.
Other Course Guidelines
In order to attend the site visit, students must wear safety (steel-capped) footwear. Students unable to attend the site visit are required to attend a presentation at UQ instead.