2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
CAPE3301 Separation Processes
20 creditsClass Size: 230
Module manager: Dr X Mao
Email: x.mao@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2023/24
Pre-requisites
| CAPE1020 | Engineering Science 1 |
| CAPE2050 | Engineering Science 2 |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Objectives
After completion of the module, students should understand the following:- basic concepts related to separation processes;
- fundamentals theories related to the separation processes;
- methodologies for designing simple separation devices.
Learning outcomes
- Have a knowledge and understanding of scientific principles in the relevant aspects of physics and chemistry to enable the understanding of chemical engineering principles.
- Understand the principles of momentum, heat and mass transfer and their inter-relationship, and application to problems involving fluids and multiple phases.
- Understand the principles of equilibrium and chemical thermodynamics, and application to phase behaviour.
- Understand the thermodynamic and transport properties of fluids and multiphase systems.
- Apply the principles of material and energy balances to relevant separation process problems.
- Understand the principles of batch and continuous operation and criteria for process selection.
- Understand the principles on which processing equipment operates, to determine equipment size and performance of absorption/desorption and distillation columns.
- Understand that transport phenomena are rate processes for which the bottlenecks have been identified. Be able to use basic chemical principles to model the characteristics and performance of a range of typical separation for fluids.
- Understand and be able to quantify the effect of processing steps on the state of the material being processed, and its transformation to the end product in terms of its composition.
- Be able to deploy chemical engineering knowledge using rigorous calculation and results analysis to develop a design and with appropriate checks on feasibility and practicality.
- Be able to account for system complexity by taking appropriate steps, e.g. in absorption and distillation when accompanied by chemical reactions.
- Understand the importance of identifying the objectives and context of the design in terms of the technical requirements.
Skills outcomes
- Ability to understand underlying physics associated with separation processes
- Methodologies for designing devices for separation processes
- Transferable skills in linking fundamental theories to real world processes
- Written communication
- Critical reasoning
- Time and self management
Syllabus
Overview of separation processes
Mass transfer:
- Revision of diffusion through gases and liquids - Fick's law
- Mechanism of absorption and desorption
- Mass transfer at gas/liquid interfaces
- The two-film theory and concentration profiles
- Concept of resistance to mass transfer
- Definition of overall and film coefficients
- Design of absorption columns for low concentration gases - definition of height and number of transfer units
- The general case of absorption of gases at high concentration/high flux cases
- Wetted walls columns and calculation of transfer coefficients
- Analogies of mass, heat and momentum transfer and definition of 'j' factors
- Co-current and countercurrent contacting
- Equilibrium conditions, tie lines and their extrapolation
- Liquid-liquid extraction.
Distillation:
- Batch and continuous distillation
- Differential and flash distillation
- Separation of binary mixtures and multi-component mixtures
- The fractionating column for continuous distillation
- Principal features of construction and principles of operation
- Plate columns, bubble cap, sieve, and valve trays, etc
- MacCabe-Thiele graphical method
- Ponchon Savarit graphical method
- Lewis-Sorel method
- Lewis-Matheson method
- Underwood and Fenske equations
- Colburn method
- Pinch point for binary and multi-component systems
- Minimum reflux and total reflux
- Optimum number of plates
- Separation efficiency.
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Lecture | 40 | 1.00 | 40.00 |
| Tutorial | 2 | 1.00 | 2.00 |
| Private study hours | 158.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 42.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 | ||
Private study
1.5 hours reading per lecture96 hours on revision
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Questions during lectures; examinationsMethods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| In-course Assessment | Test | 15.00 |
| In-course Assessment | Test | 15.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 30.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Exams
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 2 hr | 35.00 |
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 2 hr | 35.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 70.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 28/04/2023 14:55:29
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