EQUIPMENT DESIGN FOR CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher: FABIO GIUDICE

Expected Learning Outcomes

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 techniques necessary for the design of pressure pipes and vessels and for the optimal choice of materials will be developed.

Course Structure

The course will be divided into two modules, respectively 61 hours (Module A) and 30 hours (Module B), held by Prof. Giudice. Both modules will consist of:

Frontal lessons

Exercises on the topics of the course

Required Prerequisites

Important: Knowledge of the fundamentals of Physics and Mathematics.

Attendance of Lessons

According to regulation, compulsory attendance for 70% would be required.

Detailed Course Content

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.

Module B

  • Pressure vessels.
  • Piping systems.
  • Heat-transfer equipment.
  • Approaches to materials selection.

Textbook Information

Module A

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


Module B

  • G. Towler, R. Synnott, Chemical Engineering Design: Principles, Practice and Economics of Plant and Process Design,,Butterworth-Heinemann, 2013 (reference)
  • M.F. Ashby, Materials Selection in Mechanical Design, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2015 (consultation)

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1Concepts of elasticity theory, Hooke's law, concepts of stress and strain.Mechanics of materials
2Equilibrium of a solid body, internal actions and constraint reactions. Isostatic and hyperstatic. Axial and tangential forces.Mechanics of materials
3Concepts of tensile / compressive, bending, torsion and shear stresses. The stress tensor. Principal and ideal stresses.Mechanics of materials
4Fatigue of materials.Shigley
5Bending beams, methods for determining stresses and displacements. Principle of virtual works and singularity functions.Mechanics of materials/Shigley
6Thermal stresses. Viscoelasticity. Creep and relaxation.Notes
7Gears and speed reducers.Shigley
8Fracture mechanics.Shigley
9Pressure vessels.Towler & Sinnott
10Heat-transfer equipment.Towler & Sinnott, teacher notes
11Piping systems.Towler & Sinnott, teacher notes
12Approaches to materials selection.Ashby

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Oral examination together on both the modules. 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.

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.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

  • Determination of constraint reactions and of internal forces and moments
  • Determination of stress and strain status
  • Design of transmission shafts
  • Fatigue of materials
  • Pipes analysis and design
  • Criteria for materials selection