Fluid Mechanics

The overall aim of the course is to introduce students to the physical phenomena of fluid flow and the building of mathematical models of such phenomena. Initial classes are devoted to a comprehensive introduction to fluid mechanics while subsequent classes will focus on applications in chemical engineering. This course will discuss the principles of fluid mechanics as applied to engineering, including aspects such as fluid statics, pressure distribution, and buoyancy. The basic conservation laws of mass, momentum, and energy are analyzed in control volume and differential form. Students will gain an understanding of the Bernoulli equation, pipe flows, flow meters, pumps and compressors, irrotational flows, boundary layer theory, drag force on particles, non-Newtonian fluids. Further they will learn about fluidization, bubble mechanics, flow through porous media, packed beds and fluidized bed as well as filtration.