(145f) Chemical Engineering Laboratory at the University of Kansas | AIChE

(145f) Chemical Engineering Laboratory at the University of Kansas

Authors 

Griffin, D. - Presenter, University of Kansas
A comprehensive chemical engineering (ChE) laboratory course is an important component for adequately preparing engineering students for future careers in the chemical industry. The University of Kansas (KU) Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering (CPE) has recognized the importance of such a course and has recently constructed a state-of-the-art unit operations laboratory in their new engineering building. The department has committed significant resources towards the laboratory and recently modified how the course is taught. Chemical Engineering Laboratory I is offered to students in the fall semester of their senior year, and seeks to reinforce ChE fundamentals, technical writing, oral communication, teamwork, leadership skills, and safety practices. Three experiments focused on chemical kinetics, fluid mechanics and thermodynamics provide the connection with theory taught in the core ChE courses. The laboratory provides the first opportunity for undergraduate students to apply the knowledge and skills acquired from coursework to actual chemical engineering experiments. Chemical Engineering Laboratory II is offered to students in the spring semester of their senior year and includes additional elements on mass and heat transfer, controls, design, and cost analysis. The three experiments are focused on the distillation of a methanol-water mixture, production of biodiesel from vegetable oil, and PID control. The lab also exposes students to pilot plant scale equipment and reinforces theories taught in the advanced core ChE courses.

This presentation will provide an overview of the labs taught at KU and a detailed analysis of the recently introduced chemical kinetics and vapor-liquid equilibrium experiments.

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