OVERVIEW

The course deals with the design of cooling towers and columns for the distillation and absorption processes. Theoretical lessons and practical exercises will be held about the design and verification of the unit operations covered by the course.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The module of the course aims to provide the theoretical and practical tools for the design of separation columns and cooling towers.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the module, the student will be able to:

• design the preliminary layout of separation columns and cooling towers;
• manage and optimize the operating parameters of pre-existing columns.

The student will also have the opportunity to improve transversal skills such as communication skills and teamwork abilities through classroom exercises.

TEACHING METHODS

The module consists of methodological and theoretical lessons (about 60%)  and exercises (about 40%).

Through the teaching innovation project adopted by the Degree Course in Chemical and Process Engineering, innovative tools will be used for active student learning. The aim is to increase student skills through new learning methodologies, from e-learning to team working, through experiences that increase student participation through a higher level of communication and make the student more aware and autonomous.

Working students and students with SLD certification, disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination methods that, in compliance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning modalities.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Federico Scarpa (federico.scarpa@unige.it  ), the Polytechnic School's disability liaison.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The module deals with  cooling towers and columns for absorption and distillation processes. In each case, after some preliminary references to thermodynamics and basic theoretical aspects, the equations will be developed and the design methods will be illustrated.

Cooling Towers.

Introduction:Preliminary references to thermodynamics, psychrometry, and the psychrometric chart. Configurations and operation of cooling towers: natural circulation and forced circulation. Development of design equations. Numerical exercises for design and verification.

Absorption.

Introduction: Overview of chemical-physical principles. Simple absorption. Stripping. The mechanism of absorption: the double film theory (Whitman) and the more recent theories (Higbie, Dankwertz). Equipment for absorption: comparison of tray columns and packed columns. Fluid dynamic and thermal effects in absorption columns.Equations and design methods for tray and packed columns. Absorption associated with chemical reaction.

Distillation.

Introduction: Preliminary reference to thermodynamics and continuous distillation of binary mixtures. Stripping and rectification columns. Ponchon-Savarit method. Batch distillation of binary mixtures: Case of distillation with constant composition of the distillate: calculation of the required heat and total process time. Case of constant reflux ratio R: calculation of the required heat and total process time. Continuous distillation of multicomponent mixtures: FUG (Fenske-Underwood-Gilliland) method and short-cut methods. Design of the distillation column: types of trays. Efficiency. Choice of column diameter. Fluid dynamics of the column: weeping, coning, entrainment, and flooding regimes. Packed distillation columns.

For each topic, the theoretical part is supported by practical exercises related to the calculation (design and verification) of the columns.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All  material presented during the practical and theoretical lessons will be provided to the students.

Additional supporting texts are reported below:

• R. Sinnott & G. Towler, Chemical Engineering Design, Fifth edition, Elsevier Science (2009).

• J.F. Coulson, J.H. Harker, Chemical Engineering, Vol. 2, Fifth Edition, Elsevier Science (2002).
• Green Don W., Perry Robert H. Perry’s chemical engineers’ handbook. McGraw Hill (2007).
• Stewart, Warren E., Edwin N. Lightfoot, and R. Byron Bird. Transport phenomena. J. Wiley, 1962.
• Mc Cabe, Warren L., Julian C. Smith, and Peter Harriott. Unit operation of chemical engineering. McGraw-Hill (2018).
• Foust, A. S., Wenzel, L. A., Clump, C. W., Maus, L., & Andersen, L. B. I principi delle operazioni unitarie. Casa editrice Ambrosiana (1967). 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons will start on first semester, according to the Polytechnique School’s program.

https://corsi.unige.it/corsi/10375/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final exam consists of a written test and an oral discussion.

Additional information:

The dates will be available online (‘Calendario Esami’ of the University of Genoa);
The classroom chosen for the exam and the start time will be communicated from time to time by email sent via aul@web.

There will be 3 exam dates during the winter session and 4 exam dates during the summer session.

The final score obtained in the course will be the average of the scores awarded in the two modules in which the course is divided.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The preparation of the students is assessed by passing the writtenand the oral exams. The written test, lasting 180 minutes, will consist of solving two exercises on two different unit operations covered in the course. The access to the oral exam is allowed once the written test has been  passed at least with the minimal score (18/30). The oral exam will consist of a discussion about the topics covered during the lectures and will aim to assess whether the student has reached an adequate level of knowledge. The quality of the presentation, the correct use of technical terminology and the ability to reason critically will also be taken into account for the evaluation.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For specific needs, students are invited to contact the teacher before starting the course. Working students and students with SLD certification, disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination methods that, in compliance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning modalities.