Transport phenomena

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

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

Learning unit contents

This course presents an analysis of the transport phenomena at the basis of chemical engineering with the focus on heat and mass transfer.

• Definitions of extensive and intensive properties. Concepts of mass, momentum, and energy balance equations. Dimensionless numbers.
• Molecular basis for heat and mass transfer. Similarity between both.
• Energy-balance equation. Conductive and radiative contributions. Fourier's law: thermal conductivity. Stefan-Boltzmann's law: Stefan-Boltzmann constant, emissivity. Conductive stationary heat transfer: heat transfer coefficient. Conductive transient heat transfer: Fourier's number.
• Mass balances. Relative displacement flux, diffusional flux. Fick's and Maxwell-Stefan law, different molecular diffusion coefficients. Transient mass transfer. Quasi-stationary mass transfer: mass-transfer coefficient.
• Convective heat and mass transfer. Stagnant-film model, surface-renewal theory, penetration theory, two-film theory. Dimensionless numbers. Correlations of mass-transfer coefficients.
• Instabilities at interfaces induced by mass transfer.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of the course, students understand and will be able to apply theoretical concepts and the analysis methodology of transport phenomena, especially heat and mass transfer. They will be able to use these concepts to describe mathematically simple experimental systems. They will be able to use the formalism of mass and heat transfer coefficient.
Students will be able to link investigated phenomena to their mathematical representation and justify main simplifications adopted to develop the model

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

The courses "Chemistry" (CHIM0603-1), "Eléments de thermodynamique" CHIM0286-1, and "Elements of fluid mechanics" (MECA0011-2) (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 (~25 h) and  exercises sessions (~5 h).
The lectures are dedicated to the detailed description of the fundamental concepts necessary for the analysis and mathematical representation of transport phenomena.
During exercise sessions students learn how to solve problems related to heat and mass transport phenomena.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Face-to-face

Recommended or required readings

The course material is available on the eCampus website.

Assessment methods and criteria

A written exam is organized during the first session in June.
The second session exam is organized in the same way as in June.
The written exam consists of 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.
It is a closed-book exam. Students receive a formulary with all relevant equations.
Both exams may be oral, if the number of students is 5 or less.

Work placement(s)

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Organizational remarks

The course will be presented in English.
The course is organized during the second quadrimester.
For better understanding participation in the exercise lessons is recommended but not obligatory and in principle not required for the exam.

Contacts

Andreas Pfennig PEPs - Products, Environment, and Processes Department 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 http://chemeng.ulg.ac.be/Pfennig