The course provides the basic principles to understand unit operations in Chemical Engineering. For this purpose, calculation methods and design equations are required. Unit operations are based on energy and mass transfer phenomena and on conservation laws. This knowledge, along with suitable mathematical development, is useful for designing processes to produce and manipulate food.

Theoretical reasoning has been minimized. In fact, the aim of the subject is not to focus on theoretical development, but to understand and be able to design the processes used in the chemical industry (mainly those related to the food industry).

This subject is an introduction to the subjects “Unit Operations I” and “Unit Operations II”, that will be taught in the coming terms. This course requires the knowledge gained from several 1st year subjects, such as Physics, Chemical Physics and Mathematics.

Specific competences of the course:

CE1. To understand unit systems of physical magnitudes. To become proficient in engineering calculations.

CE2. To be able to approach and solve macroscopic mass balances in simple operations.

CE3. To be able to approach and solve enthalpy balances in heat exchange systems.

CE4. To be able to approach and solve mechanical energy balances in pipelines.

CE5. To know the basic principles of chemical reaction engineering.

Lesson 1. Basic principles for engineering calculations

Lesson 2. General principles of Chemical Engineering

Lesson 3. Basic principles of fluid mechanics

Lesson 4. Mass balances

Lesson 5. Energy balances

Lesson 6. Introduction to chemical reaction engineering



- Laboratory practice:

Practice 1: Theoretical and real head losses in a hydraulic installation

Practice 2: Mass balance in a continuous mixing process

Practice 3: Mass and energy balances in an evaporator

Practice 4: Kinetic analysis of ethanol oxidation

- Lectures to explain the basic principles of each lesson

- Classroom practices to solve problems

- Laboratory practice

- Problem-solving seminars: the students, working in small groups, will solve a proposed exercise

• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 65
  • Realization of Practical Work (exercises, cases or problems) (%): 20
  • Team projects (problem solving, project design)) (%): 15

- Tools and percentages for grading:

Laboratory practice: 20 % (two exams in the computer room)

Final exam (theoretical-practical): 80 %

Problem-solving seminars: additional mark (maximum of 10 %)

- Opting out of the ordinary sitting

Failure to appear at the final exam on the official date of the ordinary sitting will automatically mean opting out of that sitting, which will lead to the grade of Not Sat.

In the extraordinary sitting, the only system to assess the student will be the final evaluation system. Nevertheless, if the student has a positive grade in laboratory practices or problem-solving seminars, those grades will be maintained. On the contrary, if the results are negative, the final exam will enable the student to get 100% of the final grade.

Lesson notes, lists of exercises, tables and graphs, calculator, practice scripts.
The students must wear a laboratory coat during laboratory practice. Moreover, students must bring a laptop during laboratory practice (at least one for each group).

Basic bibliography

Backhurst J.R., Harker, J.H., Porter, J.E. “Problems in Heat and Mass Transfer (1st ed. corr.)” Edward Arnold, London (1980).



Felder, R.M., Rousseau, R.W. “Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes”, Wiley, New York (1986).



Himmelblau, D.M., Riggs, J.B. “Basic Principles and Calculations in Chemical Engineering (7th ed.)”, Prentice-Hall, New Jersey (2004).



McCabe, W.L., Smith, J.C., Harriott, P. “Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering (7th ed.)”, McGraw-Hill, Boston (2005).



Reklaitis, G.V. “Introduction to Material and Energy Balances”, Wiley, New York (1983).



Schmidt, A.X., List, H.L. “Material and Energy Balances”, Prentice-Hall, New Jersey (1962).



Singh, R.P., Heldman, D.R. “Introduction to Food Engineering (4th ed.)”, Academic Press Elsevier, Amsterdam (2009).



Wells, G., Rose, L.M. “The Art of Chemical Process Design”, Elsevier, Amsterdam (1986).