Courses

New course! 

January semester 

Post-graduate level: ST233 - Thermal-fluids engineering for practical applications

Practical systems often involve a combination of thermal-fluids phenomena – in these systems, a working fluid serves as a medium for energy and entropy exchanges with the environment. The study of these exchanges in addition to the behavior of the fluid itself comprises thermal-fluids engineering. One example of such practical thermal-fluids systems is an air conditioning system, in which one investigates the frictional losses in the piping of the refrigerant fluid in addition to the heat transfer effected, and the thermodynamic of efficiency of the system. The study of turbojet engines, including the thrust generated by the engine as well as fuel combustion energy; temperature measurement by thermocouples; protective wear for adverse climatic conditions; cooling devices for electronic packages; and the thermal comfort in buildings, are other examples where an integrated study of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics in an integrated manner is necessary for a thorough understanding of the system. The traditional method of separating the thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics involved in these systems although allows for an in-depth study of each, may obstruct the student from realizing the interconnectedness of these phenomena, and hence from developing the associated skill in problem-solving. The focus of this course is to take on complex practical problems, delineate the associated thermal-fluids phenomena, such as the frictional losses in the working fluids, relevant heat transfer coefficients, entropy generation in different segments of the process, etc., and calculate system performance metrics based on this holistic evaluation. 

Detailed syllabus:

Dimensional analysis, Navier-Stokes equations, viscous flow, major and minor losses in pipes, boundary layers, lift and drag, heat transfer and fluid dynamics studies of laminar and turbulent flows, forced and natural convection, heat exchangers (LMTD and epsilon-NTU methods), heat transfer in boiling and condensation, analysis of steady flow components of thermodynamic plants as well as thermodynamic cycles such as the Rankine cycle and Otto cycle.

August semester 

Undergraduate-level: UEES 313 - Experimental Methods In Environmental Engineering  (theory and lab) 

The theory section of this course looks into purification and separation technologies that form the backbone of society and industry. Whether it is separating out impurities from water before drinking, removing carbon dioxide from air to maintain a healthy atmosphere, or even keeping out the Covid-19 virus using a mask, purification and separation technologies are critical in our sustainable and healthy living. The course covers fundamental mechanisms involved in several separation technologies, and subsequently, the engineering design of the system is taught so that the student can design practical systems in applications of their choice. The laboratory section of the course provides hands-on experience for all technologies taught in class. Lab activities include dye adsorption and desorption from water in a prototype of a practical adsorption column, carbon dioxide absorption in an absorption column, salt crystallization for zero liquid discharge.  A student project is to be performed such that both theoretical techniques taught in class can be implemented, and demonstration of the project in the lab will be required.  

Detailed syllabus:

Selection strategy of environmental remediation method for practical applications, Adsorption for pollutants in liquid and gaseous effluents - mechanisms of adsorption, isotherm & kinetic studies, desorption overview of packed and fluidized beds for practical scale. Absorption for CO2 sequestration - stripping, practical implementation in tray and packed columns, system design and sizing. Zero liquid discharge by evaporative techniques - energy requirement calculation, determination of salt composition. Coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation - fundamental principles, design and sizing of settling tanks. Membrane filtration - osmotic pressure, fouling, practical-scale system design parameters. Environmental impact of discussed remediation techniques - fuel requirement, global warming potential.

January semester:

Post-graduate level: ST219 - Separation Technologies for Sustainable Industrial Processes

This course looks into separation technologies with primarily an industrial focus. Consider any product that you use from the time you wake up till the end of the day - plastics, paper, pharmaceuticals, soaps and detergents, textiles, and many more. In this course, we focus on an important set of steps in the manufacture of such items that are critical in our daily lives, namely the ‘chemical separation’ steps. Such chemical separations typically account for 40-70% of the total cost of the complete manufacture process of the item. Cumulatively, separations in various industries add up to 15% of the world’s energy requirements. However, chemical separations and the concerned separation technologies are responsible for several important processes, such as extracting the final product from the synthesis medium; treating effluent streams before environmental discharge; recovering materials that can be reused for subsequent manufacture cycles; or isolating valuable intermediate products that can be used in a different industry, or sold. This course covers thermodynamic analysis of separation systems, mechanisms applicable to several important separations, system design for practical applications. A student project is a part of the course instruction, and allows familiarization of the student with the concepts taught in class.

Detailed syllabus: Major industrial separation methods, namely distillation, membrane separations, adsorption, absorption, and liquid-liquid extraction; basic design and analytical methods for the aforementioned technologies; thermodynamic analysis and second law efficiency; economic analysis; case studies on important practical separation problems; ecological impact of proposed technology in case study.