BPE-20806 Separation Process Design

Course

Credits 6.00

Teaching methodContact hours
Lectures20
Practical extensively supervised47
Practical intensively supervised20
Course coordinator(s)dr. G Olivieri
Lecturer(s)dr. G Olivieri
dr. ir. A Rinzema
Examiner(s)dr. G Olivieri
dr. ir. A Rinzema

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

BPE-12806 Bioprocess Engineering Basics BT; PCC-12303 General Chemistry 1; PCC-12403 General Chemistry 2; MAT-14903 Mathematics 2; MAT-15003 Mathematics 3.

Continuation courses:

BPE-21306 Bioreactor Design; FPE-31306 Transfer Processes.

Contents:

Separating desired biological molecules from undesired by-products or feedstock residues is very important in the bioprocess industry and in biorefineries. It often requires separation of particles such as cells, organelles or product crystals from liquids, using sedimentation tanks, centrifuges or (membrane) filters. Separation of desired molecules from undesired ones is also frequently required, using for example extraction, adsorption, crystallization or evaporation. Finally it may be necessary to add or remove heat. This course teaches you how to design such separation units based on transport kinetics; it extends the theory from BPE-12806 which uses only equilibria. You will learn how to derive the algebraic equations or ordinary differential equations needed for the design from force, mass and energy balances, and how to use them to calculate the required size, the allowed feeding rate or the possible product recovery efficiency of a separator. Some attention is also paid to design of coupled process units. This course is part of a series of process engineering courses, so skills and knowledge from BPE-12806 are required, as well as skills and knowledge from 1st-year mathematics and physical chemistry courses.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- identify the rate-affecting phenomena in separators discussed in the course;
- identify the degrees of freedom in the design of a separator and explain their effect;
- set up the balance equations required for the design of a separator and solve them;
- evaluate the consequences of design choices, also in combinations of separators;
- optimize the operation of a separator, given some criterion.

Activities:

- attend lectures;
- study the syllabus and work on assignments (tutorials);
- do experiments;
- analyse and discuss the outcome.

Examination:

A closed-book exam consisting of open questions about elements from the list above (90% of the grade) and a report on the practical (10% of the grade).
Grades for both parts must be at least 5.5.

Literature:

A syllabus will be available at the WUR-shop.
Additional material will be made available in Blackboard.

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Compulsory for: BBTBiotechnologyBSc2AF
Restricted Optional for: MAMAquaculture and Marine Resource ManagementMScA: Aquaculture2AF