Concept and role of unit operation in industries, force, pressure, work, power,
heat.

Size reduction, necessity of size reduction, principles of size reduction,
characteristics of size reduced/ comminuted product, expression for power
required by machines, Rittinger’s law, Kick’s law, Bond’s law and work index,
simple numerical problems.
Size reduction equipment:
Classification of size reduction equipment, general description of crushers: Jaw
crusher, Gyratory crusher, Roll crusher, Grinders: Hammer mill, Ball mill, critical
speed of Ball mill, difference in crushing and grinding, Equipment operation: (i)
Open circuit (ii) Closed circuit.

Characterization of solid particles, particle shape, sphericity, particle size, particle
size measurement by screen analysis, mesh, screen aperture or screen size
opening, differential and cumulative methods of analysis of particle size, specific
surface of mixture, average particle size, number of particles in a mixture.
Screen analysis: Tyler standard screen series (or US sieve series), screening, types
of screening equipment their construction, working, vibrating screens, Grizzlies
and Trommels, comparison of Grizzlies and Trommels.

Mechanical and pneumatic conveying equipment, classification of conveying
equipment, general construction, working and industrial application of Belt
conveyors, Chain conveyors, Bucket conveyors, Bucket elevators, Screw
conveyors, Pneumatic conveyors.

Filtration and sedimentation: define filtration, filter medium, characteristics of
filter medium, filtrate, filter aids, characteristics of filter aids.
Types of filtration: (i) cake filtration (ii) deep bed filtration Classification of filter equipment: (i) clarifying filter (ii) cake filter. Clarifying filter- principle, construction, working and industrial application of pressure filters: plate and frame filter press, rotary drum filter, leaf filter, sand filter. Classifiers, thickeners, centrifugal filtration – centrifuge.

Utility of mixing, mixing equipment used for liquid-liquid, liquid-solid, liquid-gas systems, impellers, propellers, turbines, flow pattern in agitated vessels, vortex formation and its prevention.

Mechanical operation has significant importance in the area of chemical engineering. Adequate competency needs to be developed by giving sufficient practical knowledge in mechanical operation (characterization of solid particles, size reduction, energy requirement and mechanical separations) A field visit may be conducted to expose the working of various conveyors and filtration equipment in industries.