411-306 Separation Processes 1

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

421-205 Mathematics for Engineers 2.2, 411-205 Fluid Mechanics 1 and 411-302 Transport Phenomena 2

Corequisites

None

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The objective of this subject is to enable students to become familiar with the concepts of equilibrium stage and continuous contactor analysis applied to simple distillation, gas absorption and liquid extraction and to be able to assess quantitatively the performance of simple, conventional distillation, gas absorption and liquid extraction equipment.

Introduction: Definition of separation processes, separating agents, separation factors, equilibrium and rate type processes, equilibrium stage, non-equilibrium performance.

Mass Transfer Rates: Mass transfer in a single phase and between phases, mass transfer coefficients for equimolal diffusion and bulk flow. Examples in separation processes.

Equilibrium stage processes: Distillation: Single-stage separations, equilibrium flash, differential distillation. Multistage separations, operating lines, reflux. Binary distillation, varying reflux ratio, minimum reflux, total reflux, optimum reflux, feed plate location, side streams, open steam. Tray efficiency via overall and Murphree efficiencies.

Liquid Extraction: Applications of liquid extraction, liquid-liquid equilibria. Single-stage extraction, choice of solvent/feed ratio. Multistage cross-current extraction. Continuous counter-current multistage extraction.

Continuous Contact Operations: Gas Absorption: Basic mass transfer mechanism. Material balances, co-current and counter·current flow, limiting L/G ratio. Multistage absorption and the absorption factor method. Continuous contact, transfer units, height of a transfer unit, calculation of number of transfer units.

Assessment

One examination not exceeding three-hours at the end of Semester two