CE 407 Separations

Registration number: 15076

Prerequisites:

CE 304 (Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics), CE 318 (Transport Processes II)

Credits:

3

Instructor:


Dr. David Courtemanche, 309A Furnas Hall, 645-0650, djcourte@buffalo.edu
Zoom Meeting Link: https://buffalo.zoom.us/j/4543279676?pwd=M0JHOUc4cW9kVWRKSS91ckduZ3VSdz09

Class Time and Location:

Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 to 10:50 am in 102 Clemens Hall

Office hours:


Mondays at 1:00 pm--2:00 pm in 309A Furnas Hall, or by arrangement (send email to arrange a meeting time) OPEN DOOR POLICY - djc will be happy to answer questions outside of office hours; students should feel free to email anytime with questions or stop by 309A Furnas Hall

Course description:

Staged operations of distillation, absorption, leaching, and extraction. Phase equilibria and application of equilibrium data to calculational methods provide knowledge of solution methods and limitations for binary and multicomponent systems.

Required textbook:

McCabe WL, Smith JC, Harriott P. 2005. Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering, 7th ed. McGraw-Hill, New York. Denoted by "MSH" below.

Supplementary textbooks:


Treybal RE. 1981. Mass Transfer Operations, 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill, New York. Denoted by "T" below.
Dohert MF, Malone MF. 2001. Conceptual Design of Distillation Systems. McGraw-Hill, New York. Denoted by "DM" below.

Summaries of lectures, and materials pertaining to each, are posted here.

Lect. Date Description Pertinent are...
Text Notes Hmwk
L01 8/25
Tue 		Introduction to course. Introduction to textbook. Introduction to gas absorption. Rigorous calculation allowing for evaporation of liquid. Simplified calculation neglecting evaporation of liquid ("the usual approximations").
MSH pp. 521-525 ■ Lecture 01 (pdf)
■ Single-stage absorption (pdf) 		#01 (pdf)
L02 8/27
Thur 		Improving a gas absorption operating by adding stages; why countercurrent contact is best. Operating line, equilibrium curve, McCabe-Thiele diagram, counting of stages.
MSH pp. 643-653 ■ Lecture 02 (pdf)
#01 (pdf)
L03 9/01
Tue 		Absorption factor method (Kremser equation). Absorption operations, including minimum liquid flow rate. Stripping operations, including minimum gas flow rate.
MSH pp. 653-660 ■ Lecture 03 (pdf)
 #02 (pdf)
L04 9/03
Thur 		Saturated vapor pressure and relative volatility. Binary vapor-liquid equilibria and phase diagrams. MSH pp. 663-666, 737-742 ■ Lecture 04 (pdf)
#02 (pdf)
L05 9/08
Tue 		Graphical method for binary flash distillation. Analytical method for binary and multicomponent flash distillation. Why a column improves product purities relative to flash distillation. Column mass balances. Percent recovery.
MSH pp. 666-681 ■ Lecture 05 (pdf)
#03 (pdf)
L06 9/10
Thur 		McCabe-Thiele diagram: rectifying section operating line, feed line, stripping section operating line, counting of stages, feed stage location.
MSH pp. 681-694 ■ Lecture 06 (pdf)
■ Binary distillation McCabe Thiele 1925
■ Binary distillation Murphree 1925
#03 (pdf)
L07 9/15
Tue 		Partial versus total condensers. Minimum number of stages, Fenske equation. Minimum and optimum reflux ratio. Use of overall and Murphree tray efficiency.
■ Effective Equilibrium Excel Calculation 		MSH pp. 674-675, 687-691,712-722 ■ Lecture 07 (pdf)
#04 (pdf)
L08 9/17
Thur 		Nearly pure products: use of the Kremser equation for distillation. Enthalpy balance calculations: liquid and vapor mixture enthalpies.
MSH pp. 694-701 ■ Lecture 08 (pdf)
#04 (pdf)
L09 9/22
Tue 		Enthalpy balance calculations: Condenser and reboiler duties. Design of columns: vapor pressure drop, downcomer level and tray spacing; flooding velocity and column diameter.
MSH pp. 701-712, 718-724 ■ Lecture 09 (pdf)
#05 (pdf)
L10 9/24
Thur 		UNIFAC
Calculating non-ideal VLE 		MSH pp. 724-727 ■ Lecture 10 (pdf)
■ UNIFAC 		#05 (pdf)
L11 09/29
Tue 		Introduction to multicomponent distillation: light and heavy keys, splits, non-distributed and distributed components, column sequencing. Short-cut methods: Fenske equation for minimum number of stages, Underwood's method for minimum reflux ratio, Gilliland correlation for number of ideal stages at operating reflux ratio.
MSH pp. 742-752, 757-759
DM pp. 144-145, 290-291 		■ Lecture 11 (pdf)
■ L11 Example Problems (pdf)
#06 (pdf)
L12 10/01
Thur 		Degrees of Freedom in a distillation process. Tray-to-tray calculations. Design versus performance models.

