unit operation equipment

Unit Operation Equipment in Chemical Engineering

Unit operation equipment refers to the machinery and devices used to carry out fundamental physical or chemical processes in industries such as chemical, pharmaceutical, food processing, and petroleum refining. These operations are essential for transforming raw materials into desired products.

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## Common Types of Unit Operation Equipment

1. Heat Transfer Equipment
Used for heating or cooling fluids.
– Heat Exchangers (Shell & Tube, Plate, Finned)
– Boilers & Condensers
– Evaporators (Falling Film, Forced Circulation)
– Cooling Towers

2. Mass Transfer Equipment
Used for separation processes.
– Distillation Columns (Tray, Packed)
– Absorption & Stripping Columns
– Extraction Equipment (Mixer-Settlers, Centrifugal Extractors)
– Adsorption Towers (Activated Carbon Beds)

3. Mechanical Separation Equipment
Used for solid-liquid or solid-gas separation.
– Filters (Plate & Frame, Rotary Drum)
– Centrifuges (Decanter, Basket)
– Cyclones & Hydrocyclones
– Sedimentation Tanks (Clarifiers)

4. Mixing & Agitation Equipment
Used for blending or homogenizing materials.
– Stirred Tanks (Impeller Types: Propeller, Turbine)
– Static Mixers
– High-Shear Mixers

5. Size Reduction & Enlargement Equipment
Used for particle size modification.
– Crushers & Grinders (Jaw Crusher, Ball Mill)
– Cutters & Shredders
– Agglomerators & Granulators

6. Drying Equipment
Removes moisture from solids or slurries.
– Spray Dryers
– Fluidized Bed Dryers
– Rotary Dryers
– Freeze Dryers

7. Fluid Handling Equipment
For transporting liquids and gases.
– Pumps (Centrifugal, Positive Displacement)Compressors & Blowers
– Fans & Ventilation Systems

8. Reactors
For chemical reactions.
– (CSTR) Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactor