Introduction to Engineering Calculations

Chapter1

 After completing this chapter, you should be able to:

Identify units commonly used to express both mass and weight in SI and American engineering system Perform unit conversions Apply the concept of dimensional homogeneity of equation

Whats in this chapter

Units and Dimension Conversions of Unit Systems of Units Force, Weight and Mass

Introduction
Describe the basic techniques for the handling of units and dimensions in calculations. Describe the basic techniques for expressing the values of process variables and for setting up and solving equations that relate these variables. Develop an ability to analyze and work engineering problems by practice.

CHEMIST VS CHEMICAL ENGINEER

Chemical process
RAW MATERIALS SEPARATION PROCESS INTERMEDIATE PRODUCT REACTION PROCESS

INTERMEDIATE PRODUCT
SEPARATION PROCESS

FINAL PRODUCT

Role of chemical engineer

You need to: Minimize production of unwanted byproducts Separate the good (product) from the bad (byproducts) Recover the unused reactants Maximize profit, minimize energy consumption, minimize impact on the environment

 petroleum and petrochemical pharmaceuticals polymers energy food consumer products biotechnology electronic and optical materials.

1.1 Units and dimension

Dimensions are: properties that can be measured such as length, time, mass, temperature, properties that can calculated by multiplying or dividing other dimensions, such as velocity (length/time), volume, density Units are used for expressing the dimensions such as feet or meter for length, hours/seconds for time.

Every valid equation must be dimensionally homogeneous: that is, all additive terms on both sides of the equation must have the same unit

1.2 Conversion of units

A measured quantity can be expressed in terms of any units having the appropriate dimension To convert a quantity expressed in terms of one unit to equivalent in terms of another unit, multiply the given quantity by the conversion factor Conversion factor a ratio of equivalent values of a quantity expressed in different units Let say to convert 36 mg to gram

1.2.1 Dimensional equation

1. Write the given quantity and units on left 2. Write the units of conversion factors that cancel the old unit and replace them with the desired unit 3. Fill the value of the conversion factors 4. Carry out the arithmetic value

 Convert 1 cm/s2 to km/yr2

1 cm s2 s2 h2 h2 day2 day2 yr2 m cm km m

1 cm s2

36002 s2 12 h2
2

242 h2 12 day2 km
yr2

3652 day2 12 yr2

1m 100 cm

1 km 1000 m

(3600 x 24 x 365)
100 x 1000

9.95 x 109 km/ yr

2

1.3 Systems of units

Components of a system of units: Base units - units for the dimensions of mass, length, time, temperature, electrical current, and light intensity. Multiple units- multiple or fractions of base unit
E.g.: for time can be hours, millisecond, year, etc.

Derived units - units that are obtained in one or two ways;

a) By multiplying and dividing base units; also referred to as compound units Example: ft/min (velocity), cm2(area), kg.m/s2 (force)
b) As defined equivalent of compound unit (Newton = 1 kg.m/s2)

3 systems of unit:
a) SI system

b) American engineering system

c) CGS system

Table 1: SI, American and CGS Units

Base Units

Quantity
Length Mass Moles Time Temperature

SI
meter kilogram

Symbol
m kg mole s K

American
foot pound mass pound mole second Rankine

Symbol
ft lbm lbmole s R

CGS
centimeter gram gram-mole second Kelvin

Symbol
cm g mole s K

grammole
second Kelvin

Multiple Unit Preferences

tera (T) = 10 giga (G) = 10 mega (M) = 10
12 9 6

centi (c) = 10 milli (m) = 10 micro () = 10

-2 -3 -6

kilo (k) = 10

12

nano (n) = 10

-9

Derived SI Units
Quantity Volume Force Unit Liter Newton (SI) Dyne (CGS) Pascal Joule Calorie Watt Symbol Equivalent to the Base Unit L N 0.001m3 = 1000 cm3 1 kg.m/s2 1 g.cm/s2

Pressure Energy/ Work Power

Pa J cal W

1 N/m2 1 N.m = 1 kg.m2/s2 4.184 J =4.184 kg.m2/s2 1 J/s = 1 kg.m2/s3

1.4 Force and weight

Force is proportional to product of mass and acceleration
Usually defined using derived units ; 1 Newton (N) 1 dyne 1 Ibf = = = 1 kg.m/s2 1 g.cm/s2 32.174 Ibm.ft/s2

Weight of an object is force exerted on the object by gravitational attraction of the earth i.e. force of gravity, g.
Value of gravitational acceleration:
g = 9.8066 m/s2

= 980.66 cm/s2
= 32.174 ft/s2

 gc is used to denote the conversion factor from a natural force unit to a derived force unit.
gc =

1 = 2 kg.m/s 1N

32.174 lbm.ft/s2 1 lbf

1.5 Dimensional homogeneity and dimensionless quantities

Every valid equation must be dimensionally homogeneous: that is, all additive terms on both sides of the equation must have the same dimensions

Exercises
Problems 2.1, 2.2, 2.8, 2.9, 2.26