University of KwaZulu-Natal

School of Engineering
MODULE OUTLINE
Module Code: ENCH3MT
Credits: 16 (160 hours)
Module Title: Mass Transfer 2012

Study Hours Required

Contact Based Learning
Category Activity
L
Lectures
T
Tutorials
A
Assessments
(Exams & Tests)
Contact based TOTAL

Hours
39
12
6
57

Self directed Learning

Category Activity
H
Reading (Self study)
R
Revision
A
Assignments/Projects

Hours
65
30
8

Self-directed TOTAL
TOTAL HOURS

103
160

Course Name:

ENCH3MT Mass Transfer

SAQA Credits:

16

Pre-requisites:

40% in ENCH2EF and ENCH3TH.

Co-requisites:

None

Module coordinator:

Dr P Naidoo

Module lecturers:

DR P NAIDOO Room 1A06, ChemEng Building, naidoop18@ukzn.ac.za, x3177

DR S KIAMBI Room 2A13, ChemEng Building, kiambi@ukzn.ac.za, x3383

Consultation hours:

Mon, Wed, Thur 12:00-13:00 (appointments by email can be made at other times)

Lecture venue:

CEE, Chemical Engineering Building;

Lecture days and time:

Monday Periods 2 & 3 8:40 10:20;

Thursday Period 6 12:20 13:05
Friday Period 3 9:35 10:20

Tutorial venues

CEE, Chemical Engineering Building; EE-G02, Elec Eng Building

Tutorial day and time

Wednesday Periods 4&5 10:30 12:10

Note: the lecture and tutorial periods will be used interchangeably, depending on the requirements of
the lecturer. Registers will be taken at lectures & tutorials.

Module Outcomes
The aim of this course is to develop an understanding of design techniques and principles of operation of
certain mass transfer equipment used in the process industries. In particular, we will focus on continuous and
batch distillation, gas absorption, leaching and liquid-liquid extraction. You will be able to perform design
calculations for important mass-transfer unit operations and be able to carry out performance assessments.
You will be familiar with a number of basic design methods so that the more rigorous procedures required for
economic process equipment design, analysis and operation, in your professional career, will be appreciated.
You will analyse the behaviour of mass transfer equipment and calculate the optimum operating conditions.
Sufficient background will be obtained so that additional concepts and procedures will be readily assimilated
in subsequent courses such as Advanced Mass Transfer
On successful completion of this module, students will have demonstrated their ability to:
Relate the fundamental concepts of equilibrium and mass balances to a variety of two-phase
separation operations.
Analyze the behaviour of certain mass transfer equipment and calculate the optimum operating
conditions.
Design certain mass transfer equipment used in the process industries under steady state conditions.
Evaluate a number of basic design methods so that the more rigorous procedures required for
economic process equipment design, analysis and operation may be appreciated.
ECSA Knowledge areas and outcomes
Mathematics

Basic Sciences

Engineering
Sciences

Design and
Synthesis

Computing
and IT

44%

50%

6%

Complementary
Studies

7Cr
8Cr
1Cr
This module is a core of the engineering sciences (knowledge area 3) and makes up 16 of the compulsory 168
credits required in this knowledge area towards the degree. The outcomes are: development of problem
solving skills and application of scientific and engineering knowledge. This module is not an exit level
module.

Detailed course content (Number of lectures in brackets)

Part 1
Industrial separation techniques and their selection CHAPTER 1 (~1)
Review of two-phase equilibrium thermodynamics CHAPTER 2 (~1)
Review of the basic principles of diffusion and mass transfer CHAPTER 3 (~6)
Single Equilibrium stage and flash calculations CHAPTER 4 (5)
Part 2 (Chapter 7) (13 Lectures)
Distillation of binary mixtures.
Graphical and non-graphical equilibrium methods, stage efficiency.
Rate-based methods, HETP, HTU.
Fenske equation.
Batch distillation.

