EQUIPMENT DESIGN FOR CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

Preliminary information and basic techniques are provided for the mechanical design of components of industrial plants, in particular in the field of chemical and petrochemical plants.

Topics related to the behavior of materials under mechanical and / or thermal loads under static and dynamic conditions and design of simple mechanical components will be dealt with.

In particular, the notions and tools for the design of some basic plant elements (pressure tanks, pipes, heat exchangers), the approaches to the optimal choice of materials, and those to the life cycle design and environmental sustainability, will be developed.

The course will be divided into two Modules A and B, lectured by Prof. Fargione and Prof. Giudice, respectively. Both modules will consist of: frontal lessons; exercises on the course topics.

Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

The teaching material consists of the slides of the lessons and additional documentation (studium.unict.it).

Important: Knowledge of the fundamentals of Physics and Mathematics.

Attendance is mandatory. Lessons will take place three times a week in the first semester of the second year.

Module A

·       Concepts of elasticity theory, Hooke's law, concepts of stress and strain,

·       Equilibrium of a solid body, internal actions and constraint reactions. Isostatic and hyperstatic. Axial and tangential forces.

·       Mass and area geometry.

·       Concepts of tensile / compressive, bending, torsion and shear stresses. The stress tensor. Principal and ideal stresses.

·       Bending beams, methods for determining stresses and displacements. Principle of virtual works and singularity functions.

·       Euler's critical load.

·       Fatigue of materials.

·       Thermal stresses. Viscoelasticity. Creep and relaxation.

·       Introduction to fracture mechanics.

·       Axles and transmission shafts.

·       Fundamental of lubrication.

·       Welding.

Module B

·       Pressure vessels.

·       Heat-transfer equipment.

·       Piping systems.

·       Approaches to materials selection.

·       Life cycle design and environmental sustainability.

Module A

• Ferdinand Beer, Jr. Johnston, E. Russell, John DeWolf, David Mazurek, Mechanics of Materials, McGraw-Hill (consultation book)
• Richard G. Budynas, Shigley's mechanical engineering design, McGraw-Hill Education (reference book)

Module B

• G. Towler, R. Sinnott, Chemical Engineering Design: Principles, Practice and Economics of Plant and Process Design, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2013 (reference book)
• M.F. Ashby, Materials Selection in Mechanical Design, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2015 (consultation book)
• F. Giudice, G. La Rosa, A. Risitano, Product Design for the Environment: A Life Cycle Approach, CRC/Taylor & Francis, 2006 (consultation book)

Oral exam. Elements to be evaluated: relevance of the answers, quality of their contents, ability to connect with other topics within the program, ability to report examples, quality of technical language, and overall expressive ability.

Learning assessment can also be carried out remotely, should conditions require it.

To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, students can request a meeting in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measure, according to the educational goals and specific needs. In this case, it is advisable to contact the CInAP (Centre for Active and Participated Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or SLD) professor of the Department where the Degree Course is included.

• Determination of constraint reactions and of internal forces and moments
  
• Determination of stress and strain status
• Design of transmission shafts
• Fatigue of materials
• Design of thin-walled vessels
• Types of heat-transfer equipment
• Criteria for materials selection