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Michigan Tech
CM3215

Fundamentals of Chemical Engineering Laboratory

 

Department of Chemical Engineering
Michigan Technological University
Prof. Faith A. Morrison

 

updated 13 February 2013

*GENERAL INFORMATION

Required textbook:  None.  For reference we will use the CM3110 textbook,

Christie J. Geankoplis, "Transport Processes and Separation Process Principles: Includes Unit Operations," 4th Edition, Prentice Hall, New York (2003).  Christie J. Geankoplis, "Transport Processes and Unit Operations," 3rd Edition, Prentice Hall, New York (1993)

 

We will also refer to the following books:

Richard M. Felder and Ronald W. Rousseau, "Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes," 3rd Edition, Wiley, New York (2000)
Warren L. McCabe, Julian C. Smith, and Peter Harriott, "Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering," 6th Edition, McGraw Hill, NY (2001)  (or the 7th edition, 2004)
Perry, Robert H. Perry and Don W. Green, "Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook," 7th Edition, McGraw Hill, NY (1997) or other editions including the on-line version of Perry's, available at http://www.knovel.com/web/portal/browse/display?_EXT_KNOVEL_DISPLAY_bookid=48&VerticalID=0

Prerequisites: 

CM 2120 Fundamentals of Chemical Engineering II – mastery of mass balance techniques; mastery or elementary energy balance techniques; mastery of the application of the mechanical energy balance; familiarity of the theory behind manometers
CM3110 Transport/Unit Operations 1 ( may be taken concurrently) – familiarity with momentumbalance techniques; developing mastery with energy balance techniques; familiarity with the operation of heat exchangers
(MA 3520 or MA 3521 or MA 3530 or MA 3560) Differential Equations - mastery of the mathematics of momentum and energy balances (three-dimensional integration and the solutions of differential equations; partial differentiation)

Classroom:  Chem Sci 104A (lectures MW; quizzes W)
Class hours: MW 10-11am
Laboratory: Bldg 19 (Chem Sci) room 103; lab telephone 906 487-3076
Laboratory hours:  Tuesday 8-10am

Office hours: Prof. Morrison; other times by arrangement - request by email.
TA:  Hui-Yong Lee  hwiyongl@mtu.edu
Please use a professional standard when communicating with the instructors and TA.  Guidlines are posted here:  www.chem.mtu.edu/~fmorriso/cm3215/ProfessionalEmail.pdf

Web Page:  The course web page is www.chem.mtu.edu/~fmorriso/cm3215/cm3215.html

ABET syllabus:  2010 ABET Syllabus CM3125

Course Content: This course will be an introduction to basic laboratory methods and instrumentation used in the measurement of fluid flow, heat transfer, and mass transfer. Topics to be covered include methods of statistical data analysis, experimental design, principles of measurement and instrumentation, and presentation of data.  Technical writing and graphical communication of data will be an important part of the course.

*COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Master the principles and execution of experimental design including: replicates, measurement limits, systematic error, random error, uncertainty;
• Master the analysis techniques of chemical engineering processes such as: fluid flow and flowrate measurement, pressure measurement, centrifugal pumps, heat exchangers, control valves, temperature measurement, calibration;
• Master the principles and execution of data handling including: measurement limitations, significant figures, units, trend lines, logarithmic scales, effective graphical presentation;
• Master the technical memo report;
• Familiarity with the statistical handling of experimental data including: use of standard deviations, normal distribution, statistical significance;
• Familiarity with the use of spreadsheet software in data handling and presentation;
• Familiarity with industrial safety practices including: appropriate attire, personal protective equipment, safety meetings, incident reporting, safety culture;
• Introduction to design of experiments;
• Introduction to professional communications including: email, teamwork, supervisor reporting.

List of Topics: (CM Department ABET accreditation outcomes addressed as indicated)

(c,k)Drawing P&I diagram with Visio
(a,b,k)Pressure measurement (transducer calibration, manometers)
(a,b)Fluid viscosity (Cannon-Fenske viscometers; dependence of viscosity on temperature, concentration)
(a,b,k)Rotameter calibration, flowmeters
(a,b)Frictional losses in a straight pipe (friction factor versus Reynolds number, Moody plot)
(a,b)Pneumatic control valve (valve trim)
(a,b,k)Statistics, general concepts and least squares
(a,k)Programing in Excel
(a,b,c)Pumping head curves, functioning of a centrifugal pump (system head calculations, measuring pumping head curve)
(a,b)Heat transfer coefficient of a double pipe heat exchanger (delta T log mean)
(a,b)Thermocouple dynamics (functioning of a thermocouple)
(a,b)Heat transfer to a sphere (calculating thermal conductivity)
(f,i)Safety in the laboratory
(f,g)Report writing
(g,k)Graphical representation
(f,k)Professional use of email
(f,i,k)Use of laboratory notebook

*LABORATORY SAFETY: 

Safety is of the highest priority in the laboratory.  The key features of the CM3215 safety program are:  The safety manual, safety teams, safety reports, and the safety debriefing.


