Teaching
Undergraduate
I teach the undergraduate Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Thermodynamics sequence CHE 331-332. This sequence begins with a focus on thermophysical property estimation in CHE 331 by introducing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd laws of thermodynamics (there is a 0th law as well) as applied to ideal gases and water. Additionally, we develop the governing equations for heat effects and the volumetric properties of fluids. The latter topic focuses on solving cubic equations of state (RK, SRK, PR, etc.) for the compressibility factor to express the pure and residual properties of fluids for volumetric and energetic calculations. CHE 331 ends with an introduction to vapor/liquid equilibrium behavior.
CHE 332 begins with a review of the fundamental laws of thermodynamics, and then picks up with the study of chemical potential, fugacity and solution thermodyanmics, and their application to fluid phase equilibrium including vapor/liquid equilibrium, flash calculations, liquid/liquid equilibrium and solid/liquid equilibrium. Additionally, we study the thermodyanmic origins of equilibrium and calculation of the equilibrium constant as a function of temperature and in non-ideal conditions. This course concludes with a survey of molecular thermodyanmics and modern techniques for thermodynamic calculations.
In each of theses courses I challenge the students to consider each problem from two perspectives: the theoretical basis, which typically has a molecular level viewpoint, and the practical basis, which often has a macroscopic viewpoint. By maintaining an intellectual link between these two perspective, the students are able to fully appreciate the descriptive ability of the equations, rather than simply learn "plug & chug" methods. Also, I endeavor to incorporate relevant problems, including biomolecules and novel chemicals, into the course through projects and labs to expose the students to a variety of molecules beyond basic petrochemicals.
Graduate
I teach a gradute level thermodynamics course focusing on fluid phase equilibria and statistical thermodynamics. Students are challenge to extend their knowledge of thermodynamics to describe more complex, non-ideal and multicomponent phase equilibria and develop the skills necessary to fit and model these systems. Additionally, the students are introduced to the fundamentals of statistical thermodynamics including the development of the Boltzmann distribution and how partition functions are used to calculate thermodynamic properties.