39E-7

J. F. VéLEZ-RUIZ¹, J. J. Martínez-Calderón, and R. C. Macedo y Ramírez. (1) Chemical and Food Engineering Department, Universidad de las Américas-Puebla, Sta. Catarina Martir, Cholula, Puebla, PUEBLA, 72820, Mexico

Fluid handling is an important subject in food engineering, normally taught as part of Transport Phenomena, Fluid Mechanics and/or Unit Operation lectures. In this topic, there are several aspects of fluid transport that need to be experimentally demonstrated. And, although a wealth of illustrative practices are available commercially in kits, they tend to be expensive and restrictive. Therefore, the present project was developed to build up a pilot plant unit to study several concepts related to the flow of Newtonian fluids, incorporating the Excel, VRML (virtual reality modeling language) and Word software packages, as tools to favor a better understanding. In order to build up the unit, one venturi and three orifice meters were manufactured, and the pre-selected fittings, pipe, rotameters and valves were purchased. To validate the performance of the unit, three Newtonian fluids (air, mineral oil and water) were handled; data of heads, pressure losses, and volumetric flows were registered. Employing the water as the experimental fluid, the calibration of two rotameters exhibited values of 0.95 and 0.99 against the reported value of 1.0. For venturi meter the experimental coefficient was 0.99 and 1.0 the reported one; orifice coefficients were 0.90, 0.98 and 0.99 for experimental, and 0.91, 0.98 and 0.99 for reported, corresponding to Do/Dt of 0.6, 0.7 and 0.8, respectively. Also some experimental friction factors were evaluated: 1.01 for 45º elbow, 1.12 for sudden contraction, 0.98 and 12.96 for gate (100 and 50% open), 27.5 for globe, and 135 for ball valves; being all the values in agreement with reported coefficients. This unit represents a useful didactic equipment to enhance the learning experience of students, that has been incorporated as part of the unit operations laboratory. In it is possible to carry out the next practices, both experimental and virtual: laminar and turbulent flow visualization as a function of Reynolds number, calibration of rotameters, evaluation of friction factors and energy losses due to friction, and calculation of power needs.