3 ECTS credits
90 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1021638BNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Students must have followed 'Chemistry: Structure of Matter and Chemical Reactions I’ and 'Chemistry: Structure of Matter and Chemical Reactions II' and 'Physics: Electromagnetism' and 'Thermodynamics', before they can enroll for ‘Mechanical and Thermal Unit Operations’. Enrolling in ‘Mechanical and Thermal Unit Operations’ means also that you simultaneously follow 'Thermal-Fluid Sciences : Principles' or have successfully passed ‘Thermal-Fluid Sciences : Principles’.
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Department
Bio-Engineering Sciences
Educational team
Joeri Denayer (course titular)
Fréderick Matheuse
Activities and contact hours
24 contact hours Lecture
12 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
Course Content

 

This course deals with the classical mechanical and thermal unit operations. The operation principles, design, calculation are presented. 
 
The most common mechanical and thermal unit operations in process industry and biotechnology (filtration, sedimentation, cyclones, evaporation, drying, crystallisation, evaporation) are discussed. Simple models are applied to a range of unit operations. A methodology to understand, analyse and optimize the operation of chemical processes and sequences of unit operations is educated. 
 
The objectives of this course are to describe the fundamentals of mechanical and thermal unit operations and to be able to develop and use simple models for unit operation design and analysis.  

Course material
Course text (Required) : Mechanische en thermische bewerkingen, Eigen notas, Joeri Denayer, VUB, 2220170005287, 2018
Digital course material (Required) : De slides van de hoorcolleges, Canvas
Additional info

Own notes
J.M. Coulson and J.F. Richardson
Chemical Engineering, Vol. 1-6
Pergamon, Oxford 1990

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

 

- Develop models and balances for unit operations in chemical industry, based on fundamental aspects of thermodynamics, fluid flow, mass and heat transfer.
- Explain the functioning of equipment in unit operations based on schemes and technical drawings.
- Explain the relationship between operational parameters and performance and behavior of selected unit operations (filtration, centrifugation, distillation, cyclones, evaporation, drying, crystallisation).
 
 
 

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Theory: written + oral with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: Written + oral exam on theory as discussed during the course

Additional info regarding evaluation

- exam on theoretical aspects of course: testing knowledge and insight

- participation to the lab sessions is mandatory. In the event of unauthorized absences during the lab sessions, the score loss is charged pro rata to the absences. In the event of unauthorized absence during the lab sessions, participation in the exam can be refused.


- Partial marks for the exercises exam and the lab sessions, if the student obtains at least half of the score (for this part), are transferred to the second session, and to the next academic year. Students may not relinquish partial marks.

 

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Bioengineering Sciences: Profile Cell and Gene Biotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Bioengineering Sciences: Profile Chemistry and Bioprocess Technology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Bioengineering Sciences: Initial track (only offered in Dutch)