Gavett 119, Unit Operations Lab
What happens in this laboratory?
In chemical engineering terminology, unit operations are the basic steps in a chemical process. In this lab, students apply fundamental chemical engineering concepts from thermodynamics, reactor design, heat transfer, and separations to run different industrially important unit operations. The lab has three distinct areas:
Learn more about these three areas and the Department of Chemical Engineering below.
Unit Operations Lab—Area 1 (Distillation Column)
Location: side hallway
What does a distillation column do?
A distillation column separates the components of a liquid mixture based on their boiling points and vapor pressures. It is used, for example, to separate precursor chemicals during pharmaceutical drug manufacturing, separate hydrocarbon components in crude oil, and remove ethanol from ethanol/water solutions during whiskey production.
Key scientific principles used:
- Vapor liquid equilibrium: Thermodynamics determines the chemical compositions of liquid and vapor at equilibrium with each other. These concentrations vary with temperature and pressure. Chemical engineers exploit this behavior to separate different components in the distillation column.
- Enthalpy: The amount of energy needed to condense (liquify) the vapor going into the condenser depends on the composition of vapor.
- Mass and energy balances: Chemical engineers use these to understand and control the movement of both material and energy within the column.
When do students use this area?
Students run experiments in this area of the laboratory during their senior year fall semester while taking CHE 246: Unit Operations Laboratory.
Learn more about the Unit Operations Lab and the Department of Chemical Engineering.
Unit Operations Lab—Area 2 (Continuous Reactor)
Location: main hallway
What does a continuous reactor do?
In a continuous reactor there is a continuous flow of chemicals into the reactor. These are converted into the desired product, which then flows out in a continuous stream. Continuous reactors are used, for example, to convert streams of ethylene oxide and water into ethylene glycol during chemical production and, using yeast, to ferment glucose during the production of beer.
Key scientific principles used:
- Stoichiometry: Determines the amount of product that can be produced based on the amount of chemicals input.
- Reactor engineering: Kinetics determines the rate at which the input chemicals are converted to the desired product.
- Mass and energy balances: Chemical engineers use these to understand and control the flow of material and energy through the reactor.
When do students use this area?
Students run experiments in this area of the laboratory during their senior year fall semester while taking CHE 246: Unit Operations.
Learn more about the Unit Operations Lab and the Department of Chemical Engineering.
Unit Operations Lab—Area 3 (Process Control Column)
Location: Observation windows, opposite Gavett 202
What do students learn using this column?
In industry, engineers must be able to manipulate chemical processes using complex control systems. In this lab students learn how single/multi-input and single/multi-output control systems work and how to control the parameters critical for chemical processes. These control systems are used, for example, to control the flow rates of liquids and heat during oil refining and chemical production.
Key scientific principles used:
- Heat transfer: Describes the movement of thermal energy through the solids, liquids, or gases in the system.
- Computer science: students use LabVIEW, a graphical coding language, to program a controller that interfaces with a LabJack, a Data Acquisition device.
- Mass and energy balances: Allow students to model changes in material and energy occurring during a chemical process.
When do students use this area?
Students run experiments in this area of the laboratory during their senior year fall semester while taking CHE 272: Process Control.
Learn more about the Unit Operations Lab and the Department of Chemical Engineering.
Department of Chemical Engineering
The Unit Operations Lab is housed in the Department of Chemical Engineering, which offers a BS degree program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, as well as an MS and PhD in chemical engineering.
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