Study Programmes 2015-2016
CHIM9300-1  
Physical Unit Operations II
Duration :
30h Th, 10h Pr, 5h Labo.
Number of credits :
Master in chemical and materials engineering (120 ECTS)4
Lecturer :
Andreas Pfennig
Language(s) of instruction :
English language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
This course presents concept of unit operations, based on heat and mass balance equations. The applications to the following physical unit operations are described:


  • Adsorption and chromatography, stage-based description, break-through curves, van-Deemter equation.
  • Decantation, phase separation, models for particle and drop velocities, swarm influence, effects of impurities.
  • Filtration, different types of filters, design models for filters, pressure drop, filtration efficiency.
  • Heat exchangers: Different configurations. Local heat transfer kinetics. Counter-current heat exchanger. Number of (thermal) transfer units. Efficiency of a heat exchanger. Design methods.
The content may be shifted slightly between Physical Unit Operations I and II.
Learning outcomes of the course :
At the end of the course, students will be able to apply theoretical concepts and the analysis methodology of different physical unit operations. They know different types and their characteristics of physical unit-operation equipment. They will use the concepts to describe mathematically different types of physical unit operations realized in the different equipment types. They will be able to apply the concept of theoretical stages and will be able to apply the graphical methods for equipment design.
Exercise and laboratory sessions in small groups will help the students to develop more transverse skills as team-working, numerical problem resolution, critical analysis of experimental data, assessment of the validity of a theoretical approach and report writing.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
The courses "Chemical-Engineering Thermodynamics" CHIM0009-3, "Eléments de thermodynamique" CHIM0286-1, "Transport phenomena" CHIM0022-4 as well as "Physical Unit Operations I" CHIM9299-1 (or courses with similar contents) should have been attended during previous years (or they should be attended the same year).
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
The course is based on ex-cathedra lectures (30 h) and practical courses (15 h) including exercises and laboratory sessions.
The ex-cathedra lectures are dedicated to the detailed description of the fundamental concepts necessary for the analysis and mathematical as well as graphical representation of unit operations.
Practical courses include exercise sessions during which students learn how to solve problems related to unit operations.
During laboratory sessions, students work in small teams. They have the opportunity to get familiar with operating different unit operation on small pilot-plant scale.
Participation to laboratory sessions is mandatory. Each of these sessions has to be prepared by carefully reading the corresponding laboratory notes, which will be checked by an entrance test. If the entrance test is not passed, access to the laboratory sessions may be denied.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
face-to-face
Recommended or required readings :
The course material is available on the eCampus website. Additional information (exercises and laboratory notes) will also be made available on the eCampus website during the course.
Assessment methods and criteria :
A written exam is organized during the first session in June.
The exam consists of about 60% exercise problems to be solved, which are similar to those presented during exercise sessions. The remaining about 40% consist of questions referring to basic understanding of the lecture content. At least 50% of the points are required to pass.
It is a closed-book exam. Students receive a formulary with all relevant equations for solving the problems together with the exam problems.
Moreover, a report of the laboratory sessions must be provided by the students within 2 weeks after these sessions. This report must present the obtained experimental results, their critical analysis as well as answers to the questions presented in the laboratory notes.
The global mark is a weighted average of the marks obtained at the written exam (80 %) and the laboratory (report ant entrance test) (20 %).
The second session exam is organized in the same way as in June. The mark obtained for the laboratory report is maintained.
Work placement(s) :
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Organizational remarks :
The course will be presented in English.
The course is organized during the second quadrimester.
The calendar of laboratory sessions will be communicated in February.
Contacts :
Andreas Pfennig PEPs (Products, Environment and Processes) Departement of Chemical Engineering University of Liège Quartier Agora, Allée du six Aout 11, Bâtiment B6c, office 1/66 phone: +32 4 366-3521 e-mail: andreas.pfennig@ulg.ac.be
Saïcha Gerbinet PEPs (Products, Environment and Processes) Departement of Chemical Engineering University of Liège Bât. B6, Quartier Agora, Allée du six Aout 13, 4000 Liège, Belgique phone: +32 4 366-3547 e-mail: saicha.gerbinet@ulg.ac.be
The list of assistants and their contact details is available on www.chimapp.ulg.ac.be