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About course

MH2039 Process Engineering 6.0 credits

Administer About course

This course provides an overview of typical metallurgical processes to convert mined ores and minerals to metals ready for sale.  This is a key part of Sweden's economy and it is therefore important to understand the context, challenges and fundamental calculations of the industry.  The course is not intended to discuss mining or manufacturing.

Participants will learn to design processes using thermodynamic methods and perform a group project to study the production of one metal in detail and present your findings at the end of the course.

Despite the information provided below, ternary phase diagrams are NOT part of this course - that information has been out of date for three years, but it can only be updated by central KTH administration and the English version of the text has not been updated.  The Swedish version is, however, correct.  Furthermore, there are new intended learning outcomes related to gender equality in the metals industry and sustainable development that are not shown below.

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Choose semester and course offering to see current information and more about the course, such as course syllabus, study period, and application information.

Headings with content from the Course syllabus MH2039 (Autumn 2019–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )

Content and learning outcomes

Course contents

Material production and treatment processes including preparation of raw materials,
production of metals,
heat and mechanical treatments of metal products.
Basic knowledge of physicochemical processes in metallurgy including application of thermodynamic and kinetic processes, ternary phase diagrams, mass and energy balances for calculations in metallurgical processes.

Intended learning outcomes

Having finishing the course the student will be able to:

  • Describe and analyze the production chain for the production of metals from metal/ore raw material to final product.
  • Describe, analyze and compare high temperature processes in metal production, for both liquid and solid phase.
  • Identify relevant information for a production chain based on available databases and scientific literature to compare and evaluate these.
  • Apply heat and mass balances in metallurgical processes.
  • Analyze and discuss basic concepts in the theory of organization and gender.
  • Explain and discuss what the concept of sustainable development within the metal industry means and how the metal industry is part of a circular economy

Course disposition

No information inserted

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites

Basic knowledge in thermodynamics, heat and mass balances in metallurgical processes.

Recommended prerequisites

Fundamental principles of process metallurgy corresponding to what is taught in the course MH1029 Sustainable process technology

Equipment

No information inserted

Literature

No information inserted

Examination and completion

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Grading scale

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

  • PRO2 - Project, 3.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
  • TEN1 - Written exam, 2.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
  • ÖVN1 - Exercise, 1.0 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination

No information inserted

Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination

No information inserted

Examiner

Ethical approach

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

Course web

Further information about the course can be found on the Course web at the link below. Information on the Course web will later be moved to this site.

Course web MH2039

Offered by

Main field of study

Materials Science, Materials Science and Engineering

Education cycle

Second cycle

Add-on studies

MH2053 Applied Thermodynamics for Material Processing

MH2049 Advanced Course in Process Science

Contact

Christopher Hulme-Smith (chrihs@kth.se)