Learning path · the trunk

Process engineering fundamentals.

The shared trunk: mass and energy balances, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and the unit-operation grammar every process path inherits.

The discipline-neutral core all five paths draw their shared topics from.

Topics live
8
Planned
33
Modules
9
The curriculum

Modules 0–8, in sequence

The complete path is laid out in the open. The first 8 topics (Modules 0–1) are live and linked; the rest are named by module and open as they are built.

M0Orientation: what process engineering is

3 live

M1Mass and energy balances (the foundation)

5 live

M2Fluid properties and where data comes from

planned
  • 2.1Density, viscosity, heat capacity: what each controlsPlanned
  • 2.2Mixtures and solutions: why concentration changes everythingPlanned
  • 2.3Gases: ideal behaviour and its limitsPlanned
  • 2.4Phase behaviour in one sitting: saturation, boiling, condensingPlanned
  • 2.5Where property data comes from — and how to know if it's rightPlanned

M3Fluid transport: pipes, pumps and valves

planned
  • 3.1Velocity, flow and line sizingPlanned
  • 3.2Pressure drop: friction, fittings, the Moody intuitionPlanned
  • 3.3Static head and hydrostaticsPlanned
  • 3.4Pumps: head, power, efficiencyPlanned
  • 3.5NPSH and cavitation: the silent pump killerPlanned
  • 3.6Pipe data: schedules, ID, wall thicknessPlanned
  • 3.7Valves and control in brief: what the process engineer specifiesPlanned

M4Heat transfer and exchangers

planned
  • 4.1Conduction, convection, U: the resistance picturePlanned
  • 4.2LMTD and exchanger first-pass sizingPlanned
  • 4.3Typical U values and fouling: ranges, not pointsPlanned
  • 4.4Condensers and reboilers: latent dutyPlanned
  • 4.5Heating and cooling media: steam, hot oil, cooling water, refrigerants, brinesPlanned

M5Separations: the grand tour

planned
  • 5.1Why separation costs most of the plant: the thermodynamic floorPlanned
  • 5.2Phase separation: flash, decanting, demistingPlanned
  • 5.3Distillation in one sitting: the workhorsePlanned
  • 5.4Absorption and stripping in briefPlanned
  • 5.5Solid–liquid separation: thickening, filtration, washingPlanned
  • 5.6Membranes and adsorption in briefPlanned

M6Gases and compression

planned
  • 6.1Gas density at pressure and temperature: the working calculationPlanned
  • 6.2Compression: ratios, stages, discharge temperaturePlanned
  • 6.3Utility gases: air, nitrogen, fuel gasPlanned

M7Steam, water and utilities

planned
  • 7.1Steam tables and how to read themPlanned
  • 7.2Humid air: psychrometrics for the process engineerPlanned
  • 7.3Cooling systems: water, brines, glycolsPlanned
  • 7.4Water in the plant: balance, hydrostatics, storagePlanned

M8The working engineer's discipline

planned
  • 8.1Worked examples and audit trails: showing your workingPlanned
  • 8.2Sanity checks and orders of magnitudePlanned
  • 8.3What fundamentals don't cover: codes, safety systems, specialists — the honest boundaryPlanned