Introduction

CHEE2049 – Separation & Particle Technology

Part A. Unit operations based on fundamental principles of

vapour (gas) – liquid equilibria
Convenor 1: Anca Pordea, Coates B27
email: anca.pordea@nottingham.ac.uk

Part B. Particle technology in engineering processes

Convenor 2: Ricky Wildman
email: ricky.wildman@nottingham.ac.uk
 H82SPT handbook

• Module information section on Moodle

• Learning outcomes
• Topics
• Assessment details
• Provisional scheme of work (module
timetable)
 H82SPT assessment

1) three-hour examination: 80% of the module mark; at the

end of the Autumn semester
Part A. 3 questions, 1.5 hours in total
Part B. 1.5 hours in total
2) L3 labs: 20%
 Info about labs

L3 labs start week 6

Introduction to L3 labs in week 4 or 5
Analytical Measurement labs  see JT emails + Moodle page
for Analytical Measurement. These start in week 2!!!

Timetables are on the web, at

timetabling.nottingham.ac.uk
Part A
 Who am I

• I teach separation processes (yr 2) and advanced biochemical

engineering (yr 4)
• I have knowledge and expertise in chemistry, biotechnology, chem
eng principles
• I am passionate about enzymes: how does nature make stuff, and
what can we learn from it?
• I am also passionate about: mountain walking, sustainable living
• I like being part of other people’s learning
Values
… and challenges
 Human values, engineering values

You can make a

difference!

… but you must have

in-depth technical
background
 H82SPT – Part A content

Mondays 12-13 (Pope C17) and Thursdays 10-12 (Coates C25)

You will study some common industrial separation methods
- fundamental principles governing the physical processes
- design of equipment required to carry out these processes

Separation
Fundamental principles Equipment design
method

Distillation Vapour-liquid equilibrium Distillation columns

Absorption Gas-liquid solubility Absorbers and strippers

Drying Moisture-gas mixtures Dryers

 H82SPT – Part A learning resources

Lecture slides
• Delivered in class, to give context and general principles
• Available on Moodle before the lecture
• No video recordings
Exercise sheets
• Large class tutorials on design problems
• Questions are taken from previous exam papers
• Solutions and/or hints on Moodle by end of the topic
Formative quizzes
• Short (5-6 min) questions with immediate feedback to
test your understanding
Reading list
 H82SPT – Part A learning resources
Books
• Separation Process Principles / Ernest J. Henley, J.D. Seader, D. Keith
Roper. (John Wiley & Sons, 2011)
• Coulson and Richardson’s chemical engineering. Volume 2, Particle
technology and separation processes / J.F. Richardson and J.H. Harker
with J.R. Backhurst. – available as ebook
• Coulson and Richardson’s chemical engineering. Volume 6, Chemical
engineering design – Sinnott, R. K., Coulson, J. M., Richardson, J. F.
2005, available as ebook

Physical and chemical data

• Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook, R. H. Perry, Don W. Green, 1999
McGraw-Hill Inc.
• http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/
• HYSYS  prediction
 Expectations

• Attend timetabled sessions

• Be on time
• Take notes
• Think

Bring calculators and rulers!

 Fundamental concepts – Year One

What you should already know

• Basic separation concepts & techniques

• Thermodynamics
• Mass transfer
 Separations of heterogeneous mixtures

Heterogeneous = solid + solid, solid + liquid, etc.

Exploit differences in :
• Size Sieving
• Shape
• Density Settling
• Electrical charge
• Magnetic Properties
• Colour
• Solubility Leaching
 Separations of homogeneous mixtures

1. Molecular properties

Molecular weight Polarizability

van der Waals volume / area Dielectric constant
Molecular shape Electric charge
Dipole moment

2. Thermodynamic and transport properties

Vapour pressure Adsorptivity

Solubility Diffusivity
 Fundamental concepts

What you should already know

• Basic separation concepts & techniques

• Thermodynamics
• Mass transfer
 Thermodynamics

Why is it important?

• Driving force for separation = tendency to

achieve equilibrium
• Calculation of energy requirements
 Thermodynamics

Qin Qout

Streams in Streams out

Separation process
(n, xi, T, P, H)in (n, xi, T, P, H)out

Win Wout
Energy balance: ∑ (nH + Q + W) = ∑ (nH + Q + W)  Qin – Qout = DQ = DHout - DHin
out in

Ideal gas (vapour) HV = ∑yAHA0 HA0 = ideal molar enthalpy of A

Ideal liquid HL = ∑xA(HA0 – DHAvap) DHAvap = l = molar latent heat (or) enthalp
of vaporization of A
xA = liquid molar fraction of A
yA = vapour molar fraction of A
 Fundamental concepts

What you should already know

• Basic separation concepts & techniques

• Thermodynamics
• Mass transfer
 Mass transfer

Why is it important?

• Mass transfer is the rate-limiting step 

sizing will depend on this
 Mass transfer

• net movement of a species in a mixture from a

location to another
• in separations, mass transfer occurs through a
phase AND across an interface between phases

Stagnant fluids  Fick’s law of diffusion

Laminar flow fluids  ni = kCADci (in mole / unit time)
ni = molar rate of mass transfer of i
kC = mass-transfer coefficient
A = area (perpendicular to direction of transfer)
Dci difference in composition (driving force =
concentration, pressure, etc.) for compound i

Turbulent flow fluids  empirical correlations

 What will you learn?
• Three separation processes that are based on vapour pressure
1. Distillation
2. Absorption
3. Drying of solids
• At the end of this module you should be able to:
– Demonstrate knowledge of the scientific principles governing
these separations
– Apply these principles to the design and sizing of unit
operations
– Identify and explain hazard sources related to these unit
operations