Safety Manual:  The Fundamentals of ChE Laboratory Safety Manual must be followed at all times.  This document may be found at www.chem.mtu.edu/~fmorriso/cm3215/CM3215SafetyManual.pdf

Safety Teams:  Each week one team of two is designated the safety team.  See the schedule at the link under LAB GROUPS below for your assigned week to be safety team.  The safety team gives the lab safety orientation at the beginning of lab, monitors safety throughout the lab period, and prepares a safety report summarizing the safety performance of the class during the laboratory.


Safety Reports:  The safety team will turn in to Homework Box A (second floor, across from the elevator) a safety report (one page, memo format, printed, PAWS forms attached, see sample below) to the instructor/TAs during the same class period that the laboratory report is submitted. A sample safety report is at this link: www.chem.mtu.edu/~fmorriso/cm3215/SafetyReports/SafetyReportLab8Sp2008.pdf. 


Safety Debriefing:  At the end of the semester there will be a general safety debriefing to discuss how to improve and maintain laboratory safety. An archive of the notes from these safety meetings since 2007 is available at this link.  There will also be a safety quiz. 

*ATTENDANCE: 

On-time attendance is required at the lectures and at your designated laboratory periods.  Excused absences will be granted if accompanied by the appropriate documentation (for example, memo from the Dean of Students or from a medical professional).  No credit is given for laboratories or exercises that are missed.

*LAB TEAMS:

Lab teams will consist of two students working at the same lab station and working together on the laboratory exercises and reports.  Lab groups are assigned by the instructor and will change twice during the semester, after the Rotameter lab and after the Pumping lab.  The safety teams are assigned according to this table:  www.chem.mtu.edu/~fmorriso/cm3215/LabGroups_SafetySpring2012.pdf

Teams are expected to work together on the in-lab exercises, on team data calculations, and on reports.  Team members can only receive course credit for work to which they have contributed.  Submitting for credit a report or assignment to which you have not contributed is considered cheating.

*GRADING:

Due Date Schedule

A goal of the course is to teach critical thinking and chemical engineering principles through report writing and laboratory exercises.  The course is based on laboratory work and other assignments.  Students will work in teams of two for laboratory exercises; assignments are done individually.  Teams are expected to work together on the in-lab exercises, on team data calculations, and on reports.  Team members can only receive course credit for work to which they have contributed.  Submitting for credit a report or assignment to which you have not contributed is considered cheating. 

There will be 8 laboratories (each with a team report and an individual quiz).  For each laboratory exercise (8 total), the teams will produce a single report as follows:


In addition to the 8 laboratories there will be 4 assignments

 Due Date Schedule
1.   Assignment 1 (individual): P&ID
2.   Assignment 2 (individual): Statistics
3.   Assignment 3 (individual):  System Head Curves
4.   Assignment 4 (individual):  Model Identification (RTD Dynamics)

 

Grade breakdown:
Laboratory Reports (8 reports)  60%
Assignments (4), Lab Quizzes (9):  30%
Laboratory Participation & Performance (work in lab, professionalism, teamwork):  10%

No Final Exam

Scale:  90-100% A; 86-89 AB; 80-85 B; 76-79 BC; 70-75 C; 66-69 CD; 60-65 D; Less than 60% F

* REQUIRED EQUIPMENT AND LABORATORY DRESS CODE:


All students must purchase a permanently bound laboratory notebook (available in the bookstore or any stationary supply store) for experimental data.  Safety glasses with side shields (provided), closed-toe shoes, a shirt that covers the entire torso, and long pants without rips or tears must be worn in the laboratory at all times.  Neckties, trousers that drag on the floor, dangling clothing or jewelry, headphones, and other unsafe items of apparel are prohibited.  Long-sleeved shirts are recommended.

