Basic Course

Equilibrium thermodynamics is a toolbox of equations to describe and quantify the changes in the state of a substance as a function of composition, temperature or pressure. The (chemical) thermodynamics determine whether a process will run spontaneously or not. Phase equilibria, commonly expressed in phase diagrams, can be seen as an application of equilibrium thermodynamics. They are used in the design of separation processes like distillation, crystallization and extraction, as well as the manufacture of materials with a complex composition.

Most of the chemical and biochemical reactions at an industrial scale use a catalyst to accelerate the reaction kinetics increasing process throughput. In this module basic knowledge of chemistry is a pre-requisite. Over the course of the module a number of subjects will be covered, including:

1. Reaction kinetics: order, reaction rate limiting step, and Arrhenius equation.
2. Homogeneous catalysis and bio-catalysis (catalyst and reactants are in the same phase): complex formation, models for homogeneous catalysis cycles and Michaelis-Menten kinetics in bio-catalysis.
3. Heterogeneous catalysis (catalyst and reactants are in different phases): absorption models, Langmuir-Hinshelwood and Eley-Rideal mechanisms, transport limitations and characterization of catalytic materials.

The transport phenomena include fluid dynamics (momentum transfer), energy transfer (heat transfer) and component transfer (mass transfer). This module focuses on momentum transfer, where the fundamental equations that dictate fluid flow are derived from conservation of mass and momentum, in combination with a constitutive equation relating the flux to the gradient (which introduces the viscosity). The elementary subjects concern: micro and macro-balances for mass and momentum, velocity profiles in gas and liquid flows, concept of laminar and turbulent flow (Reynolds number), application of the Bernoulli’s theorem which describes the conservation of energy along a streamline, determination of flow resistances and the description of an equation of motion for a particle in a fluid influenced by gravity or upward force.

This module presents the fundamental aspects and basic equations to describe heat and molecular mass transfer from conservation laws. These balances can have a differential or an integral character, describing stationary or instationary behavior. Heat transfer mechanisms are (forced and free) convection, conduction and radiation. Mass transfer mechanisms are forced or free convection and diffusion. From these equations, together with the Nusselt-Sherwood relationships, the temperature distribution or component profiles can be derived. Special attention will be paid to describing heat and component transfer between different phases and on coupled heat and component transfer.

To purify raw materials or reaction components all kinds of mechanical, chemical or physical separation techniques are applied to produce (intermediate) products with a certain required purity. The following separation techniques will be discussed: distillation, absorption/desorption, extraction, drying, crystallisation, sedimentation, filtration and membrane separation.

The chemical reactor is usually the core unit of the plant in which new components are formed according a specific conversion and selectivity. The ideal model reactor types are discussed: continuous ideally stirred tank reactor, plug flow reactor (composition is f(x)) and a batch reactor (composition is f(t)). Two model operation conditions are considered: isothermal as well as adiabatic operation for exothermal and endothermal reactions. Subjects which describe deviations of the idealistic systems are: micro-mixing and implications of a changing density due to the reaction.