Unit Operations and Unit Processes

Unit Operations - Examples

  • Fluid flow (transportation of gases and liquids)

  • Size reduction (reducing the size of materials for ease of handling)

  • Filtration (separate solid from liquid by forced flow)

  • Sedimentation (separate solid from liquid by gravity)

  • Classification (divide mixture of particles into different “classes” on the basis of settling velocities)

  • Heat exchange (change temperature of a stream)

  • Evaporation (remove water from liquid)

  • Humidification (add water to air) and, Dehumidification (remove water content of air)

  • Gas absorption (remove one component of a gas mixture)

  • Distillation (separation of a mixture into its components on based on their difference in vapor pressure)

  • Extraction (separation of a mixture into its components on based on their difference in solubility in different liquids)

  • Drying (removal of mixture from solids, by contacting with hot dry air)

Brief discussion of selected topics (shown in bold fonts) of above are covered in Units-II, III, and IV. More elaborate discussions will be in your other courses in the following semesters in the subjects: Fluid Mechanics, Mechanical Operations, Heat Transfer, and Mass Transfer.