* LABORATORY PREPARATION: 

All laboratory assignments and handouts are on the web:  www.chem.mtu.edu/%7Efmorriso/cm3215/laboratory_exercise_schedule.html.  You must print and bring to lab your own copy of the laboratory exercise.

You must prepare your laboratory notebook prior to beginning experiments in the laboratory.  See Lecture 1 for a description of how to prepare your notebook.  Additional information is at this link:  www.chem.mtu.edu/%7Efmorriso/cm3215/LabNotebooks.html.   The TA and instructor will randomly inspect laboratory notebooks.

*REPORTS: 

Full laboratory reports are to be submitted for all 8 of the laboratory exercises.  Teams are expected to work together on the in-lab exercises, on team data calculations, and on reports.  Team members can only receive course credit for work to which they have contributed.  Submitting for credit a report or assignment to which you have not contributed is considered cheating.

Report Style:  We will use the technical memo style of report for all laboratory reports.  A Brief Introduction to the Technical Memo Report is available at:  www.chem.mtu.edu/~fmorriso/cm3215/ABriefIntroductionTechnicalMemoReport.pdf.  There is an example report at this link: Example Report. The target length of report is approximately three to four pages, including figures/tables and excluding the appendix.  Please sign your memos with blue or black ink (at the top, next to the "From:" line).

You must follow the following guidelines in your reports:

·        Guidelines for preparing graphs are given at this link: www.chem.mtu.edu/~fmorriso/cm3215/GraphingGuidelines.pdf
Hints for betterlooking graphs are at t his link:  www.chem.mtu.edu/~fmorriso/cm3215/MicrosoftOfficeTipsforBetterLookingReports2013.pdf

·        Guidelines for referencing books, articles, and other standard materials are given at this link:  Lehigh University Chemical Engineering Style Guide

·        Guidelines for referencing web pages are given at this link: www.chem.mtu.edu/~fmorriso/cm4655/web_citations.html

·        Guidelines for writing appendices are given at this link www.chem.mtu.edu/~fmorriso/cm4655/use_of_appendices.html (normally the only appendix in your reports will be raw data)

·        Summary of report-writing advice: www.chem.mtu.edu/%7Efmorriso/cm3215/SummaryReportAdvice.html
A good website for writing technical reports in general (Bates College):  abacus.bates.edu/~ganderso/biology/resources/writing/HTWsections.html#methods

·        Helpful hints on how to insert figures into MSWord 2010 so that they go to the top/bottom of the page.
Helpful hints on typing equations using MSWord 2007 Equation Editor

 

Basics Checklist: 
The Basics Checklist is a list of 10 formatting items that must be followed.  The standards of the Basics Checklist are basic. For some instructions on the concepts of the Basics Checklist, click here.  Many of the problems on the Basics Checklist are due to default settings of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.  The software is there to help you, but you are responsible for the quality of your reports.

For the first four reports, print the Basics Checklist (www.chem.mtu.edu/~fmorriso/cm3215/BasicsChecklist.pdf) and attach it to the front of your report.  On Wednesday when you turn in your report, your TA will immediately check your submitted report against the Basics Checklist and return the report to you if you fail to earn any checkmarks on the list.  If you have your report returned, you must correct the issues and resubmit by 8am Thursday in Homework Box A in the second floor hallway.  Any Basics Violations, even those missed by the TA during review, will result in a 10% penalty in the grade of the report.


Helpful hints on how to insert figures into MSWord 2010 so that they go to the top/bottom of the page.


Memo of Transmittal:
All assignments and written submissions (especially rewrites) given to the Instructor or TA will be transmitted with a memo of transmittal.  The memo of transmittal tells the recipient what it is that is being submitted and why it is being submitted (see Lecture 1).

Schedule:   Due Date Schedule

Reports are due approximately one week after the experiments are performed as indicated in the syllabus (due Wednesday 10am in class, in person).  Turn in reports in person to the TA or instructor during the Wednesday lab-class hour (10am; Chem Sci 104A); turn in rewrites of reports on the appropriate Friday by 10am to Homework Box A in the hallway across from the elevator on the second floor of the Chem Sci building (memo of transmittal attached; original, graded report attached; explanation of improvements made in memo of transmittal).  Every effort will be made to return graded reports within one week so that you may use the feedback to improve your next reports.  Rewrites will not be graded until the end of the semester.

Rewrites:  See GRADING OF LAB REPORTS.  Rewrites will not be graded until the end of the semester.

