Course content

Physical and chemical transformations occur in our everyday lives (e.g., making food), in biological systems (e.g., tissue growth or blood flow), in the environment (e.g., precipitation), and in industrial processes (e.g., carbon capture or wastewater treatment). To design processes in industry, it is important to understand the fundamental principles that govern each step, such as mixing, heating/cooling, distillation, moving fluids, separations, and reactions. These concepts are important for the design of sustainable processes in industry that minimize energy use and waste production, while maximizing efficiency.

Fundamental principles of chemical engineering are introduced and applied through hands-on laboratories (physical and Python) relevant to industry. Specific topics include mass and energy balances, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and mechanical separation processes (sedimentation, centrifugation, gas purification, filtration, and flotation).

Learning outcome

Students will be able to:

• Describe the principle of mass and energy balances
• Describe the first and second laws of thermodynamics
• Describe concepts in fluid statics, including pressure, buoyancy, and Pascal’s law
• Describe concepts in fluid dynamics, including laminar and turbulent flow, Reynolds number, and friction
• Identify types of equipment (e.g., pumps, compressors, turbines, and nozzles) and relevant changes to kinetic energy, potential energy, and enthalpy
• Define heat transfer mechanisms of conduction, convection, and radiation
• Explain the operating principle of heat exchangers, list types of heat exchangers (geometry and configuration), and define the log mean temperature difference
• List types and characteristics of mechanical separation processes
• Explain the operating principles of separation processes

Based on the above knowledge and understanding, students will be able to:

• Apply problem solving techniques to solve problems in chemical engineering
• Make simple sketches (e.g., block flow diagrams) of processes
• Apply mass and energy balances to closed and open systems at steady-state and transient conditions
• Apply the first and second laws of thermodynamics to heat engines and refrigerators
• Use technical diagrams (e.g., Moody’s diagram) to obtain information for problem solving
• Perform calculations for process design using concepts from mass/energy balances, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer
• Use Python to model simple processes
• Conduct simple laboratory experiments and write simple lab reports

Learning methods and activities

Activities include lectures, exercises, and laboratory work. Admission to the exam requires that 70% of exercises are approved and reports are submitted for the laboratory work. Expected time spent per week includes 4 h for lectures, 2 h for an exercise session, and 7 h of self-study. Laboratory work is approximately 18 h total.

Compulsory assignments

• Lab
• Exercises

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

Admission to the course requires admission to the study program Chemistry and Materials Engineering (BIKOM)

Course materials

Geankoplis, C. J. et al. Transport Processes and Separation Process Principles, Pearson, 5th edition (2024). Additional lecture notes.

Credit reductions