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Module

CME1023 : Transfer Processes

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Richard Law
  • Lecturer: Dr Maria Vicevic, Dr Shayan Seyedin
  • Owning School: Engineering
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 25
ECTS Credits: 13.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

This module teaches the fundamentals of fluid mechanics and, heat and mass transfer processes.

Fluid mechanics is one of the most important topics in Chemical Engineering. This module will equip the students with fundamental knowledge of solving common fluid flow problems in Chemical Engineering. It will begin by describing the properties of fluids such as density, pressure, viscosity, and surface tension and will then discuss various flow regimes and explain how to measure frictional energy and pressure losses in various fluid flow conditions.

This module introduces the 3 basic types of heat transfer: conduction, convection and radiation. By the end of the module the students will be able to understand many everyday examples of heat transfer, as well as being able to solve many steady state heat transfer calculations that Chemical Engineers encounter on plant.

The module will explain the processes of mass transfer and diffusion and apply them to engineering systems of separation and reactions. These principles build on knowledge of fluid behaviour and the analogy between momentum; heat and mass transfer.

Outline Of Syllabus

The Fluid Mechanics content will cover the following sections:
•       Fluid Properties
•       Properties of fluids in motion, including flow regimes, Reynolds number and Poiseuille equation.
•       Continuity equations (conservation of mass), fluid energy (pressure, kinetic, and potential energies), Mechanical Energy Balance, and Bernoulli’s equation
•       Conservation of momentum, friction factor in pipes, pressure drop due to friction, and Moody chart
•       Minor losses (sudden expansions/contractions, valves, and fittings), loss coefficient, and equivalent length
•       Flow measurement (orifice plates, flow nozzles, Venturi tubes, and Pitot tubes).

The Heat Transfer content will cover the following sections:
•       An introduction to heat transfer, the 3 modes of heat transfer and why the study of heat transfer is important for chemical engineers
•       The fundamentals of conduction including Fourier’s Equation, conduction through different 1D geometries, composite systems and thermal resistance
•       The funamentals of convection including Newton’s Law of Cooling, combined convection and conduction, and convection correlations
•       Heat Exchanger Design including the overall heat transfer coefficient, the log mean temperature difference and sizing of simple heat exchangers
•       Extended surfaces.

The mass transfer content will cover the following sections:
•       Diffusion and diffusion coefficients
•       Ficks 1st law and equimolar counter diffusion. Diffusion through a stationary phase and Stefan’s Law. Two film theory
•       Individual and overall mass transfer coefficients. Application of mass transfer coefficients.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture561:0056:00Introduction session followed by lectures on Fluids, Heat Transfer and Mass Transfer.
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion13:003:00Written Examination.
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion140:0040:00Exam Revision
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion135:0035:00Completion of assignment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching281:0028:00Tutorials in Fluids, Heat Transfer and Mass Transfer.
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study188:0088:00Review lecture material, prepare for tutorial classes.
Total250:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures convey the basic concepts of fluid mechanics and, heat and mass transfer, and demonstrate their application in chemical engineering context whilst tutorial classes support the lecture material through extended examples. The key concepts are presented in person, to allow discussion with students and in-person questioning. All tutorial classes are also held in-person, to ensure students receive the help they need to successfully attempt the extended example problems.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination1802A703 hour Closed book exam on Fluid Dynamics, Heat Transfer and Mass Transfer.
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written exercise2M30Coursework. 1000 words (or equivalent) summative coursework.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The exam at the end of semester 2 is an appropriate way to assess mathematical and analytical skills applied in combination with assessment of the fundamental knowledge of fluid mechanics, heat transfer and mass transfer. In particular, the exam allows the students to be suitably tested by undertaking unseen problems.

The assignment will test a particular aspect of the syllabus/learning objectives. This will allow students to solidify their learning at a suitable point in the semester.

Reading Lists

Timetable