CHBE 488/588
About The Course
Welcome to CHBE 488 588: Carbon Capture, Conversion and Sequestration Technologies!
It is widely accepted, by most, that carbon emissions have a negative effect on our environment, which has led to the accelerated development of a wide range of technologies and schemes aimed at capturing those emissions. However, few of these technologies have yet been commercialized and taken hold in industry. A core question is, why? CHBE 488 588, critically investigates the challenges and barriers of entry to the carbon capture, conversion, and sequestration (CCCS) industry.
In this course, the CCCS sector and its associated technologies are utilized to understand and learn the approach, mindset, and skills required to better define and solve carbon emission challenges. Students will learn to evaluate problems and solutions critically, looking for connectivity between the two, even when there may be incomplete information. Students will learn in collaboration with others (from different disciplines, and vertical integration, i.e., undergraduate and graduate), examine our assumptions, and practice reflection to cultivate ways in becoming a practicing engineer.
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Since the focus of this course is understanding the CCCS industry as a whole, we are going to use technical foundations learned through CHBE courses to evaluate and asses carbon cycle, absorption, adsorption, sequestration, mineralization and conversion technologies. Students will work directly with real world small to medium enterprises (SMEs) as case study sponsors at the forefront of CCCS to introduce the relationships among technology, policy, and regulatory frameworks. Through the development of team case studies, students will also examine and analyze a specific SME technology and how the technology fits into the CCCS sector.
Learning Approach
The course is case based learning conducted through team work. You will be working with sponsor SMEs through case studies, where you will assess their technologies based on course learnings.
Learning Aims
Students will leave the course with the ability to:
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Set the framework to properly assess the technical and economic feasibility of a process technology
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Visualize and tackle process challenges from different perspectives to practice lateral thinking
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Work and find solutions using incomplete information
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Be critical of the information, data, and conclusions provided by others
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Evaluate the environmental footprint of CCCS technologies through preparing process flowsheets, carbon balances, and partial life cycle analyses (LCA) framework  
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Evaluate CCCS cases using technical, policy and regulatory frameworks  
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Integrate systems thinking in analyzing the impact of CCCS technology in climate change scenarios  
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Develop one's tolerance towards ambiguity and uncertainty through building technology narratives 
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Cultivate one's communication skills and abilities towards working in teams and with the learning community  
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Develop one's skills as a reflective practitioner through personal reflection throughout the course 
