UNIT OPERATIONS CTEC 2445

COURSE DESCRIPTION (catalog description)

CTEC 2445Unit Operations (3-6-5) Instruction in the principles of chemical engineering and process equipment. Emphasis on scale-up from laboratory bench to pilot plant.

REQUIRED TEXT/MANUALS

Max S. Peters, Elementary Chemical Engineering, McGraw-Hill, 1984.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The tasks encompassed in CTEC 2445, Unit Operations, are:

• Solve elementary chemical engineering mass and energy balance problems.
• Examine the flow of fluids in pipes.
• Examine the transfer of heat in a system.
• Separate a mixture of liquids.
• Determine the moisture content of air at various locations.
• Determine the drying rate of wet sand.
• Describe the operation of filter processes and types of filters used.
• Crush and grind a solid material and separate ground material into various sizes.

In addition to these tasks, the student will apply proper techniques in collecting, analyzing and interpreting data, as well as reporting test results. Computer software packages (for example, WordPerfect and Quattropro) will be used to perform calculations and to prepare written reports.

COURSE OUTLINE

Lecture

Solve elementary chemical engineering mass and energy balance problems

• Solve material balance problems
• Solve energy balance problems
• Solve fuel and combustion problems

Examine the flow of fluids in pipes

• Identify from photographs, models, symbols or actual equipment in the laboratory flow measurement and transport equipment.
• Prepare a pilot plant flow diagram from a scale model. (Experiment 1)
• Describe the operation and application of various types of flow transport equipment.
• Observe the flow of fluid in pipes. (Experiment 2)
• Predict the behavior of fluids in pipes using an analog circuit. (Experiment 3 - optional)

Examine the transfer of heat in a system

• List and describe the types of heat transfer.
• Solve problems related to the transfer of heat in a system.
• Describe the operation and practical applications of heat exchangers.
• Examine the transfer of heat in a system. (Experiment 4)

Separate a mixture of liquids

• Solve problems concerning simple batch distillations.
• Describe the operation of a distillation column.
• Describe the following distillation processes:
  • azeotropic
  • extractive
  • multicomponent
• Separate a mixture of liquids in a batch distillation. (Experiment 5)
• Separate a mixture of liquids in a continuous distillation. (Experiment 6 - optional)

Determine the moisture content of air at various locations

• Determine the moisture content of air. (Experiment 7)
• Describe the following processes:
  • humidifiers
  • dehumidifiers
  • water coolers

Determine the drying rate of wet sand

• Describe the operation of the following equipment:
  • tray driers
  • drum driers
  • rotary driers
  • spray driers
  • vacuum driers

Determine the batch drying rate of wet sand. (Experiment 8)

Describe the operation of filter processes and types of filters used

• Describe the operation and the purposes of the following:
  • gravity filtration
  • plate-and-frame filtration
  • rotary filtration
  • precoating and filter aids
  • constant-pressure filtration
  • constant-rate filtration
  • compressible-noncompressible cakes
• Determine an estimate for the filtering area required for a filtration operation.

Crush and grind a solid material and separate ground material into various sizes

• Determine the bulk density and actual density if rock salt. (Experiment 9)
• Describe the operation and uses of the following:
  • coarse crushers
  • intermediate crushers
  • fine grinders
• Describe various methods for determining the size distribution in a sample.
• Crush and grind a solid material and separate it into various sizes. (Experiment 10)

LABORATORY

Experiment 1 (Short report only)

• Pilot plant flow diagram

Experiment 2 (Short or formal report)

• Fluid flow through pipes

Experiment 3 (OPTIONAL) (Formal report only)

• Fluid flow circuit analog

Experiment 4 (Short or formal report)

• Heat exchange

Experiment 5 (Formal report only)

• Batch distillation

Experiment 6 (OPTIONAL) (Formal report only)

• Continuous distillation

Experiment 7 (Short report only)

• Relative humidity

Experiment 8 (Short or formal report)

• Batch drying

Experiment 9 (Short or formal report)

• Apparent density of rock salt

Experiment 10 (Short or formal report)

• Particle sizing and separation