ChemE 436 - Chemical Engineering Laboratory I

Course Description

Credits: 3. Lectures on statistics, experimental design, instrumentation, laboratory safety, and report writing; laboratory experiments on fluid mechanics and heat transfer. Emphasis on teaming, experimental planning, procedures, report writing and oral presentations. Offered: ASp.

Designation

Prerequisites

Textbook

(Recommended)
Perry’s Chemical Engineer’s Handbook (7th Ed).

Baird, D. C., Experimentation: An Introduction to Measurement Theory and Experiment Design, third ed. (Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1995).

Schoenfeld, R. The Chemist's English, third ed. (VCH Publishers, New York, 1990).

Strunk, W., Jr. and White, E. B., third ed. The Elements of Style (Macmillan, New York, 1979).

Course Objectives

This course uses experiments in chemical engineering phenomena to introduce students to experiment design and execution; analysis of experimental results according to conceptual, statistical, and error propagation methods; and communication of the results in both written and oral formats.

1. Experimental uncertainties; error propagation in calculated quantities (4 classes).
2. Statistics and propagation of random errors; mean, variance, standard deviation of samples and populations (3 classes).
3. Graphical presentation of results; formats; graphical analysis of models; linear least squares and associated errors; nonlinear model testing and curve fitting (3 classes).

Computers are used for data acquisition in the thermal conductivity/diffusivity and air flow experiments.  Students typically use a computer for word processing, spreadsheet calculations, data evaluation, illustrations and powerpoint show presentations. All information packets and supplementary materials is made available in HTML and PDF formats at: http://faculty.washington.edu/baneyx/436/436.html.

Working in teams of three (or occasionally two), students perform three different experiments over the course of the quarter. Each experiment occupies two weeks and involves a 4h laboratory session each week. Intervening weeks are dedicated to oral presentations. Students are provided with open-ended memo assignments for each experiment. Required measurements vary, but, in all cases, student teams must specify their own procedures and carry out the experiments independently.

1. Transport Properties:  Measurement of (1) liquid viscosity (2) thermal conductivity of brass rod, and (3) thermal diffusivity of brass rod.
2. Air Flow Measurement:  Comparison of the response and performance of four gas flowmeters; venturi meter, orifice meter, pitot tube, and Thomas meter (hot wire anemometer).
3. Orifice Characterization:  Measurement of pressure profiles and discharge coefficients for a series of circular and rectangular orifices.
4. Pump Characterization:  Characterization of the performance of a centrifugal and positive displacement pump with water. Introduction to single phase and three-phase AC power.
5. Friction Factors:  Measurement of friction factors on 1 in., 1/2 in., and 1/8 in. schedule 40 pipe and 5/8 in. smooth steel tube in both laminar and turbulent flow regimes.  Characterization of a control valve.
6. Fin Efficiency:  Measure the efficiency of two aluminum fins and one steel fin under both natural and forced convection conditions.
7. Vacuum Operations:  Study molecular flow properties of argon, nitrogen, and helium in a diffusion-pumped high vacuum system.  Measure pumping speed and conductances of straight tubes and various flow fittings.  Experience pumpdown of vacuum systems from atmospheric pressure and use of ionization pressure gauges (not always used).

Report Requirements (Written):
Before conducting an experiment, the team meets with a TA for a planning conference. Prior to scheduling the conference, the team prepares a written planning report specifying the information to be obtained and the required measurement methods. The planning report includes equations for data analysis with order-of-magnitude estimates of key quantities, sketched figures indicating expected trends expected, schematic(s) of the equipment to be used, and a section on safety considerations. During the planning conference, students are asked to walk the TA through the report and are asked questions. Planning reports represent 25% of the students’ grades. A team member submits a written report for one of the three experiments that the team performs (the other two students give an oral presentation). The report is modeled after a scientific paper (introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion, conclusions and recommendations, and references cited) and limited to 10 pages plus appendices containing raw data, sample calculations and error analysis. The report is graded and returned to the student for revision.  Grammatical and style problems are addressed by referring the student to the appropriate chapter in The Chemist's English and letting the student make his or her own revision.  Written report and revision account for 30% of the students’ grade.  

Report Requirements (Oral):
Students give two oral reports (8 min + 5-to-10 min for questions). Students’ performance (technical, oral, organization…) is graded by all instructors. Students are given feedback by the head instructor.

Class Schedule:    Tu/Th 12:30-1:30 for the first six weeks of the quarter.

Engineering
Design content

(a) An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.

(b) An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.

(e) An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.

(g) An ability to communicate effectively.

(i)  A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning.

(k)   An ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.