ChE-309

Chemical Engineering Laboratory-I

Laboratory Manual
Second Edition (2001)

Edited by
S. U. Rahman

Department of Chemical Engineering

King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals

Dhahran-31261, Saudi Arabia

Preface
This laboratory manual is prepared by the department of chemical engineering
for Chemical Engineering Laboratory-I (ChE-309). It is divided into three
sections; namely, Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer and Mass Transfer. The
purpose of this manual is to serve as instructional book for students, technical
staff and instructors to assist in performing and understanding the experiments
in Transport Phenomena. In the second edition, two new experiments on
kinematic viscosity and vapor pressure determinations have been included in
Fluid Mechanics and Mass Transfer sections respectively. The old
experiments have been revised to eliminate errors and induce clarity. This
manual will be available in electronic form from departments official website,
http://www.kfupm.edu.sa/che/labcourses.htm.

Acknowledgement
This laboratory manual has evolved over a long period of time and we
acknowledge many names of the earliest contributors, which have been lost in
antiquity. The major driving force of the present form of write-up was Dr.
Alfred Guankel. The manual was refined and enriched by Dr. K. F. Loughlin.
The first print edition was edited by Dr. W. Z. Khan. Other contributors of the
previous editions were Dr. E. Alper, Dr. J. Beltramini, Prof. A. A. Shaikh,
Prof. M. Shalabi, Mr. M. A. Chaudhary, Mr. A. Ibrahim, Mr. A. Jamal, Mr. U.
El-Nafaty, Mr. N. Tukur, Mr. G. Yahya and Mr. S. Zaidi. Contributions from
Mr. N. Tukur, Mr. A. Al-Juhani, Mr. S. Zaidi in the second editions are
appreciated. Prof. A. A. Shaikh contributed the two new experiments.
Editorial assistance by Mr. S. Saifuddin is highly appreciated.

We are greatly indebted to many publications for using their material as

reference and they have been appropriately cited. Finally the support offered
by the department chairman, valuable comments from fellow faculty and
assistance provided by the department secretaries in typing the original
manuscript are highly acknowledged.

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Table of Contents
Preface.............................................................................................................. (i)
Acknowledgement ........................................................................................... (i)
Table of Contents ............................................................................................(ii)
Safety in the Laboratory.................................................................................(iii)
Instructions for Preparing Laboratory Reports .............................................. (vi)
The Lab Course Website................................................................................ (ix)

Fluid Mechanics:
EXPERIMENT No. F2: Flow through Packed Beds .......................................1
EXPERIMENT No. F3: Fluidized Bed .........................................................12
EXPERIMENT No. F4: Flow Meter Calibration Rig ....................................19
EXPERIMENT No. F5: Losses in Piping Systems ........................................29
EXPERIMENT No. F6: Sedimentation Studies ............................................43
EXPERIMENT No. F8: Determination of Kinematic Viscosity of
Transparent and Opaque Liquids (ASTM D445) ............................................51

Heat Transfer:
EXPERIMENT No. H1: Heat Transfer by Conduction.................................58
EXPERIMENT No. H3: Film and Dropwise Condensation on
Vertical Tubes ..................................................................................................67
EXPERIMENT No. H4:
Heat Transfer in a Double
Pipe Heat Exchanger ........................................................................................81
EXPERIMENT No. H6: Heat Transfer in a Shell and Tube
Heat Exchanger ................................................................................................90
EXPERIMENT No. H7: Heat Transfer by Free and Forced
Convection .....................................................................................................101
EXPERIMENT No.
H8:
Computer Linked Cross Flow
Heat Exchanger ..............................................................................................110

