EGB261 Unit Operations

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Professional engineers have a "comprehensive, theory based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline" (Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineer). This engineering unit introduces concepts of unit operations in the engineering context of water treatment and industrial chemicals production. You will develop the ability to select and apply unit operations to solve practical problems involving treating water to make it comply with beneficial reuse, and use appropriate unit operations to develop sustainable solutions in the chemical sector. You will partake in computer simulations to predict water treatment designs which are technically, economically, environmentally and socially appropriate. You will build from this foundation in later units within your engineering major.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Solve problems in process operations for simple engineering challenges at an introduced level.
2. Demonstrate the relationships in process operations between unit operations at an introduced level.
3. Investigate process operations and the associated risk, hazards and safety, at an introduced level.
4. Communicate analysis procedures in process operations, using engineering techniques at an introduced level.

Content

Learning Approaches

In this unit you can expect to experience the following timetabled activities:

• Formal lectures from experienced professional engineers and scientists that will activate your understanding of theories and principles, and model approaches to solving problems. You will have the opportunity to ask questions during these lectures.
• Tutorial classes that will give you the opportunity to work collaboratively with your peers to solve problems. These will be facilitated by tutors and will provide an opportunity to test your understanding and gain feedback on your work.
• Practical classes in which you will create and interpret process designs wherein various unit operations are employed to make produced water suitable for beneficial reuse.  Use of software used by professional engineers will introduce you to the real world experience.

To complement timetabled activities, you can expect to be provided with learning resources including videos and readings on a unit Canvas site that you can access flexibly to complete your learning in this unit. Success in this unit will require you to manage your time to ensure you have focused time each week (beyond timetabled activities).

At the beginning of the unit, you will be made aware of the ways in which you can ask questions or seek clarification from the Unit Coordinator and Tutors.

You are expected to:

• Engage with timetabled activities on campus and ask questions.
• Manage your time to engage with online resources outside of timetabled activities. These will be available on the unit Canvas site. You will receive regular email announcements regarding release of these resources.
• Engage with your peers in a learning community to practice problem-solving and then work independently to complete your assessment tasks.
• Prepare for timetabled classes and activities and follow up on any work not completed.
• Complete assessment tasks by working consistently across the semester and meeting the due dates that are published via the unit Canvas site.
• Spend 10 hours per week on unit activities and self-study.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive feedback throughout the semester which includes:

1. Assessment submission will be graded against criteria and standards which will be shared with you at the beginning of semester through Assessment Task Descriptions and Marking Rubrics.
2. Marked assessment will include feedback from markers against the criteria.
3. Formative feedback through online quizzes.
4. Feedback by participation in weekly Tutorial sessions.
5. Generic comments provided via QUT Canvas and in class.

Assessment

Overview

As you progress through this unit you will move between learning underpinning scientific theory and concepts in water treatment and industrial chemistry and use that theory in practical applications. You will be developing your capability to solve problems by looking at real world examples of water purification processes and industrial chemical manufacture.  You will evaluate the appropriate theory and develop combinations of unit operations in order to apply appropriate solutions, which is a key capability for professional engineering practice. The assessment for the unit is designed to assess your learning against the unit learning outcomes and includes a practical which analyses real world data, a problem solving task involving use of commercial software for water treatment simulation, and a final exam, which will test your capability to diagnose and solve problems in engineering science.  

Peer and expert (tutor) review of practical and problem solving tasks may be used by the unit coordinator to moderate individual assessment results.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Laboratory/Practical

Written report on practical exercises involving AqMB software to address industry problems relating to coal seam gas water treatment.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.

Assessment: Problem Solving Task

Application of theory provided in lectures relating to water treatment unit operations to process actual experimental data. Development of spreadsheets which not only analyse water treatment operations but also determine which modelling outcomes best simulate the real information.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.

Assessment: Examination (invigilated)

Examination (Written) which applies fundamental knowledge gained in lectures and tutorials to authentic scenarios encountered by professional engineers

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

R. Sinnott and G. Towler, Chemical Engineering Design (6th Edition), Elsevier, 2020.

Risk Assessment Statement

You will be informed of any requirements pertaining to a safe workplace. In lectures, tutorials and such, the information will include location of fire exits and meeting points in case of fire. If you do not follow legitimate instructions or endanger the safety of others or do not act in accordance with the requirements of the Workplace Health and Safety Act, you will be required to leave the session.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineer

1: Knowledge and Skill Base

1. 
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical
2. 
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical
3. 
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Problem Solving Task, Examination (invigilated)
4. 
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Problem Solving Task, Examination (invigilated)
5. 
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Problem Solving Task, Examination (invigilated)

2: Engineering Application Ability

1. 
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Problem Solving Task, Examination (invigilated)
2. 
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Problem Solving Task, Examination (invigilated)
3. 
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical
4. 
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Problem Solving Task, Examination (invigilated)

3: Professional and Personal Attributes

1. 
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical
2. 
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Problem Solving Task, Examination (invigilated)
3. 
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Problem Solving Task, Examination (invigilated)

Course Learning Outcomes

EN01 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

1. Engage stakeholders professionally and communicate the outcomes of your work effectively to expert and non-expert audiences using appropriate modes.
   Relates to: ULO4, Laboratory/Practical
2. Manage projects to solve complex engineering problems, using appropriate information, engineering methods, and technologies.
   Relates to: ULO1, Laboratory/Practical, Problem Solving Task, Examination (invigilated)
3. Engage with and apply regulatory requirements relating to safety, risk management, and sustainability in professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: ULO3, Laboratory/Practical, Problem Solving Task, Examination (invigilated)
4. Demonstrate coherent knowledge and skills of physical, mathematical, statistical, computer, and information sciences that are fundamental to professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: ULO4, Laboratory/Practical
5. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of one engineering discipline, its research directions, and its application in contemporary professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: ULO2, Laboratory/Practical, Problem Solving Task, Examination (invigilated)

EV01 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

1. Engage stakeholders professionally and communicate the outcomes of your work effectively to expert and non-expert audiences using appropriate modes.
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical
2. Manage projects to solve complex engineering problems, using appropriate information, engineering methods, and technologies.
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Problem Solving Task, Examination (invigilated)
3. Engage with and apply regulatory requirements relating to safety, risk management, and sustainability in professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Problem Solving Task, Examination (invigilated)
4. Demonstrate coherent knowledge and skills of physical, mathematical, statistical, computer, and information sciences that are fundamental to professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical
5. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of one engineering discipline, its research directions, and its application in contemporary professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Problem Solving Task, Examination (invigilated)