Separation and Particle Technology
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| CHEE2051 | Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineeri | 2 | 20 | Autumn China |
- Code
- CHEE2051
- School
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineeri
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn China
Summary
This module establishes the principles of mass transfer of separation processes, with binary distillation, gas absorption/stripping and drying being studied in detail. This module also covers settling of single and multiple particles, terminal falling velocity, centrifugation, flow of fluids through beds of particles, filtration, fluidisation, pneumatic transport, gas-solid separation processes, particle storage in hopper, particle size engineering, and hazards in handling and utilisation of particles.
Target Students
Available only to Year 3 students studying BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering; Environmental Engineering
Classes
- Two 1-hour tutorials each week for 12 weeks
- One 3-hour-30-minute practicum each week for 3 weeks
- Two 2-hour lectures each week for 12 weeks
Assessment
- 20% Laboratory Report: 1 Group Lab Report on Particle Technology
- 20% Group Presentation: 1 Group Lab Presentation on Separation Processes
- 60% Final Exam (3-hour): 3 hour written examination
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
To acquire and apply the fundamental principles of vapour (gas) – liquid equilibria; to derive and apply equations and concepts based on these principles to perform the design of equipment for commonly encountered separation unit operations, with binary distillation, gas absorption/stripping and drying studies in detail. To be able to understand and appreciate how particles behave in engineering processes and to derive and apply equations and concepts to predict how engineering processes involving particles behave. To size certain process equipment/vessel.Learning Outcomes
A2 Chemical Engineering Principles
A2.2 Fundamentals
A.2.2.3 Understand the thermodynamics and transport properties of fluids, solids and multiphase systems.
Demonstrated by the ability to describe concepts and solve problems related to the transport of particles and particle systems through the related concept include: Ergun equation, Darcy’s Law, Geldart Chart etc. Assessed by laboratory reports on experimental behaviour of glass beads in air/water with regard to flow speed and pressure drop. Assessed by questions in the final exam related to the concepts covered in the lecture (e.g. Ergun equation, Darcy’s law etc.)
A2.4 Process and Product Technology
A2.4.1 Understand the most widely used unit operations of separation and mixing; particle technology; equipment sizing and performance; biological systems.
Demonstrated by the ability to determine design parameters for distillation and absorption columns (mass balances, energy balance around reboilers/condensers, height of separation section) and for driers (mass and energy balances, drying rate and residence time). Also demonstrated by the ability to design and adjust the processing parameters for packed bed, fluidized bed, pneumatic transport (particle size, minimum fluidization speed, pressure drop) and for particle separation and storage (hopper design, choice of particle separation techniques). Assessed by questions in the final examination.
A2.4.2 Understand and be able to use basic chemical principles to model the characteristics and performance of a range of typical mixing, separation, and similar processing steps for fluids, particulates and multiphase systems.
Demonstrated by the ability to estimate column efficiency, HETP or mass transfer coefficients in distillation columns/absorbers using empirical correlations and data from the literature. Also demonstrated by the ability to describe and apply key methods for understanding the characteristics of particle mechanics. Assessed by questions in the final examination, related to the design of separation columns and to particle mechanics. Also assessed by group presentation on experimental determination of performance of a distillation column under different operating conditions.
A2.4.3 Understand the principles on which processing equipment operates to determine equipment size and performance of common items such as reactors, exchangers and columns.
Demonstrated by the ability to understand and apply operating principles of distillation (reflux ratio, operating lines, vapour-liquid equilibria) and of absorption/stripping (Henry’s law, operating lines, minimum flowrates, two film mass transfer theory) to determine the height of the separation section of distillation and of absorption columns (eg McCabe-Thiele method to determine distillation column height; transfer unit method to determine packing height). Assessed by questions in the final examination, related to the sizing of separation columns.
A3 Chemical Engineering Practice
A3.2.9 Have a knowledge and understanding of laboratory practice, and ability to operate bench (or larger) scale chemical engineering equipment.
Demonstrated by the ability to operate and assess the performance of lab scale separation equipment and explain how different variables impact on equipment behaviour. Assessed by laboratory reports or group presentations.
A3.2.10 Be able to design, plan and undertake experimental or plant work and critically interpret, analyse and report on experimental data.
Demonstrated by the ability to perform separation and particle mechanics related experimental work, including report or presentation, receiving formative and then subsequently summative feedback on the process. Assessed by laboratory reports or group presentations.
Conveners
- Dr Mengxia Xu
- Dr Xiaoyang Wei