Mass Transfer:
EXPERIMENT No. M1: Molecular Diffusion in Gases .............................121
EXPERIMENT No. M2: Physical Gas Absorption in a PackedColumn Absorber ...........................................................................................132
EXPERIMENT No. M3: Diffusion in a Porous Media: Dynamic
Experiment with a Single Pellet .....................................................................142
EXPERIMENT No: M5: Effect of Agitation on Solid Liquid Mass
Transfer ..........................................................................................................152
EXPERIMENT No. M7: Molecular Diffusion in Liquids............................160
EXPERIMENT No. M8: Drying of Solids ................................................175
EXPERIMENT No. M9: Vapor Pressure by Reid Method
(ASTM D 323) .............................................................................................186

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Safety in the Laboratory

Preparation
Before starting any laboratory operation ask and answer the following
questions by yourself:
1. Have I done this before?
2. Do I have the proper equipment?
3. Does anything look wrong?
4. What are the hazards?
5. Should I work in a fume hood?
6. Do I need goggles or other safety equipment?
7. Do I need additional help?
8. Should I check further with my instructor?
9. Have I planned this experiment or exercise?
10. Do I know what to do, if there is an accident?
11. Do I know where the fire extinguishers are located?

LABORATORY SAFETY RULES

1.

NO SMOKING IN THE LABORATORY:

2.

Safety glasses will be worn at all times where applicable during

laboratory periods. These glasses will be kept between laboratory
sessions in the racks provided.

3.

Wear apron (lab overall) in the lab when running apparatus and
handling liquids.

4.

Wear rubber gloves when handling liquids.

5.

When dangerous chemicals are in use, a second person should be

within call.

6.

Find out the location of First Aid Box.

7.

Before operating any valve, switch, etc., know precisely what the
effect of your manipulation will be.

8.

Turn off all the valves on cylinders of compressed or liquefied gases

when not in use.

9.

Students are not allowed to open gas cylinders. Ask the technician.

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10.

Report all injuries to instructor and to KFUPM doctor immediately.

Dial 3333.

11.

Attach a label "Please leave on" on fittings, you need "on" for long
time.

12.

Keep all inflammable liquids or gases away from open electrical

equipment and other sources of ignition.

13.

Gas cylinders must be kept in a stand or chained vertically to a bench.

14.

Avoid inhalation of gases or vapors of any kind, especially

Methanol
Benzene
Aniline
Carbon bisulfide
Nitrobenzene
Compounds
Nitric acid
of Cl, Br, I,

Acetone
Chlorine
Bromine
Chlorinated hydrocarbons
Hydrogen sulfide

Cyanides
Metal Carbonyls
Carbon monoxide
Phosgene
Arsenic

(the higher the concentration,

the lesser the order)

Org:

Mercury

compounds

NO2, NH2 & CN

Benzene
Oxalates

15.

Do not leave cables trailing across the floor of lab.

16.

Practice good housekeeping. Clean all spills at once. Return all

equipment to proper storage when not in use. Place all trash in
appropriate receptacles.

17.

Avoid direct blasts of air on the skin from high-pressure compressed

air lines. Never play with air hoses.

18.

Use special vacuum cleaner from laboratory for immediate removal of

mercury spills. Arrangement should be made to contain mercury.

19.

Make sure any system being heated is properly vented.

20.

Know the location and use of all emergency, protective, and fire
fighting equipment.

21.

Do not smell directly any chemical being heated.

22.

Remember that, if a lab smells, do not use it. Inform instructor/lab

technician.

23.

Do not leave lab while apparatus is on, always inform instructor if you
are in a situation to leave the lab.
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24.

When working above others, be especially careful not to drop tools.

25.

Do not wear loose clothing or neckties when working with machinery.

You will not be allowed to enter the lab if you are in loose dress or not
wearing covered shoes.

26.

Report to the instructor any conditions that are safety hazards.

27.

All power wiring is to be installed by an approved electrician.

28.

All forms of asbestos should be treated as dangerous.

29.

Keep the lab tidy.

30.

Always remember: SAFETY IS GOOD TECHNIQUE!

