Integration Of Design And Selected Process Engineering Components Into The Unit Operations Laboratory

ABET 2000 criteria require each educational program to include meaningful design experience that grows with the students’ development. Design of any chemical, petroleum, biochemical, materials, environmental, etc. process involves proper selection and sizing of various process engineering components such pipes, tubes, valves, regulators, filters, pumps, compressors, mixers, instruments, etc. Most of these components are integrated into the set-ups used in a unit operations laboratory. Often the students start the unit operations laboratory without prior experience with or technical knowledge of these components. As a result the students seldom appreciate the need for such knowledge and experience that leads to the proper design, sizing, selection and operation of these components. Since ABET emphasizes the outcomes that are based on practicing profession of engineering, we found it very useful to have one-hour lectures as a part of the laboratory course in which we discuss various process components, their specifications, principles of operation, range of applications, reliability, safety, economic factors, and the basis for their selection in meeting a desired need.