Chemical Engineering Primer with Computer Applications

Hussein K. Abdel-Aal

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2016
• eBook ISBN: 9781315353043
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Industrial & Technical Chemistry

Taking a highly pragmatic approach to presenting the principles and applications of chemical engineering, this companion text for students and working professionals offers an easily accessible guide to solving problems using computers. The primer covers the core concepts of chemical engineering, from conservation laws all the way up to chemical kinetics, without heavy stress on theory and is designed to accompany traditional larger core texts. The book presents the basic principles and techniques of chemical engineering processes and helps readers identify typical problems and how to solve them. Focus is on the use of systematic algorithms that employ numerical methods to solve different chemical engineering problems by describing and transforming the information. Problems are assigned for each chapter, ranging from simple to difficult, allowing readers to gradually build their skills and tackle a broad range of problems. MATLAB and Excel® are used to solve many examples and the more than 70 real examples throughout the book include computer or hand solutions, or in many cases both. The book also includes a variety of case studies to illustrate the concepts and a downloadable file containing fully worked solutions to the book's problems on the publisher's website.

• Introduces the reader to chemical engineering computation without the distractions caused by the contents found in many texts.
• Provides the principles underlying all of the major processes a chemical engineer may encounter as well as offers insight into their analysis, which is essential for design calculations.
• Shows how to solve chemical engineering problems using computers that require numerical methods using standard algorithms, such as MATLAB® and Excel®.
• Contains selective solved examples of many problems within the chemical process industry to demonstrate how to solve them using the techniques presented in the text.
• Includes a variety of case studies to illustrate the concepts and a downloadable file containing fully worked solutions to problems on the publisher's website.
• Offers non-chemical engineers who are expected to work with chemical engineers on projects, scale-ups and process evaluations a solid understanding of basic concepts of chemical engineering analysis, design, and calculations.

Section III

Backbone Materials

As stated in the “Introduction”, a handy collective source of basic principles and techniques in chemical engineering organized in a summary manner is a prime feature of this text. Having presented—in Sections I and II—the basic concepts and principles as introduction to calculations and described how to device and evaluate numerical techniques to solve problems through standard algorithm, we turn next to Section III.

Section III consists of Chapters 5 through 10. They represent what may be named “The Backbone Materials of Chemical Engineering.” Each chapter in this section, except Chapter 10, will encompass two sections: one includes the theoretical principles in a condensed format, the other presents a set of numerically solved problems using interactive numerical software packages (Excel, MATLAB^®). This way, the dual themes of presenting the fundamentals followed by computer applications are realized. Application problems for Section III are found in Appendix A.

Chapter 10 stands unique in its function. It includes six case studies covering different topics.

5	Fluid Flow and Transport of Fluids

5.1 INTRODUCTION

Before a formal definition of fluid is given, it is known that the three common states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. A fluid is either a liquid or a gas. A fluid is defined as a substance that deforms continuously under the application of a shear stress.

The definition of a stress would illustrate some basic principles. A stress is defined as a force per unit area, acting on an infinitesimal surface element. Stresses have both magnitude (force per unit area) and direction, and the direction is relative to the surface on which the stress acts. Stresses are classified into two main types: normal stresses and tangential stresses. Pressure is an example of a normal stress and acts inward, toward the surface, and perpendicular to the surface; on the other hand, a shear stress is an example of a tangential stress, that is, it acts along the surface, parallel to the surface. Friction due to fluid viscosity is the primary source of shear stresses in a fluid.

Fluid mechanics has two branches, as shown next:

Fluid statics treats fluid in the equilibrium state (no motion), while fluid dynamics treats fluids when portion of the fluid are in motion (concerned with the relation between the fluid velocity and the forces acting on it).

5.2 DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY IN FLUID MECHANICS

5.2.1 COMPRESSIBLE AND NONCOMPRESSIBLE FLUIDS

A compressible fluid is identified by a fluid density sensitive to any change in temperature or pressure (including gases and vapors). On the other hand, if no change or little change in density occurs with change of pressure or temperature, the fluid is termed incompressible fluid (including liquids).

5.2.2 PRESSURE CONCEPT

The basic property of a static fluid is pressure. Pressure is familiar as a surface force exerted by a fluid against the walls of its container.

5.2.3 FORCES ACTING ON A FLUID

Any fluid may be subjected to t...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Author
• Introduction: Initial Thoughts
• SECTION I An Insight into Chemical Engineering
• SECTION II Fundamentals and Problem-Solving Profile
• SECTION III Backbone Materials
• Appendix A: Application Problems
• Appendix B: Mathematical Methods and Review Notes
• Appendix C: Conversion Tables
• Bibliography
• Index