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Instructions for Preparing Laboratory Reports

The report must be prepared and will be graded according to the
following outline:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10

Subject
Title page
Abstract
Introduction
Theoretical Background
Procedure
Results
Discussion of Results
Conclusions and Recommendations
Literature Cited
Nomenclature

Marks
2
12
3
5
4
8
24
8
2
2

Appendices
A1
A2

Raw Data
Analysis of
Calculation

data

&

Organization & neatness

Total:

Sample

5
20

5
100

1. Title Page
The Title page should be separate from the rest of the report. It should contain:
a.
b.
c.
d.

The name of the experiment

The number of course
The date when the experiment was run
The name of the writer and his co-workers, ID number, and his
group number
e. The name of the instructor to whom the report is submitted
f. The date of submission of report

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2. Abstract
The abstract should be informative, and should be written in about three to
five sentences. It should cover all phases of the investigation. It must include
the following:
a.
b.
c.
d.

An introductory statement about the subject matter

Briefly describe what was done.
Present some selected result (numerical values, if possible).
If possible, present some percentage errors in experimental
results in comparison with theoretical values.

While writing the abstract, it should be kept in mind that you should not refer
to any graph or table.

3. Introduction
This section should include few sentences discussing the physical and/or
chemical principles involved in the experiment.

4. Theoretical Background
This section should include the theory behind the experiment. It should also
contain all those equations, which are used to acquire a certain result.
Theoretical correlatios, which are used for comparison with experimental
results, should also be included.

5. Procedure
Here, you should briefly describe the actual step-by-step procedure you
followed in running the experiment. It should be written in your own words,
e.g. the needle valve was manipulated in order to adjust the liquid flow rate.

6. Results
The results should be presented in the form or Tables or graphs. The Table
should contain the results obtain from experiments and from theoretical
knowledge. Comparisons should be presented in terms, e.g. percent deviation.

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7. Discussion of Results
In this section you should discuss you experimental results. Show how you
make comparison with the values obtained theoretically. Also discuss the
deviation of experimental results from theoretical values. The possible source
of errors should also be mentioned. If the results are obtained in terms of
graphs, then interpret them also.

8. Conclusions and Recommendations

Conclusions are the series of numbered sentences which answer the questions
posed in the end of each experiments. Conclusions should also include the
errors between the experimental and theoretical values. What you have learned
from the experiment should be mentioned as well.
Recommendations are the proposals for future work, e.g. suggested changes in
equipment, study of new variables, or possible experiments in relative fields.
Like the conclusions, the recommendations are usually listed by numbers, and
each consists of only a sentence or two.

9. Literature Cited
Here, you should list the books, Journals articles, etc. used in writing your
report and analyzing the experiment. The reference should be completed
(name of the book, author, volume, date of publication, pages, etc.).
References should be arranged alphabetically by author.

10. Nomenclature
The symbols, which are used in the report, should be defined in the
nomenclature in alphabetical order. The accompanying definitions must
include proper units.

Appendices
All appendices and graphs should be attached at the end of the report.
A1. Raw Data:
It should contain the data on which the experiment was done.
A2. Analysis of Data and Sample Calculations:
This shows how the data/manipulated data is transformed into experimental
results by using the appropriate equations. Also, how the theoretical results are
(viii)

obtained using theoretical in terms of percentage error. Sample calculations

should contain each step, which is used to acquire certain results.

Organization and Neatness

The students must organize their reports in a manner as mentioned earlier. It is
required/encouraged to use EXCEL, SIGMAPLOT, HARVARD, GRAPHICS
OR AND OTHER AVAILABLE GRAPHIC SOFTWARE PACKAGES to
draw graph. The neatness will include how the student has written the report.
Additional points will be given to those students who use GRAPHIC
SOFTWARE PACKAGES to draw graph.

The Lab Course Website

http://www.kfupm.edu.sa/che/labcourses.htm
This website is a part of the departments official website. It is designed to
provide relevant information to the students and instructors. This site has the
lab manuals in electronic form, a discussion page, lab schedules, exam
schedules, informative links and final grades. All related notices would be
posted on this site. Please visit this site frequently.

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