CHAPTER

Introduction to the Unit Operations

N general there are two different approaches to cept of unit operations was first crystallized by
the study of industrial processing . Each par- A. D. Little † in 1915 .
T ticular industry , such as the alcohol , petroleum ,
The arts of pulverizing , evaporating , filtering , distilling ,
its

plastic , copper , or steel industry , including char

on
and other operations constantly carried chemical

in
acteristic operations may
be

or
as

studied unit the

so
thoroughly developed
a
,

works have been

to
as
amount
;

different operations common many industrial

to

special sciences

to
almost

*
.
its

may each according

be

to

processes classified
to ,

Any chemical process whatever scale conducted may

on

,
,
function without regard the industry using
it

be

resolved into a coordinate series what may

be
of
termed
,

a
and each such operation studied pulverizing drying roasting crys
as

unit operation Unit Operations

as
",
a

,
““
.

on
Thus heat transfer unit operation com- tallizing filtering evaporating electrolyzing
or

single

so
and
is
all a

,
,

.
The number these basic unit operations not large and
of

practically industries and knowledge

is
to

of an of

mon
,

relatively few them are involved any particular proc

in
of

principles equally useful

to
of

the heat transfer

is

ess

The complexity chemical engineering results from

of
.

engineer any industry requiring the transfer

in

the variety
as
temperature pressure etc.
of

to
conditions

,
,

,
heat under which the unit operations must

be
carried out

in
.

different processes and from the limitations mate

to
as
As industrial processes have become more varied
,

by
construction and design apparatus imposed
of

rials
the engineer have of
to

and technical the fields open

,

the physical and chemical character the reacting sub

of
widened and has become increasingly difficult
, it

a an if
in ,

stances
.

not impossible
to

cover the various industries

manner without limiting the students study the unit operations just
to

as
adequate
of

valuable
A

is

By studying the unit

all
few closely related fields the operating engineer
to

to
as

the designer since

,
.

operations themselves and their functions the engi- industrial operations plants are composed physi
or
,

cally unit operations

to

recognize their proper

of

trained these functions new

in

of

neer
of in

series
is

a
his
by

no
applying knowledge ability capacity plant
or

industrial processes
and sequence The
is
a
;;

its

the corresponding unit operations greater than that The operator

he

of

and skill weakest unit

in

is

construct and operate plant for analyzes his complex operations into units for indi
to

able design
a

a a
,

of as

for vidual improvement and the designer synthesizes

as

new process with almost much confidence

,

proved process For these reasons the study complex operations from number unit operations
of

unit
aa
.

operations has proved

be
to

the more efficient

approach the study industrial processing
to

of

UNIT OPERATIONS CLASSIFIED

.

Although the importance these operations that

of

this treatment the unit operations are classified

to

as

different industries was recognized

In

are common
early 1893 by Professor George Lunge
as

the con- grouped according their function and the phase

to
or
,
*

Professor George Lunge the Federal Polytechnic School the Visiting Committee
D.

as

Arthur Little chairman

on of

of
*

the Department Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

an

Zurich Education Industrial

in
of

of

address the
of of

of
,

the Massachusetts Institute Technology report

to
in
at

at

of

presented the Congress Chemists the Ex-

of

Chemists
a
in ”

position Chicago the President the Institute

in
of

1893 1915
,

.
.