NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

FLUID SOLID SYSTEMS 1A COURSE

SECTION 1 - ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

COURSE NAME FLUID SOLID SYSTEMS 1A
COURSE CODE TCE 3105
COURSE MISS T. T. MANHONGO
INSTRUCTOR
OFFICE SD1
PHONE NUST EXT. 2464
E-MAIL tariro.manhongo@nust.ac.zw

SECTION 2 - COURSE CONTENT

COURSE SYNOPSIS:

Particulate systems
Single Particles in a fluid
Fluid Flow through a Packed Bed of Particles
Fluidization
Solids storage and handling
Pneumatic and hydraulic conveying
Mixing and segregation
Environmental and Health
Effects of Fine Powders

COURSE OUTLINE:

1. Particulate systems
Introduction to powder technology.
The role of powder technology in the process industry.
Characteristics of particulate materials.
Characterization of particulate solids.
Particle size measurement.
Techniques for determining particle size.
Particle size distribution.
Classification, screening and sieving.
Mechanisms of size reduction.
Study of machinery for crushing & grinding.
Closed/open circuit grinding operations.
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2. Single Particles in a fluid

Motion of Solid Particles in a fluid.

Particles Falling Under Gravity through a Fluid.
Terminal velocity.
Non-Spherical Particles.
Effect of Boundaries on Terminal Velocity.

3. Fluid Flow Through a Packed Bed of Particles

Pressure Drop Flow Relationship.

Laminar Flow.
Turbulent Flow.
General Equation for Turbulent and Laminar Flow.
Non-spherical Particles.

4. Fluidization

Bubbling and Non-Bubbling Fluidization

Classification of Powders
Heat Transfer in Fluidized Beds
Applications of Fluidized Beds

5. Solids storage and handling.

Hooper design.
Screw, vibratory, belt conveyors and elevators.

6. Pneumatic and hydraulic conveying.

Dilute Phase and Dense Phase Transport

Choking Velocity in Vertical Transport
Saltation Velocity in Horizontal Transport
Design for Dilute Phase Transport
Dense Phase Transport
Matching the System to the Powder

7. Mixing and segregation

Types of Mixtures
Segregation
Particulate Mixing
8. Environmental and Health Effects of Fine Powders

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 Interaction of Fine Powders with the Respiratory System

Harmful Effects of Fine Powders

Fire and Explosion Hazards of Fine Powders

PRE-REQUISITES
TCE 2105 : Fluid Flow 1

CO-REQUISITES
TCE 3103 : Minerals Engineering 1A
TCE 3104: Separation Processes 1A

SECTION 3 COURSE OBJECTIVES

At the end of the course students should be able to;

Explain the importance of particle characterization to the chemical process industry.

Describe the principle of operation of various equipment for particle characterization.
Apply relevant equations to a given physical situation.
Solve solid-fluid separation problems and perform basic design calculation for separation
equipment.

SECTION 4 - COURSE ASSESSMENT

ASSESSMENT DATE CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL

MARK

FINAL EXAMINATION END OF 1ST SEMESTER 75 %

CONTINOUS ASSESSMENT SEE BELOW 25 %

TEST 1 END OF SEPTEMBER 5.0 %

TEST 2 END OF OCTOBER 5.0 %
TEST 3 END OF SEMESTER 5.0 %
ASSIGNMENT 1 END OF OCTOBER 10.0%

SECTION 5- SUGGESTED REFERENCE MATERIAL

Below is a list of suggested reading material, please note that any textbook on powder technology can
be used.

1. Unit Operations McCabe, Harriot and Smith

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 2. Coulson and Richardson Volume 2
3. Introduction to particle technology- Martin Rhodes
4. Powder Technology-Martin Rhodes
5. Handbook of fluidization and fluid particle systems -Wen Ching Yang

SECTION 6 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The lectures are a guide to the scope of practical learning. Tutorials provide examples and
guidance in calculation methods.
Use of cellphones is not allowed during lectures.
It is the students responsibility to provide stationery for tests and assignments.
Punctuality: Better never than late said George Bernard Shaw.
Refer to the NUST year book for further regulations.
**Any candidate found using unauthorized material, or attempting to obtain information from
other candidates or their papers, or otherwise guilty of misconduct during a test will be
disqualified.
**Plagiarism is an academic offence: In the case of plagiarism being discovered in a piece of
work e.g. essay or report, the student will be given a warning and will be given the
opportunity to re-submit an acceptable piece of work after one week, and will be awarded a
maximum mark of 45%. Further offences will be reported to the Deans office.

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