CHE 3800 – Mass Transfer and Separation Process

(Winter 2017)

Every Monday and Wednesday, 4:30-6:10 pm@ Rm. 2507 ENGG

Textbook:
1. Introductory Transport Phenomena, by Bird, Stewart, Lightfoot and Klingenberg (Mass
transfer part – the same textbook adopted for the “Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer” course (BSL)
2. Separation Process Engineering, 3rd Ed. by Phillip Wankat (W)

Reference books:
1. Separation Process Principles: Chemical and Biochemical Operations, 3rd Ed, by Seader,
Henley and Roper (pdf copy available at course blackboard)
2. Transport processes and unit operation by Christie J Geankoplis
3. Diffusion - Mass Transfer in Fluid Systems by E.L. Cussler – PDF available online

Instructor:
Y. Elaine Zhu
Office: Rm 1109, College of Engineering
Phone: (313) 577-1842
Email: yzhu3@wayne.edu

Grading TA:
Aida Amini Rankouhi (Email: aida.amini@wayne.edu)

Office hours:
Monday and Wednesday, 1-2pm @ CoE Rm 1109
Pls. make appointments by email for any meetings outside the office hours.

Course objectives: Upon completion of CHE 3800, students will understand the fundamental
process of mass transport, including both steady-state molecular and convective mass transfer and
unsteady mass transfer.
It is expected that students can begin with the fundamental equations of transport on the
microscale (with large continua of molecules, but smaller than any geometric scale of the system)
and integrate them into the mathematics of the solution procedures to determine the concentration
profiles and mass transfer rate.
A strong understanding of mass transport processes will then be applied to the separation
process and design. It is expected that students can perform mass transfer and equilibrium-based
analysis of various separation processes, including flash and column distillation, adsorption and
stripping, extraction, membrane separation for binary mixtures.
Students are also expected to get familiar with separation process simulators to access
physical property databases and design separation equipment such as multi-stage distillation
column for multi-component separation.

Honor Code Pledge: As a member of the Wayne State University community, I will not 1
participate in or tolerate academic dishonesty. Ref: Student Guide to the Academic Code of
Honor
Syllabus

Week Dates Topics Reading

Review of basic transport mechanism, Mass transfer BSL 17.1-
Week 1 1/9, 1/11
Diffusive mass transfer 17.3
Week 2 1/18 Concentration profiles BSL17.5, 18.1
Week 3 1/23, 1/25 Mass transfer w/ and w/o chemical reaction BSL18.2-18.6
Unsteady mass transfer BSL 18.8,
Week 4 1/30, 2/1
Convective mass transfer 19.1-19.5
Review of boundary layer theory, Film theory
Week 5 2/6, 2/8 Class notes
Review for exam 1
Exam 1
Week 6 2/13*, 2/15 W1, W2.1-2.3
Introduction of separation, Flash distillation
Binary flash distillation design,
Week 7 2/20, 2/22 W2.3-2.9, W3
Column distillation,
Binary column distillation
Week 8 2/27, 3/1 W4.1-4.3
Binary distillation at limited operating conditions
Stage efficiency, column height
Week 9 3/6, 3/8 W4.4-4.8
Multi-stage distillation design
Week 10 3/13, 3/15 Spring Break
Review for Exam 2
Week 11 3/20, 3/22*
Exam 2
HYSIS tutorial
Week 12 3/27, 3/29
HYSIS +ASPEN tutorial
Adsorption
Week 13 4/3, 4/5 W12.1-12.5
Stripping
Liquid extraction
Week 14 4/10, 4/12 W13.1-13.4
Leaching
Review for Exam 3
Week 15 4/17, 4/19*
Exam 3
Week 16 4/24 HYSIS project presentations

- Midterm exams will be conducted during class time.

Course Grading Policy:

Homework: 15% (HW is usually assigned bi-weekly with a group of problems, mostly due by
Monday 7pm. HWs and solutions are posted under “Assignment@Blackboard)
Mid-Exams: 70% (23.3% each)
HYSIS project: 15%

A Few Simple Rules

I encourage students to work together on problem sets, but please limit the group size to a
maximum of 4 students. List all group members on each assignment. Groups can change from
Honor Code Pledge: As a member of the Wayne State University community, I will not 2
participate in or tolerate academic dishonesty. Ref: Student Guide to the Academic Code of
Honor
assignment to assignment, but not problem to problem. Problem sets are due as announced, and
late problem sets are not accepted except by prior arrangement with the course instructor.
Problem sets must be done neatly and conform to good engineering practices. Refer to the
schematic at the end of this for details on format. Problem sets must be done on one side only of
8.5”×11” sheets of paper with no frayed edges. Multiple pages must be stapled. You should
briefly restate the problem, identifying known and unknown quantities, provide a diagram if
appropriate, and clearly state the key assumptions. Your analysis should be clear, underline key
intermediate results, and box the final answer. If a homework assignment does not meet these
quality and formatting standards, a grade of 0% will be earned for that assignment. When
appropriate comment on your final answer. For example, does it seem reasonable? Can you make
generalizations based on the result?

The exams will be cumulative and administered in class. All the exams will be closed book and
class notes. However, you may bring two 8.5”×11” sheets with notes on both sides to each exam.
A University-approved excuse must be provided in case of absence during exams.

Late homework.
Late work is not accepted, unless prior arrangement is made with the course instructor. In this
case, “prior” means at least 24 hours before the due date.

Attendance Policy.
Attendance in class is encouraged. If you decide to attend, please arrive promptly, attentive, and
ready to work.

Regrade Policy.
Mistakes can be made during grading. Re-grading to correct these mistakes will be considered
for 72 hours after the assignment or exam has been returned in class. Please submit these
requests in writing. The written request should highlight: 1) the location of the suspected grading
error and 2) the reason you believe a grading error exists.

Academic integrity.
This class runs on the premise that there is a Code of Honor at Wayne State University. The
graded work you do in this class must be your own. In the case where you collaborate with other
students make sure to fairly attribute their contribution to your project.

Honor Code Pledge: As a member of the Wayne State University community, I will not 3
participate in or tolerate academic dishonesty. Ref: Student Guide to the Academic Code of
Honor