Batch Distillation 		MSH pp. 752-756
DM pp. 115-124, 144-145, 147 		■ Lecture 12 (pdf)
#06 (pdf)
L13 10/06
Tue 		Definition of leaching, everyday example (making tea), theory for countercurrent contact. Problem-solving procedure, solved example problem.
MSH pp. 764-772 ■ Lecture 13 (pdf)
■ Leaching example
#07 (pdf)
Exam 1 10/08
Thur 		Covers Lectures 1-10, Homework 1-5
10/13
Tue 		FALL BREAK
L14 10/15
Thur 		Introduction to liquid extraction: basic process and uses, liquid-liquid equilibria, ternary phase diagrams, mass balances for a mixing step. Single-stage liquid extraction.
MSH pp. 772-783
T pp. 433-446 		■ Lecture 14 (pdf)
#08 (pdf)
L15 10/20
Tue 		Multistage crosscurrent extraction. Multistage countercurrent extraction: overall mass balances.
MSH pp. 772-783
T pp. 446-448, 450-451 		■ Lecture 15 (pdf)
■ Lecture 15b (pdf)
#08 (pdf)
L16 10/22
Thur 		Multistage countercurrent extraction: Hunter-Nash and McCabe-Thiele methods for counting stages.
MSH pp. 772-783
T pp. 450-453 		■ Lecture 16 (pdf)
■ Lecture 16b (pdf)
#09 (pdf)
L17 10/27
Tue 		Multistage countercurrent extraction: minimum entering solvent flow rate. Liquid extraction equipment.
MSH pp. 783-789
T pp. 450-453 		■ Lecture 17 (pdf)
■ Lecture 17b (pdf)
#09 (pdf)
L18 10/29
Thur 		Introduction to mass transfer: where mass transfer is "hidden" in tray towers. Estimation of liquid- and gas-phase diffusion coefficients. Solute flux: definition
MSH pp. 527-540, 542-543 ■ Lecture 18 (pdf)
■ Appendix 19
#10 (pdf)
L19 11/03
Tue 		Solute flux through 1D slab for cases of equimolar counterdiffusion and one-component mass transfer (A diffusing through non-diffusing B). Film theory and mass transfer coefficients. Two Film theory introduction
 MSH pp. 547-548, 555-556 ■ Lecture 19 (pdf)
#10 (pdf)
L20 11/05
Thur 		Two-film theory: interfacial mole fractions yi and xi, overall mass transfer coefficients Ky and Kx. Correlations for mass transfer coefficients: dimensionless groups (Sherwood number Sh, Stanton number St, Colburn j factor for mass transfer jM), correlation equations for various flow situations. Theory of Murphree tray efficiency.
MSH pp. 576-585 ■ Lecture 20 (pdf)
#11 (pdf)
L21 11/10
Tue 		Introduction to gas absorption with packed towers. Four alternate expressions for per-volume rate of mass transfer, integration of differential mass balance, height of transfer unit, number of transfer units.

Mass transfer correlations for heights of a transfer unit (HTU's) Hy and Hx (equations and example). 		MSH pp. 576-585 ■ Lecture 21 (pdf)
■ Table 18.1
#11 (pdf)
L22 11/12
Thur 		Types of packing. Hydraulics of packed towers: loading and flooding, correlations for pressure drop and flooding velocity. Determination of tower diameter based on operation at a fraction (typically 50-60%) of the flooding velocity, or at an appropriate specified pressure drop.
MSH pp. 565-575 ■ Lecture 22 (pdf)
#12 (pdf)
L23 11/17
Tue 		Introduction to adsorption. Adsorption isotherms. Fixed beds: concentration profiles, mass transfer zone, break point and break-point time, breakthrough curve, length of unused bed.
MSH pp. 836-851 ■ Lecture 23 (pdf)
That's enough...
Exam 2 11/19
Thur 		Covers Lectures 11-19, Homework 6-10
L24 11/24
Tue 		More detailed look at adsorption: fundamental mass transfer equations. Adsorbent regeneration.

Distillation Column Control 		MSH pp. 836-851 ■ Lecture 24 (pdf)
■ Lecture 24b (pdf)
That's enough...
11/26
Thur 		THANKSGIVING BREAK
L25 12/01
Tue 		Azeotropic Separations
Air Separation
Partial Condensers Revisited 		■ Lecture 25 (pdf)
That's enough...
L26 12/03
Thur 		No Class Today - Extra Office Hours in 309A Furnas Hall That's enough...

Learning outcomes:

Click here for statement of learning outcomes

Composition of grade:

Homework 20%
2 Midterm Exams, 20% each 40%
Final Exam 40%

Assignment of grade:

Final grades for all students will be determined by a curve.

