ChE371: Chemical Engineering Laboratory I

Prof. Davis

Course Syllabus

Course Objectives:

1. Apply the fundamentals of fluid dynamics, heat and mass transfer, and reaction engineering to small-scale unit operation experiments
2. Experience the practical considerations needed to use chemical engineering fundamentals successfully.
3. Introduce the inconsistencies that arise between theoretical and "real" behavior.
4. Develop and practice skills in the oral and written communication of technical material for a range of scenarios.

Experiments:

1. Fluid Flow - determination of friction losses and friction loss coefficients for water passing through different pipes, valves, fittings etc. (Bernoulli equation)
2. Heat Exchanger - investigation of the effects of temperature and flowrate on the overall heat transfer coefficient for a variety of heat exchangers. Determination of heat exchanger efficiency (Armfield HT 30XC, HT33, HT 36, HT37)
3. Flooding Point in a Packed Column - experimental investigation of the loading points and flooding points of a counter-current gas-liquid contactor
4. Filtration - determine the specific cake resistance and the degree of compressibility for a solid-liquid slurry using a Lanco plate and frame filter unit
5. Reactor(s) - determination of kinetic rate equation and the effect of feed rate on conversion in a tubular reactor (design equation for ideal plug flow reactor, kinetics and stoichiometry, titration, confirmation of kinetics using a batch reactor)

Example Student Work:

Example Lab Report
Example Presentation