79591 - Fundamentals and Applications Of Process Engineering T

Learning outcomes

The knowledge of quantitative methods for the analysis of process and systems of the process industry, aimed in particular at energy resources management, the thermochemical conversion of fuels and emissions control.

Course contents

Module I

1. Schematic representation of process plants: flow diagrams and process diagrams and analysis as a black box system.

2. State of material and energetic currents: recalls on composition variables and flow variables, definitions, properties, relationships and units of measurement.

3. The integral balance equation of an extensive property:  accumulation, generative and flow terms.

4. Mass balances for single apparatuses, in the presence of chemical reactions. Limiting and excess reagent, conversion, selectivity and yield.

5. The integral energy balance equation and application to the solution of typical problems of process engineering.

6. Energy balances for single devices, in the presence and absence of chemical reactions. Recap on the calculation of enthalpy variations for pure substances: use of thermodynamic tables and diagrams, of molar heats of the ideal gas, of latent heats. Criteria for choosing the most appropriate reference state in relation to the availability of data. Discussion on thermochemistry: standard state, reaction enthalpy, standard reaction enthalpy, standard formation enthalpy, combustion enthalpy.

7. Applications of mass and energy balances to systems with combustion reactions: calculation of the composition of dry and wet fumes as the composition of the fuel and excess air vary. Lower and upper calorific value. Calculation of the theoretical flame temperature.

 

Module II

1. Fossil and renewable fuels: definitions, properties and methods of characterization.

2. Thermochemical processes of chemical or energy conversion: combustion, gasification, pyrolysis and reforming.

3. Multi-phase systems operating continuously: captive fluid beds, circulating fluid beds, entrained beds, cyclones. Applications of multiphase systems.

4. Absorption/adsorption of species from gaseous streams: equipment and calculation/verification criteria

5. Fractional distillation: equipment and criteria for calculating/verifying separation of mixtures with selective membranes.

6. Anthropogenic release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere: problems, industrial sources, impact mitigation techniques.

7. Heterogeneous chemical reactions: conversion of a single particle in an oxidizing atmosphere, catalytic reactions in porous particles, propagation of reaction fronts in solid layers.

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes made available by the teachers on virtuale.unibo.it.

 

R. M. Felder, R. W.Rousseau, Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes, J. Wiley & Sons, New York, 3rd ed., 2000.

F. P. Foraboschi, Chemical Engineering Principia, UTET, Torino

O.A. Hougen, K. M. Watson, R. A.Ragatz, Chemical Process Principles Part I. Second Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York (1954).

- McCabe, Smith, Harriott, Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering, McGraw-Hill Education, 20049, ISBN 978-0-07-284823-6

- Kunii, Levenspiel; Fluidization Engineering, Butterworth-Heinemann, 1991, ISBN 978-0-08-050664-7

Teaching methods

Direct teaching lectures for theoretical contents and excercises sessions.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of two distinct parts for the assessment of the skills acquired by the students:

a written test of a computational type in which the numerical solution of matter and energy balance problems is requested (module 1) and the resolution of a process case as a verification or dimensioning calculation (module 2).

The consultation of books or notes, nor the use of personal computers and / or tablets is not allowed. an oral exam in which the student's ability to face and solve teaching problems and the understanding of the theoretical aspects of the course will be verified.

Office hours

See the website of Matteo Minelli

See the website of Francesco Miccio