Module manager: Assoc.Prof.Dr Tariq Mahmud
Email: t.mahmud@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Building on learning outcomes from Level 1, students will learn the fundamental and advanced principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer and their applications in the context of process engineering.
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
Thermodynamics
- differentiate between ideal and real system behaviour, and apply thermodynamic relationships to these systems;
- derive and transform thermodynamic relationships to predict thermodynamic properties;
- identify and predict changes of thermodynamic quantities in ideal and real systems, including, heat, work and state functions, in pure systems and mixtures at system, phase and component level;
- analyse and model energy flows in closed and open thermodynamic systems in terms of the fundamental thermodynamic quantities;
- use a range of equations of state to determine and predict overall system and partial properties in real and ideal systems;
- model chemical and phase equilibria in the context of separations and chemical processing;
- apply thermodynamic principles in process design identifying reasonable simplifying assumptions to predict system properties
Transport Phenomena:
Heat Transfer
- analyse transient multi-dimensional heat conduction through rectangular and cylindrical geometries;
- identify relevant dimensionless numbers and charts to solve transient heat conduction;
- solve natural and forced convection problems by applying the relevant concepts and correlations;
- evaluate radiation heat transfer in multi-surfaces using appropriate rules;
- design heat exchangers using suitable methods i.e. LMTD, NTU;
Fluid mechanics
- differentiate types of flows and corresponding velocity and shear stress distributions;
- determine pressure drop in pipeline systems using related friction factors;
- describe the boundary-layer flow over a flat plate by considering the relevant stresses and drag forces;
- analyse compressible fluid flow in pipes by applying basic equations for isothermal and adiabatic conditions;
- compute power requirement for transporting liquid using a pump.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1- Have a knowledge and understanding of basic mathematical models relevant to chemical engineering.
2- Understand the principles of equilibrium and chemical thermodynamics of single phase and multiphase systems, their application to modelling phase behaviour, systems with chemical reaction and to processes with heat and work exchange.
3- Be familiar with the application and limitations of a range of modelling approaches including first-principles models, simple empirical correlations.
4- Apply digital techniques for solving chemical engineering problems.
5- Understand transport properties of fluids and multiphase systems and recognise their relevance in the context of determining momentum and heat transfer.
6- Understand the principles governing the rates of momentum and heat transfer, and their application to problems involving fluid and heat flow.
7- Be able to use principles to model the characteristics and performance of processing steps for fluids.
8- Have a knowledge and understanding of relevant principles from engineering disciplines closely related to chemical engineering.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills:
A- IT skills and digital proficiency
B- Problem solving and analytical skills
C- Critical thinking
D- Technical skills
Thermodynamics:
Fluids: equations of state for PVT properties, residual properties, Maxwell relations, two-phase systems in general, Vapour-Liquid Equilibrium (VLE) qualitative behaviour & simple models; steam tables; dew and bubble points, gamma/phi formulation of VLE; applications to thermodynamics of flow processes (turbine, throttle, fan/blower, compressor/pump); entropy generation; Mollier diagrams; power cycles for production of power from heat; refrigerators and liquefaction.
Solutions: chemical potential, partial properties, fugacity, excess Gibbs energy, mixing, heat effects of mixing; phase equilibria; phase rule;
Chemical Reactions: gas-phase reactions; effect of inert gas on equilibrium, effect of pressure on equilibrium, T-dependence of equilibrium constant, multiple reaction system; equilibrium constants for independent reactions, heterogeneous reaction equilibria.
Transport Phenomena:
Heat Transfer: Transient heat conduction: Lumped system analysis, related dimensionless numbers, transient heat conduction in plane walls and cylinders; External and internal forced convection: In laminar and turbulent flows over different geometries and in pipes: concepts of hydrodynamic and thermal boundary layers, related dimensionless numbers, correlations for heat transfer coefficients; Natural convection: Related dimensionless numbers; convection flows over surfaces, relevant correlations for heat transfer coefficient; Boiling and condensation: Boiling regimes and the boiling curve, film & dropwise condensation; Radiation exchange between surfaces: View factors, exchange between black, diffuse and gray surfaces in an enclosure; Heat exchangers design: Types of heat exchangers, LMTD Method, correction factors, NTU Method, selection of heat exchangers; Analogies between momentum, mass and heat transfer.
Fluid Mechanics: Flow in pipes: Laminar and turbulent flows, velocity distributions, shear and Reynolds stresses, pressure drop relationships and friction factor; Boundary layer flow: Laminar and turbulent boundary layer in a pipe and over a flat plate, wall shear stress and drag force; Compressible fluid flow: Basic equations, flow of gas through pipes, isothermal and adiabatic compressible flows; Pumping of liquids.
Methods of assessment
The assessment details for this module will be provided at the start of the academic year
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 12 | 1 | 12 |
| Lecture | 16 | 2 | 32 |
| Practical | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Seminar | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| Seminar | 16 | 2 | 32 |
| Private study hours | 112 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 88 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Formative feedback will be provided in tutorials (problem-solving classes) on a weekly basis.
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team