Chemical Engineering Separations

CHEN 3660 – Fall 2018

Instructors: Steve R. Duke, 1301 Shelby Center, dukeste@auburn.edu, 334-844-2866

office hours; posted in CANVAS and by appointment
email: This is a good way to contact me. Include CHEN 3660 in the subject line. It might take me 2
working days to respond.

GTA: TBD, see the CANVAS page

Lectures: Lec MWF 9, Ross 136 McMillan Room

Catalogue: CHEN 3660 CHEM ENGINEERING SEPARATIONS (3). LEC. 3. Pr., Completion of
CHEN 3370 and CHEN 3620 with grades of C or higher. Separations processes including
distillation, extraction, membrane separation, and other separation operations.

Text: Wankat, Philip C., Separation Process Engineering, 4th Ed., Prentice-Hall, 2017.

CANVAS: Course information, updates, and announcements are posted in CANVAS. You are responsible for
checking CANVAS several times a week for updates and also for setting up CANVAS notifications.

Grades: 10% problems sets (homework)

20% announced quizzes (10%), unannounced quizzes, in-class assignments, take-home problems
45% hour exams (3 at 15%)
25% final exam

Most grades are posted in CANVAS, however scores are not weighted according to the syllabus so
the CANVAS “totals” are not accurate.

Objectives: The goal of this course is to introduce the principles and calculation methods required to solve
industrial problems involving staged unit operations including application of multiphase equilibrium
data and the analysis and design of single stage flash separations, binary distillation columns,
multicomponent distillation columns, and liquid-liquid extraction columns. Theory and design of
other separation processes are also considered.

Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Explain the following equilibrium concepts: K value, relative volatility, equilibrium, azeotrope,
bubble point, dew point and Gibbs phase rule.
2. Identify the state of a system, the composition of its phases, the temperature dependences (bubble
point, dew point, superheat temperature) using binary equilibrium diagrams (e.g., x-y, T-x-y, H-x-y).
3. Calculate the bubble point and dew point of multicomponent systems using DePriester charts (aka K
charts) or appropriate equations.
4. Derive and plot the operating line for binary flash distillation on an x-y diagram.
5. Solve binary and multicomponent flash problems using sequential and simultaneous solution
methods as appropriate.
6. Employ the Rachford-Rice equation to determine the solution to multicomponent flash problems.
7. Explain the basic concepts (e.g., equilibrium diagram, operating line, individual and overall driving
forces, HTU, NTU) as they apply in the unit operations of gas absorption and stripping. Apply these
concepts to solve mass transfer problems involving staged gas absorption or stripping operations.
Determine the impact of temperature, pressure and solvent rate on these operations.
8. Sketch and identify the internal features of a distillation column and its external auxiliaries. Explain
 how a distillation column functions to separate chemical species.
9. Explain the following single feed distillation column concepts: total and partial condenser, total and
partial reboilers, constant molal overflow, optimum feed stage, reflux liquid, reboiled vapor,
rectification (enriching), stripping, stage efficiencies and flooding. Derive the operating equations for
the rectification section, stripping section, and feed stage(s). Solve binary distillation problems.
10. Calculate feed quality and explain its effect on vapor and liquid flow rates above and below the feed
stage including the cases of superheated and subcooled feeds
11. Use the McCabe-Thiele method to design and rate distillation columns. Employ stage efficiency
data to determine actual number of stages. Correctly differentiate between internal stages and
equilibrium situations in column externals. Utilize appropriate methods to size columns (column
diameter, tray spacing, height of packed bed columns) and to estimate pressure drop.
12. Understand the concept of limiting operating conditions including total reflux, minimum reflux, and
other pinch conditions.
13. Explain multicomponent distillation concepts such as key and non-key components, distributing
components and optimum feed stage.
14. Explain the general procedure for stage-by-stage analysis of multicomponent distillation. Solve
multicomponent distillation problems for situations where constant relative volatility can be assumed
as well as systems where bubble point and dew point calculations must be performed on each stage.
15. Explain liquid-liquid extraction concepts including solubility envelope, plait point, extract, raffinate,
solvent, solute, conjugate line, solvent to feed ratio, delta point, and delta composition.
16. Solve problems involving single contact extractions, cross-current extractions and counter-current
extractions.
17. Design membrane-based separation processes.

