Physical Chemistry Industrial
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course is an introduction to transport phenomena applied to industrial chemical processes. The main learning objectives are:
i) the theoretical understanding of transport phenomena (momentum, heat and mass);
ii) the development of mathematical models using the laws of thermodynamics and conservation principles to analyze and solve balance of momentum, energy and mass applied to both steady-state and transient conditions;
iii) the understanding of dimensional analysis followed by the correlation of experimental data to solve the complex practical cases of fluid dynamics (calculation of pressure drop), heat transfer by convection (calculation of heat transfer coefficient) and mass transfer;
iv) Be familiar with numerical tools and software for the simulation and analysis of transport phenomena, such as the finite element method (FEM) or the simulation of flows in reactors and heat exchangers;
v) learning some fundamental aspects of heterogeneous catalysis such as fluid dynamics through a particle bed or diffusive aspects through porous solid catalytic granules.
i) the theoretical understanding of transport phenomena (momentum, heat and mass);
ii) the development of mathematical models using the laws of thermodynamics and conservation principles to analyze and solve balance of momentum, energy and mass applied to both steady-state and transient conditions;
iii) the understanding of dimensional analysis followed by the correlation of experimental data to solve the complex practical cases of fluid dynamics (calculation of pressure drop), heat transfer by convection (calculation of heat transfer coefficient) and mass transfer;
iv) Be familiar with numerical tools and software for the simulation and analysis of transport phenomena, such as the finite element method (FEM) or the simulation of flows in reactors and heat exchangers;
v) learning some fundamental aspects of heterogeneous catalysis such as fluid dynamics through a particle bed or diffusive aspects through porous solid catalytic granules.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will have acquired a deep theoretical and practical knowledge of the fundamental principles of transport phenomena applied to industrial chemical processes. This knowledge will allow the student to acquire:
i) the ability to mathematically model transport phenomena in complex chemical systems, using conservation laws (mass balances, energy, forces) and formulating appropriate equations for real problems;
ii) the skills in designing and analysing industrial equipment (sizing of pumps and heat exchangers), optimizing operating conditions and evaluating their economic impact (e.g. calculation of pumping costs or efficiency of a catalyst);
iii) the ability to use numerical tools, including technical graphs, tables and software, for the simulation and analysis of industrial chemical processes, with a critical view of the results obtained; and iv) the ability to solve complex problems related to process optimization, improving energy efficiency and sustainability (e.g. calculation of energy and economic savings due to thermal insulation or heat recovery), to respond to real industrial challenges.
i) the ability to mathematically model transport phenomena in complex chemical systems, using conservation laws (mass balances, energy, forces) and formulating appropriate equations for real problems;
ii) the skills in designing and analysing industrial equipment (sizing of pumps and heat exchangers), optimizing operating conditions and evaluating their economic impact (e.g. calculation of pumping costs or efficiency of a catalyst);
iii) the ability to use numerical tools, including technical graphs, tables and software, for the simulation and analysis of industrial chemical processes, with a critical view of the results obtained; and iv) the ability to solve complex problems related to process optimization, improving energy efficiency and sustainability (e.g. calculation of energy and economic savings due to thermal insulation or heat recovery), to respond to real industrial challenges.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
1) Kinetic theory and transport processes in gases: Pressure. Molecular collisions and mean free path. Viscosity, thermal conductivity, diffusion. Unified model of transport phenomena. Ideal and real gases: Lennard-Jones and Stockmayer potential. Transport properties and related constants. 2) Properties of liquids Density, compressibility, viscosity. Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. Poiseuille's law. Measurement of the viscosity of liquids.
3) Motion of fluids: Energy balance equation, continuity equation, Navier-Stokes, Euler and Bernoulli equations. Energy dissipation. Motion in ducts: total mechanical balance equation. Dimensional analysis (Buckingham's theorem and methods for determining dimensionless groups). The case of fluid motion in ducts: Euler number and Reynolds number, Fanning equation and Moody's abacus. Non-isothermal laminar flow. Turbulent flow. Turbulent viscosity (Prandtl model). Flow meters (Venturi meter, diaphragms, Pitot tube and Coriolis). Gas flow and nozzles. Fluid flow through porous masses. Solid flow in fluid media. Pumps, NPSH and calculation of head, power and pumping costs.
4) Heat transport: Conduction, convection and radiation. Steady state conduction: Fourier's law and applications. Thermal equivalent of Ohm's law (thermal resistance and equivalent thermal circuits). Conduction problems in complex systems: determination of the shape factor using the finite element method (FEM) and resolution of differential equations with Matlab. Conduction in transient regimes: Fourier-Poisson's second law and applications. Natural and forced convection: liminal coefficient and models to determine it (dimensionless Reynolds, Nusselt and Prandlt numbers). Sizing of heat exchangers (coaxial and shell and tube). Radiation: black body spectrum, Planck, Wien and Stefan*Boltzmann equations. Transmission of radiant energy between parallel and non-parallel surfaces (visibility factor). Heat transfer coefficient by radiation. Radiation of gases and vapors.