*GRADING OF LAB REPORTS:

Schedule:   Due Date Schedule for Lab Reports and Exercises

Rewrite of reports 1 and 2 may be made without rewrite penalty.  No rewrites will be accepted for reports 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. 

Instructions for turning in a report for rewrite credit
1.  Prepare the improved report based on feedback received.
2.  Attach a cover memo of transmittal indicating that you are submitting a rewritten report.
3.  Attach the original graded report
4.  There is no need for a Basics Checklist; any violations of the Basics Checklist will be penalized at -10%.

Due-dates for the re-writes are listed on the schedule and are due Fridays at 10am in Homework Box A.  Rewrites will not be graded until the end of the semester.

Report Feedback  The instructor's feedback form that is used in grading the reports is posted here: www.chem.mtu.edu/~fmorriso/cm3215/ReportGradingFeedback.pdf.  Authors are expected to review these comments and to use this feedback to improve future reports.  The grading standards increase with each lab report.


An example report is posted here:  Sample Report
An explanation of each term in the Report Grading Feedback form is posted here:  ReportGradingFeedbackExplanation.pdf

 

Late Reports:  Late reports will be penalized as follows: 1 day late, 20% penalty; more than 1 day late, grade of zero.  Exceptions may be made under exceptional circumstances if arranged with the instructor in advance. 

*LABORATORY PARTICIPATION AND PERFORMANCE:


Overall compliance with laboratory rules, exercises, and procedures (including safety,  preparedness, teamwork, communication, promptness, lab notebooks), as judged by the instructor with feedback from the peer evaluations and the TA, will count as the laboratory participation grade.  This counts as 10% of the total grade for the course.

*PEER EVALUATION:

Each team member will separately fill out a peer evaluation form after submitting the last cycle 1 report (Rotameter, report 3), after submitting the last cycle 2 report (Pumping, report 6), and after the last cycle 3 report (Sphere, Report 8) (when the group partners change).  We will fill these out in class on the Wednesday that you turn in reports 3, 6, and 8.  In addition, team members may submit peer evaluation forms at any time throughout the semester if there are issues to report.   The purpose of this form is to indicate to the instructor whether or not an engineering team is functioning as it should.  Fill out one column for yourself and one for your lab partner. 

*EMAIL/WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS 

Please use a professional standard when communicating with the instructors and TA.  Guidlines are posted here:  www.chem.mtu.edu/~fmorriso/cm3215/ProfessionalEmail.pdf

All assignments and written submissions (especially rewrites) given to the Instructor or TA will be transmitted with a memo of transmittal.  The memo of transmittal tells the recipient what it is that is being submitted and why it is being submitted (see Lecture 1).  The only exeption to this are reports submitted with a Basics Checklist; the Basics Checklist will serve the purpose of the memo of transmittal.

*CHEATING:

Cheating of any form will not be tolerated. Reports submitted must be the work of the team members only.  Submitting for credit a report to which you have not contributed is considered cheating.

Any student found to be cheating would be reported to the Dean of Students. The punishment for plagiarism ranges from an F on the assignment to expulsion.  All assignments are either individual or team as indicated on the course instructions (under Quizzes and Assignments, www.chem.mtu.edu/%7Efmorriso/cm3215/Syllabus-Course_rules.html#quizzes).  Any submission for an individual exercise/report/assignment that is identical to another submission will be judged to be plagiarized.

*UNIVERSITY POLICIES

Academic regulations and procedures are governed by University policy.  Academic dishonesty cases will be handled in accordance the University's policies.  

If you have a disability that could affect your performance in this class or that requires an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please see me as soon as possible so that we can make appropriate arrangements.  The Affirmative Action Office has asked that you be made aware of the following:

Michigan Tech complies with all federal and state laws and regulations regarding discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you have a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for equal access to education or services at Michigan Tech, please call the Dean of Students Office, at 487-2212. For other concerns about discrimination, you may contact your advisor, department head or the Affirmative Action Office, at 487-3310

Academic Integrity:  www.studentaffairs.mtu.edu/dean/judicial/policies/academic_integrity.html
Affirmative Action:  www.admin.mtu.edu/aao/
Disability Services:  www.admin.mtu.edu/urel/studenthandbook/student_services.html#disability
Equal Opportunity Statement:  www.admin.mtu.edu/admin/boc/policy/ch3/ch3p7.htm

 

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