Exams: Exams are given in class on dates announced one week in advance. (Tentative exam dates are shown
on the course schedule.) Exams contain problems similar to the homework and examples. Questions
may also include short answer, multiple choice, and true/false. Answers must be clearly marked:
underlined twice or placed in a box. All work must be shown and credit will be given if the answer is
obtained through proper methodology. Partial credit will be given if appropriate. Assigned seating
may be employed. Bring a department-approved calculator and a watch to the exam; all other
electronic devices must be stowed. Some exam and quiz problems may be assigned as take-home or
online; these are to be done as one’s own work without consulting other people.

Quizzes, etc: There are two mojor quizzes that are closed book and announced a week in advance. There are also
unannounced quizzes. In-class assignments for credit may include problem solving exercises,
turning in forms, and participating in certain class meetings such as labs and demos. Take-home
quizzes and exam problems, or quizzes and exam problems posted in Canvas or assigned by email,
will be graded on an appropriate points scale. Late work will not be accepted.

Homework: Problems sets (homework assignments) are to be turned in at the beginning of class on the date they
are due. The CHEN department Homework Format is required. Calculation problem answers must
be clearly marked: underlined twice or placed in a box. Text should be should be typed or very
neatly written. All pages should be labeled with your name and the page number (using the system
1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4) and stapled together. Each homework problem is graded on a 10 point scale: 5
points for trying, 8 points for correct methodology, and 10 points for completely correct. For some
problem sets, the grade for the whole set will be determined from one or two selected problems.
Working together on homework is encouraged; however each person must turn in their own work.
Late work will not be accepted.

Policies: Class attendance is required. Arriving more than 10 minutes late to class counts as an absence. Most
of the material covered on exams is from lectures and the textbook. Class attendance and
 participation is expected and essential to do well in this class. There are unannounced in-class
exercises and quizzes and some material presented in lecture is not presented elsewhere; lectures
notes are not posted. Exams, in-class assignments and quizzes can be made-up for university excused
absences approved by Engineering Student Services.

Policies regarding class attendance and academic honesty are specified in the Student Policy
eHandbook (Tiger Cub Student Handbook) and the Department of Chemical Engineering policies.
Exams will include the department academic honesty statement.

During exams, quizzes and some in-class assignments, electronic devices with the exception of
watches and calculators must be packed away. Music and video devices are not to be used during
class. At certain times it will be announced that all electronic devices are to be put away.

Students who need accommodations are asked to arrange a meeting with me the first week of classes.
Students should submit their approved accommodations through AU Access. Accommodations are
arranged through the Office of Accessibility, 1244 Haley Center, 334-844-2096.

Other policies and procedures are in the Department of Chemical Engineering Student handbook
(http://eng.auburn.edu/chen/academics/undergraduate/student-handbook/index.html), the Bulletin,
and the Student Affairs Student Policy eHandbook.

Contingency: If normal class and/or lab activities are disrupted due to a high number of students experiencing
illness or an emergency or crisis situation (such as a widespread H1N1 flu outbreak), the syllabus
and other course plans and assignments may be modified to allow completion of the course. If this
occurs, an addendum to your syllabus and/or course assignments will replace the original materials.

References: The CANVAS course page.

CHEN 3660 Notes and Powerpoints, Joseph A. Shaeiwitz, Auburn, 2018.
Perry’s Chemical Engineering Handbook.
Separation Process Principles, Seader, Henley, Roper, Wiley, latest edition.
Transport Processes and Unit Operations, C. J. Geankoplis, Prentice Hall, latest edition.
Wankat textbook web page: study questions, answers to odd-numbered HW problems.