TABLE OF CONTENTS Key Learning Objectives
How to size and design equipment for sizing, handling, transporting, mixing, separating and recovering solids
How to design equipment for liquid-liquid and liquid-vapor contacting
How to design mixers and reactors
The previous chapters of this book covered process design: the synthesis of the complete process as an assembly of units, each carrying out a specific process operation. In this and the following chapters, the selection, specification, and design of the equipment required to carry out the function of these process units (unit operations) are considered in more detail. The equipment used in the chemical processes industries can be divided into two classes: proprietary and nonproprietary. Proprietary equipment, such as pumps, compressors, filters, centrifuges and dryers, is designed and manufactured by specialist firms. Nonproprietary equipment is designed as special, one-off items for particular processes, for example, reactors, distillation columns, and heat exchangers.
Unless employed by one of the specialist equipment manufacturers, the chemical engineer is not normally involved in the detailed design of proprietary equipment. The chemical engineer's job will be to select and specify the equipment needed for a particular duty; consulting with the vendors to ensure that the equipment supplied is suitable. Chemical engineers may be involved with the vendor's designers in modifying standard equipment for particular applications; for example, a standard tunnel dryer designed to handle particulate solids may be adapted to dry synthetic fibers.
As was pointed out in Chapter 1, the use of standard equipment, whenever possible, will reduce costs.
