374-375-376: Chemical Engineering Laboratory:
The student demonstrates to himself essential features of the unit operations
of chemical engineering, by constructing and testing with his own hands
suitable apparatus for the illustration of principles in the parallel classroom
work. Under minimum supervision, he plans, builds, and tests such equipment
as orifices and other measuring apparatus, fluid flow devices verifying
Fanning's equation, apparatus for determination of heat transfer coefficients
in the more common cases, model vacuum pan sufficient to demonstrate the
ordinary relationships of evaporation, and packed columns for the absorption
of gases in liquids.
The primary object of this course is to teach the student how to obtain
the data necessary for the interpretation of the unit operations in chemical
engineering. It is inevitable that at the same time, he gains a clearer understanding
of these operations, as well as facility in shopwork and the use of
his hands, the preparation of working drawings, and the reduction of his
results to writing in the form of an acceptable report. Whether the apparatus
is particularly efficient, or even practicable from a production standpoint,
is not regarded as important at this stage.
The students work in small groups in order to make better use of the
time, and the results obtained by each group are made available to all through
dependent problem work in the classroom. 6 hours a week. (Fall, Winter,
Spring.)
Associate Professor Hitchcock.
