Unit Operations 1 -Particle Technology

Learning Outcomes

Cognitive Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Integrate knowledge of health, safety and sustainability into complex industrial separations;

Disciplinary Specific Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply concepts of fluids dynamics, thermodynamics, and heat and mass transfer in separation processes involving solids;
• Apply the principles of the different unit operations in the design of separation units for industrial processes involving solids, and be able to apply methods that analyse the performance of the different mixing, separation and processing steps for fluids, particulates and solids;

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Describe the characterisation of particles and solids;
• Describe methods used for the processing of solids, including the thermodynamic aspects, mass and energy balances;

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Critically evaluate separation processes involving solids and select the most appropriate types of separations

Particle Technology: characterisation of solid particles including particle shape and size, system with mixed particle sizes, determination of average particle size, screen analysis and screening equipment design.

Sedimentation: sedimentation processes including gravity settling, sink-and-float methods, and differential settling methods, uses of clarifiers and thickeners, flocculation, and batch sedimentation; equipment for sedimentation including cyclones, hydrocyclones, and centrifugal decanters.

Fluidisation: characteristics of fluidised, liquid-solids, and gas-solids systems; mass and heat transfer between fluids and particles. Applications of fluidised solids.

Filtration: filtration methods including cake filters, discontinuous pressure filters, filter presses, continuous vacuum filters, rotary drum filters, and centrifugal filters

Green Separations: definitions of sustainable processes, sustainable unit operations, sustainable design and green engineering.

Practical: lab based experiments

Teaching will be done with a combination of formal lectures, paper-based problem-solving sessions and laboratory sessions. There will be a emphasis on active learning techniques, including workshops and tutorial sessions that focus on exercises and problems.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.