Part 3 (Chapter 6) (13 Lectures)

Absorption and stripping of dilute solutions.
Graphical methods.
Algebraic methods.
Stage efficiency.
Mass transfer coefficients and transfer units.
Rate-based methods.
Part 4 (13 Lectures)
Cascade of equilibrium stages CHAPTER 5
Processes for the mass transfer between two carrier phases CHAPTER 8
Stage-wise processes: stage-to-stage calculations for isothermal counter-current liquid-liquid, liquid-solid,
liquid-gas and gas-solid processes; leaching
Design of solvent extraction circuits

General assessment strategy

Assessment Task
Class Test 1
Class Test 2
Assignment (Group)
Written Examination (3hr)

%
10
10
10
70

DP Requirements:
In order to be granted a Duly-Performed certificate
and access to the final examination, students must
meet the following requirements:
Satisfactory completion of the assignment
80% attendance at tutorials

Total
100
If a student misses a test/tutorial session/an assignment or any assessment contributing towards the
final mark or DP requirements, he/she must submit an original medical certificate within 48 hours
of the scheduled event and consult the lecturer/module co-ordinator.
All concession forms must be completed and handed in to the School office or School administrator
within the first two weeks of the semester. It is the responsibility of the student to check that the
concessions have been granted.
Prescribed Books/Reading Materials/Notes
Prescribed book
(1) J D Seader and E J Henley, Separation Process Principles, 2nd Edition, Wiley, 2007
Recommended books
(2) W L McCabe, J C Smith, P Harriott, Unit operations of Chemical Engineering, McGraw-Hill, 2001,
2006
(3) R E Treybal, Mass Transfer Operations, McGraw-Hill, 1980
(4) Perry's Chemicals Engineers Handbook, 7th edition, Ed. D W Green, McGraw-Hill, 1997, Chapters 2,
13, 14, 22, 23
(5) J M Coulson, J F Richardson, Chemical Engineering, Vols. 2 & 6, Pergamon, 1998
Updates & Notices
Please check the course notices on Moodle (Learning.ukzn.ac.za) regularly for further information on this
module.

Provisional module schedule 2012

Week

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Monday
Periods 2&3
8:40 10:20
CEE (Lectures)

Tuesday

23 July
Introduction
Review of thermodynamics
30 July
Review of Diffusion & MT
principles
Post Assignment memo
6 Aug
Single Equilibrium stage
and flash calculations
13 Aug

11.

13.

SLK

PN

2 Aug

3 Aug

Tut 1

Review of Diffusion &

MT principles

Review of Diffusion &

MT principles

9 Aug
HOLIDAY

10 Aug
Single Equilibrium stage
and flash calculations
17 Aug
Distillation of binary
mixtures.

8 Aug
Single Equilibrium stage
and flash calculations
15 Aug

Tut 3
29 Aug
TEST 1
5 Sept

10 Sept
Graphical methods.
Algebraic methods
17 Sept

12 Sept

Cascade
stages

8 Oct
of equilibrium

Tut 4

TEST 2
22Oct
Design
of
solvent
extraction processes

Dr S L Kiambi Weeks 1 4; 10-13

Dr P Naidoo Weeks 4-10

16 Aug
Distillation of
mixtures.

binary

23 Aug
Graphical and nongraphical equilibrium
methods, stage
efficiency
30 Aug

Batch distillation.

6 Sept
Absorption and stripping
of dilute solutions
13 Sept
Stage efficiency.

7 Sept
Graphical methods.

20 Sept
Mass transfer
Tut 5
coefficients and transfer
units
25 28Sept MID TERM BREAK

3 Oct
Tut 6
10 Oct

17 Oct
Processes for the mass
transfer between two
carrier phases
24 Oct
Tut 8

24 Aug
Graphical and nongraphical equilibrium
methods, stage
efficiency
31 Aug

HETP, HTU.

19 Sept

Tut 7
15 Oct

12.

1 Aug

3 Sept
Batch distillation.

1 Oct
Assignment deadline
4pm (handin);
Rate-based methods.

Period 3 9:35 10:20

CEE (Lecture)
27 July

22 Aug

Mass transfer coefficients

and transfer units

Period 6 12:20 13:05

CEE (lecture)

Review of Diffusion &

MT principles

20 Aug

27 Aug
Fenske equation.
Rate-based methods,

Friday

26 July

Tut 2

Graphical and nongraphical equilibrium

methods, stage efficiency

Thursday

Review of Diffusion &

MT principles

Single Equilibrium stage

and flash calculations

HOLIDAY

10.

Wednesday
Periods 4&5 10:30
12:10
CEE/EE-G02
(Tutorials)
25 July

4 Oct
Rate-based methods.

14 Sept
Stage efficiency.
21 Sept
Mass transfer
coefficients and transfer
units

5 Oct
Cascade of equilibrium
stages

11 Oct
Processes for the mass
transfer between two
carrier phases
18 Oct

12 Oct
Processes for the mass
transfer between two
carrier phases
19 Oct

Stage-wise processes

Stage-wise processes

25 Oct
Design
of
solvent
extraction processes

26 Oct
Design of solvent
extraction processes