ChE 301

Introduction to
Transport Phenomena
Grade Trends….
 Transport Phenomena Trivia
• Conceptually, Transport Phenomena is the toughest course you will ever encounter in your under-graduate
studies (True/False?)

• Mathematically, Transport Phenomena is the toughest course you will ever encounter in your under-
graduate studies (True/False?)

• I don’t need to retain anything in this course since every problem in the book is easily solvable in
ChemCAD/ASPEN/a Process Simulator (True/False?)

• As a Practicing Engineer, I need Transport Phenomena because….

• The number of useful mathematical relationships that you need to take away from this course is:
• > 10
• 5 – 10
• <5
• 1 ? You’re kidding me right?
 The course in a nutshell….
THE GOVERNING EQUATION OF TRANSPORT PHENOMENA

Law of conservation of mass Bank Account Analogy

Law of conservation of momentum (Newton’s second law)

Law of conservation of energy (1st Law of Thermo)

An equation of state (Ideal Gas)

Unsteady + Convection = Diffusion + Source/Sink

Number of such differential equations to be solved depends on the physics:

Velocity, temperature, species
 The General Conservation Equation
Input  Output 
(Enters   Generation   (Leaves  Consumption  Accumulation 
   (Produced     
  (Consumed   (Buildup


 through 
    through   
  
 system   within  system   within   within 
  system)     the system)  system) 
boundaries)  boundaries) 
Troubleshooting and Optimization
 Levels of Transport Phenomena
• Macroscopic (CHE 201, 206, 303, 305, 321, 408, 411/412)
 Steady-state, perfectly mixed, ideal, large length scales
• Microscopic (CHE 301)
 Steady/unsteady, well mixed at small scales, small length scales
• Molecular (Some in PChem/Thermo II)
 Molecular level, kinetic theory of gases, transport property
determination
 How to succeed in this course?
• Less than one handful of mathematical techniques! Do not feel intimidated! (rinse and repeat)

• Solving the diffy Q is the easy part! Identifying the diffy Q and the corresponding initial/boundary conditions is

more than half the work.

• “Write” as you listen to the lectures to better retain the material. Concepts are easy but are often forgotten during

tests!

Exams
• Class lecture notes and cheat sheets will not be allowed during exams. List of formulae will be provided and

occasionally the textbook will be allowed.

• Please put your cell/smart phones or other mobile devices away during exams

• DEDP students will typically get a 6-day window starting from the day the on-campus students have their exams