FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Study guide for:

BEng Tech: Chemical Engineering

Laboratory 2A

[Module Code: CELCHA2]

Compiled by:
Prof. K. Jalama, Mr A. Martinus and Mr. M. Mathaba

January 2018
Table of Contents:
Welcome note: ............................................................................................................. 3
Introduction: ................................................................................................................ 3
Contact details and consulting hours: .............................................................................. 4
References and prescribed books: ................................................................................... 4
Expected outcomes: ...................................................................................................... 4
Assessment criteria: ...................................................................................................... 5
Practicals: .................................................................................................................... 7

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Welcome note:
The Department of Chemical Engineering would like to extend a warm welcome to all
students registered for the Chemical Engineering Laboratory 2A (CELCHA2) module and
wishes them well during their Chemical Engineering Programme at the University of
Johannesburg. Our Department is available to students at all times. Lectures and practicals
are conducted at specified time intervals. Moreover, the Department strives for an
environment that promotes academic excellence and therefore, it expects students to adhere
to rules and regulations of the Department and those of the University.

The Bachelors of Engineering Technology (BEng Tech) in Chemical Engineering is designed

for qualified learners who have matriculated and want to pursue a career in Chemical
Engineering and related fields. Students pursuing this programme will acquire fundamental
concepts of Chemical Engineering and an overview of processes which are applied in various
industries. In addition, the programme will teach courses relating to processing of raw
materials, plant flow diagrams, gathering and interpretation of data, operating various
engineering tools, and more.

Due to the continuous evaluation for this course it is essential that the learner constantly
keeps up with the work discussed and covered during the allocated classes and practicals’
periods.
We wish you an enjoyable Chemical Engineering Laboratory 2A class for this semester.

Lecturer: Professor Kalala Jalama

Introduction:
Your study material is designed to assist you throughout this course and will also guide you
when preparing for Lectures, lab practicals, lab assignments and lab tests. You are expected
to complete the course module during the prescribed duration. Specified outcomes can only
be achieved by studying the content of the prescribed literature and mastering the required
skills.

The following is also expected from students:

 Study the material provided to identify the most important facts.

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  Makes short notes of the most important facts.

 Formulate problems that can be discussed during practical sessions.

 Compile a list of possible questions.

 Be prepared for practical discussions.

 Study unknown and important terms and ascertain their precise meanings.

 Self- study, task analysis and research are of vital importance for this module.

 Ensure that you always attend the Practicals’ sessions.

The university provides learning platforms such as PsyCad and ADC to help students with
various aspects, such as time management, motivation, scientific report writing, etc.

Contact details and consulting hours:

Professor Kalala Jalama
Room 4142,
Chemical Engineering Department,
4th floor, John Orr Building
Telephone: +27 11 559 6157
E-mail: [email protected]

Teaching and consultation times: will be communicated to students and will be posted on
Blackboard.

References and prescribed books:

A laboratory manual will be posted on blackboard at the beginning of the semester.

Expected outcomes:
As a Chemical Engineer, it is important to understand the principles of Chemical Engineering
and its related fields. This is the foundation of all Engineering knowledge for your career. By
participating and applying the principles that you will learn in this course, you will be able to
acquire the following skills which are known as critical outcomes:

 How to solve complex problems using your engineering expertise;

 How to work effectively as an individual and member of a team or group;

 How to use various engineering instruments and software tools;

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  How to be effective in oral and written communication;

 How to recognize potential hazards in the labs and exercise precaution;

 How to use science and technology effectively; and

 How to make meaningful decisions in an organization/company you work for.

It is therefore essential that you participate continuously either in groups or as an individual

in order to be successful and competent at the end of this module. Furthermore, this module
will form an integral part of your programme in BEng Tech in Chemical Engineering as it
contributes with 7 credits to the curriculum.

Assessment criteria:
This module will be assessed on a continuous assessment basis, where there will be NO
written exams. Students should obtain a final mark of 50% or more to pass this module.

The assessment criteria are designed as follows:

Assessments Number
Lab Tests 2
Laboratory assignments 3
Laboratory reports 3
Total 8
Weight percentage per assessment Weight
Lab Tests 30%
Laboratory assignments 30%
Laboratory reports 40%
Total 100%

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Breakdown of Lab assignments:
Assessment type Practical Weight

Individual Gas Diffusion Coefficient 10%

Heat Exchanger and Liquid Diffusion Coefficient 10% each

Breakdown of Lab reports:

Assessment type Practical Weight
Group Fluid Dynamics 20%
Individual Pumps and Mixing 10% each

Breakdown of Lab Tests:

Assessment type Assessment Weight

Individual Safety Lab Practices 15%

Overall Experiments 15%

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 Practicals:
Subject name Chemical Engineering Credit value 7 credits
Laboratory 2A
Prerequisites Chemical Process Co-requisites Process Fluid Flow
Technology 2 Transfer Processes
Aim of this course Develop problem-solving skills through a series of short and long experiments related to
Process Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes.
By completing the laboratories in the engineering undergraduates curriculum, the learner will
Learning outcomes
be able to:
 Apply appropriate sensors, instruments, and or software tools to make measurements of
physical quantities.
 Devise an experimental approach, specify appropriate equipment and procedure,
implement these procedures and interpret the resulting data to characterise an engineering
material, component or system.
 Demonstrate competence in selection, modification and operation of appropriate
engineering tools and resources.
 Demonstrate the ability to collect, analyse, and interpret data and to form and support
conclusions. Make order of magnitude judgements and use measurement unit systems and
conversion.
 Identify health safety and environmental issues related to technological processes and deal
with them responsibly.
 Communicate your findings with colleagues both orally and in writing.
 Able to work as an individual and in a group.
Practical Content
(i) Safe Laboratory
Course content practices Objectives of laboratory work, laboratory safety, housekeeping,
Three practicals and
three Lab assignments
will be selected from Laboratory rules and regulations.
the list given in this
section.
(1) Liquid and Gas
diffusion coefficient Determination of mass transfer rate and diffusion coefficients
for liquid-gas and liquid systems under different conditions.

(2) Pumps Determination of characteristics curves for different speed and

impeller sizes; studies of pumps in series and parallel etc.

(4) Heat Exchanger

(HX) Evaluation and comparison of four different types of heat
exchangers, brazed plates and shell and tube.

(5) Mixing Determination of energy losses across various fittings and pipes
sizes for multi-phase systems, hydrodynamic studies for multi-phase,
mixing studies for different types of impellers.

(6) Fluid Dynamics Pressure and temperature profiles across pipelines and various pipe
fitting only. Comparison of flow measuring techniques-orifice plate,
venture, pilot tube. Determination of resistance coefficient fittings.
Determination of energy losses across various fittings and pipe sizes
for non-compressible
7 fluid only, and resistance coefficients (K)
values of typical fitting.