5) Mass transport: Diffusion flows. Fick's first and second law. Steady and transient diffusion. Diffusion and turbulent motion. Dimensional analysis applied to the calculation of mass transfer coefficients (Reynolds, Schmidt and Sherwood numbers). Analogy and Colburn numbers. Mass and heat transfer between a fluid and a solid surface and between a fluid in motion and a bed of particles. Boundary layer theory. Kinetic theories of mass transfer at the interface between two fluid phases (double film, penetration and film-penetration). Mass transfer with chemical reaction. Mass and heat transfer within porous solid masses. Thiele modulus and catalyst efficiency in isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. Introduction to catalysis and application aspects.
3) Motion of fluids: Energy balance equation, continuity equation, Navier-Stokes, Euler and Bernoulli equations. Energy dissipation. Motion in ducts: total mechanical balance equation. Dimensional analysis (Buckingham's theorem and methods for determining dimensionless groups). The case of fluid motion in ducts: Euler number and Reynolds number, Fanning equation and Moody's abacus. Non-isothermal laminar flow. Turbulent flow. Turbulent viscosity (Prandtl model). Flow meters (Venturi meter, diaphragms, Pitot tube and Coriolis). Gas flow and nozzles. Fluid flow through porous masses. Solid flow in fluid media. Pumps, NPSH and calculation of head, power and pumping costs.
4) Heat transport: Conduction, convection and radiation. Steady state conduction: Fourier's law and applications. Thermal equivalent of Ohm's law (thermal resistance and equivalent thermal circuits). Conduction problems in complex systems: determination of the shape factor using the finite element method (FEM) and resolution of differential equations with Matlab. Conduction in transient regimes: Fourier-Poisson's second law and applications. Natural and forced convection: liminal coefficient and models to determine it (dimensionless Reynolds, Nusselt and Prandlt numbers). Sizing of heat exchangers (coaxial and shell and tube). Radiation: black body spectrum, Planck, Wien and Stefan*Boltzmann equations. Transmission of radiant energy between parallel and non-parallel surfaces (visibility factor). Heat transfer coefficient by radiation. Radiation of gases and vapors.
5) Mass transport: Diffusion flows. Fick's first and second law. Steady and transient diffusion. Diffusion and turbulent motion. Dimensional analysis applied to the calculation of mass transfer coefficients (Reynolds, Schmidt and Sherwood numbers). Analogy and Colburn numbers. Mass and heat transfer between a fluid and a solid surface and between a fluid in motion and a bed of particles. Boundary layer theory. Kinetic theories of mass transfer at the interface between two fluid phases (double film, penetration and film-penetration). Mass transfer with chemical reaction. Mass and heat transfer within porous solid masses. Thiele modulus and catalyst efficiency in isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. Introduction to catalysis and application aspects.
Prerequisites for admission
The student must have sufficient knowledge of the concepts acquired in the basic courses of mathematics and physics: the basic rules of integration and derivation, scalar and vector quantities, the concepts of force, acceleration and friction. He must know stoichiometry. He must know the fundamental concepts of thermodynamics, including the definition and meaning of the main quantities (heat, work, enthalpy, entropy, specific heats, latent heats, etc.). In particular, it is recalled that the exams of "Chemical Thermodynamics" and "Chemical Kinetics with laboratory" must be taken before the exam of "Industrial Physical Chemistry".
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons (32 h) and numerical exercises (16 h). In particular, realistic cases of industrial practice will be solved in the classroom, concerning all the topics of the course and simulating the written test.
Teaching Resources
- L. Forni, I. Rossetti, Fenomeni di Trasporto, Cortina, Milano 2009;
- R. B. Bird, W. E.Stewart, E.N.Lightfoot, Transport Phenomena, 2nd Ed.,Wiley, London, 2002.
- Slides, video and tutorials available on the Ariel site of the course.
- R. B. Bird, W. E.Stewart, E.N.Lightfoot, Transport Phenomena, 2nd Ed.,Wiley, London, 2002.
- Slides, video and tutorials available on the Ariel site of the course.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of a written test and an oral test. For the written test, the student is required to solve a problem similar to the exercises done in class, of which there is a large case history both on the Ariel website of the course and in the adopted textbook, divided into solved and unsolved exercises. During the written test, students can consult all the material they deem appropriate, including texts, handouts, etc. Obviously, communication between students and with the outside world is not permitted, therefore PCs or tablets are not allowed. The duration is 2 hours. If the test is sufficient (minimum 15/30), the student is admitted to the oral test. The oral test consists of two questions on two topics covered during the course. During the evaluation of the written test, in addition to the ability to set up the solution, the ability to recognize the reasonableness of a result is ascertained. During the evaluation of the oral test, the student must first demonstrate that he/she has understood the physical foundation of the topic covered, the assumptions and its importance in the application field. At the same time, he/she must demonstrate that he/she is able to quantify the phenomenon under examination using the models seen during the course.
CHIM/02 - PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY - University credits: 6
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Chiarello Gian Luca
Professor(s)