Extension

lecture
Society of Pakistan’s Advancing
Chemical Engineers (SPACE)

Topic: Practical aspects

of Chemical
Engineering
Speaker: Mr. Moosa
Naseer
 Extension lecture report

Contents

About the speaker…………………2

Objective…………………………...2
Details………………………………3
Role of speaker…………………….5
Role of space……………………….6

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 Extension lecture report

About the speaker

An online extension lecture on October 2, 2021, was organized by the SPACE
society. The respected speaker was Mr. Moosa Naseer, trainee engineer at Urea-II,
Engro. He is an alumnus of UET and author of two books, “Aspen Tech Guide
“and “Industrial Framework”. He also boosted our economy by working on
various projects at companies like Fatima fertilizers. 

Objective
The main objective of this lecture was to bring opportunity for the students to get
familiar with their field and recognize their role as an engineer. The speaker
highlighted the practical aspects of chemical engineering on plant sites and gave
tips for the final year project and Aspen simulation.
Speaker gave a detailed analysis of the operation of plants and the emergency
handling in plant operations. Simultaneously he also clarifies the difference
between few confusing terms related to chemical plants:
 Operation and engineering concepts
 Operation and process engineers.
He also gives an insight into plant designing by organizing a live activity with
students.

Details
Firstly, the speaker discusses the difference between an operation and a process
engineer. He describes their characteristics that as mentioned below:
 Operation engineer
He ensures a plant run to the best operating condition and achieves the target of
attaining the assigned yield and objectives of the plant. He restricts to the field
site. It’s mostly 24 hrs. job with shifts.
 Process engineer
He is the analyst of the plant. His main job is to mathematically or theoretically
optimize the design or process of the plant. It is mainly an office job with
conventional working hours.

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Secondly, he discussed two highlighted variables that we should conclude before

designing the plant: Product and its manufacturing basis. The nature of the product
defines the process design. Its current form helps us to decide the equipment setup.

He elaborated the design and feasibility of plant with the following flow chart:

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 Extension lecture report

After, giving the algorithm of designing the plant, he held a live activity with
students of arranging the equipment required for setting up a urea plant. This
activity unfolds some of the significant mistakes of engineers. For example,
placing a heater before a pump could cause cavitation and ultimately become the
reason for squandering the time and money of the company.

Fourthly, he presented a contrast between operation and engineering concept.

 Operation engineering concept
Adjusting monitored process parameter for sustained operation
 Engineering concept
Detailed analysis of process including all calculation

Lastly he explained the emergency handling in plant operation as follow

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Role of speaker
“A good speaker is done talking before the audience is done listening.”
This was the case with Mr. Moosa Naseer. His confident, welcoming personality
invite student to ask questions and encourages them to participate in the lecture. He
smartly executes the session by including interesting key elements like problem
statements, case analysis, etc. In conclusion, being an engineer, he successfully
descent his techniques of applying your theoretical engineering knowledge in the
real plight of plants.
Later, a survey was held to gather student opinions regarding the speaker's
performance.

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Performance of speaker comfort level of asking

question
excellent excellent
12% good good
18%
neutral 41% neutral
47%
41%
41%

Role of SPACE
The executive body of the SPACE Society managed the event very well. Despite
the pandemic time, where 50 % of students can attend on-campus lecture space
still managed to keep all the students on the same page. Continues participation of
students made the interaction more lively and encourage the speaker too. Despite;
the internet glitches, high spirits, and good coordination made this session a
success. This lecture gave an experience of working at a plant just by sitting in
front of a laptop. Furthermore, the session was recorded for the student who was
not able to attend the session.
The link of recorded lecture follow:
https://spacestudentchapter.sharepoint.com/sites/SPACEStudentChapter/Shared
%20Documents/General/Extension%20Lecture%20(Industrial%20Talk%20With
%20Moosa%20Naseer).mp4

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