411-201 Introduction to Transport Processes

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

620-171 and 620-172 Mathematics or 620-181 and 620-182 Mathematics or equivalent

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The objectives are to understand the fundamental concepts of momentum, heat and mass transfer and to be able to apply this knowledge to the solution of problems in process engineering.

Momentum transport: Newton's law of viscosity, viscosity of gases and liquids, shear stress and momentum flux, shell momentum balances in laminar flow. Reynolds number. Boundary layer theory.

Heat Transport: Conduction; Fourier's law, thermal conductivities of gases, liquids and solids. Steady state conduction through planar and cylindrical resistances. Resistances in series. Conduction with a heat source. Shell thermal energy balances. Calculation of temperature profiles in conductors. Convection; concept of thermal boundary layer, definition and evaluation of heat transfer coefficients. Nusselt and Prandtl numbers. Combined conduction and convection. Overall heat transfer coefficients. Heat exchangers; cocurrent and counter-current flow, energy balance and rate equations for simple double pipe heat exchangers.

Mass Transport: Molecular diffusion, eddy diffusion, bulk flow. Definitions of concentrations, average velocities and fluxes. Fick's first law. Diffusivities of gases and liquids. Application to binary mixtures. Equimolal counterdiffusion and diffusion through a stationary component. Two-phase mass transfer; concept of mass transfer boundary layer, Schmidt number, individual film and overall mass transfer coefficients.

Assessment

One examination not exceeding three hours