Grades % of Students receiving grade
A, A- 20%
B+, B, B- 30%
C+, C, C- 40%
D+, D 10%

Students must earn at least 30% of total possible weighted points to pass the course
An effort will be made to position grade lines at gaps in the distribution of course totals.

Professionalism:

Students are expected to turn in homework that is neat, clear and well organized. Significant point penalties will be imposed for messy, disorganized, confusing or otherwise unclear work. Although allowances will be made for the effects of time pressure on exams, points will also be deducted for messy, disorganized, confusing or otherwise unclear solutions of exam problems.

Academic integrity:

All students must fully familiarize themselves with University policy on academic integrity. Acceptable and unacceptable conduct will be reviewed on the first day of class. Acts of academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism or other infractions, will not be tolerated. As discussed on the first day of class, the concept of plagiarism applies not only to text per se, but also to mathematical derivations and computer programs. Students will be required to take responsibility for acts of academic dishonesty by bearing penalties resulting from these acts. Suspected instants of academic dishonesty will be investigated thoroughly in accordance with Steps 1-3 of the University’s Consultative Resolution process. If an act of academic dishonesty is substantiated, then a point penalty will be imposed at the first instance, and failure in the course will be imposed at any subsequent instance. Being allowed to continue the course with a point penalty is contingent on offering a reasonable explanation of the infraction. The instructor will be happy to answer questions about what does and does not constitute allowed behavior at any time. The instructors will cooperate fully with any investigation resulting from an appeal of a finding of academic dishonesty. Click here for examples of academically honest and dishonest behavior.

Reproduction of course material is prohibited without the author's consent. Any student that posts any course materials without permission is violating the copyright.

Course Piracy:


All materials prepared and/or assigned by the course instructors are for the students' educational benefit. Other than for permitted collaborative work, students may not photograph, record, reproduce, transmit, distribute, upload, sell, or exchange course materials without prior written permission of the instructors. "Course materials" include, but are not limited to, all instructor-prepared and assigned materials (such as lectures, lecture notes, discussion prompts, study aids, tests, and assignments), presentation materials (such as Power Point slides, Prezi slides, etc), and course packets or handouts. Public distribution of such materials may also constitute copyright infringement in violation of federal or state law. Violation of this policy may additionally subject a student to a finding of "academic dishonesty" under the Academic Integrity Policy and/or disciplinary charges under the Student Code of Conduct.

Conduct:

Students are required to treat all UB faculty, staff, visitors and fellow students with professionalism and respect. Any instance of disruptive, disrespectful or aggressive conduct in this course will result in the instructor following the steps outlined in this policy. Instructors will consult with the Department, the School, and the Office of Student Conduct and Advocacy as needed. The instructor will cooperate fully with any investigation or disciplinary process resulting from a violation of this policy or the campus Code of Conduct. Disrespectful, unprofessional or otherwise inappropriate conduct toward the instructor or a TA can result in a suspension of office hour privileges.

Accommodations for physical and learning disabilities:

Students are encouraged to request reasonable accommodations for equal access to this course because of a physical or learning disability. To do so they must register with UB's Accessibility Resources Office (60 Capen Hall, 645-2608, http://www.buffalo.edu/studentlife/who-we-are/departments/accessibility.html). The instructors will fully support students in receiving approved accommodations, e.g., by bringing exams in advance to Accessibility Resources for students entitled to take exams there with extra time, or taking other actions requested the Office.

Support for victims of sexual violence:

UB is committed to providing an environment free of all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment, including sexual assault, domestic and dating violence and stalking. If you have experienced gender-based violence (intimate partner violence, attempted or completed sexual assault, harassment, coercion, stalking, etc.), UB has resources to help. This includes academic accommodations, health and counseling services, housing accommodations, helping with legal protective orders, and assistance with reporting the incident to police or other UB officials if you so choose. Please be aware that in some situations, UB employees may be required reporters. This means that if you tell me about a situation, the information may need to be reported to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Regardless of whether the information must be reported, you will still have options about how the situation will be handled, including whether or not you wish to pursue a formal complaint. Please know that if you do not wish to have UB proceed with an investigation, your request will be honored unless UB's failure to act does not adequately mitigate the risk of harm to you or other members of the University community. You also have the option of speaking with trained counselors who can maintain complete confidentiality. UB’s Options for Confidentially Disclosing Sexual Violence provides a full explanation of the resources available, as well as contact information. You may call UB’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at (716) 645-2266 for more information, and you have the option of calling that office anonymously if you would prefer not to disclose your identity. The instructors will fully support victims of sexual violence, e.g., by allowing extra time to turn in assignments, or making other accommodations in consultation with the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and Counseling Services, in the interest of providing the best possible support and outcome for the student.

Grateful thanks to Johannes M. Nitsche for use of website and other course materials