Page 8 - Fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and mass transfer

FOREWORD

Professor K. S. N. Raju has presented the technical com- applications (absorption, distillation, crystallization, adsorp-
munity with an interesting, valuable, and unique book on the tion), and equipment (tray and packed columns, crystallizers,
practice of chemical engineering in the broad areas of fluid dryers, and membrane modules), and anticipates and resolves
mechanics, heat transfer, and mass transfer. Based upon his operational issues (column flooding, liquid inclusion in
five decades of experience as an educator, researcher, and crystals). It will be difficult to find an area in the chemical
consultant, Professor Raju has chosen to adopt the process industries not covered in this comprehensive book!
question–answer format. While this book is wide in scope, it is also quite detailed.
Consider, for example, an engineer faced with the analysis As an example, an engineer who drills down into the chapter
and design of a fired heater. This book on chemical engi- on crystallization will learn about the factors that restrict the
neering practice immediately answers design questions such productivity and purity of crystals (agglomeration, liquid
as how the tubes are arranged in the furnace and how many impurities inside and outside the crystals, cavitation).
rows are usually provided and also the rationale for the Professor Raju has structured his book in the question–
optimum design choice. In addition, the book introduces the answer format, which he feels stimulates interest in the
theoretical background of radiant heat transfer by explaining subject matter and focuses attention on specific topics. I
concepts such as emissivity and absorptivity and key design completely agree. As I read the book, I found that it
relationships like the Stefan–Boltzmann equation and precisely explained concepts and applications in areas
Kirchoff’s law. Finally, this thorough book presents and where I have some expertise, and also sparked my interest
resolves operational issues, for example, hot spots, high- and gave me new understanding in subjects outside my
temperature creep, corrosion, and tube life. Professor Raju’s specialization.
book equips the practicing engineer with the tools to design a The style, structure, preciseness, and clarity of Professor
fired heater as well as to diagnose and resolve operational Raju’s book are a reflection of his five decades of experi-
problems. ence as an educator, researcher, and consultant. As an
Radiant Heat Transfer is one of the eight chapters in the educator, he has taught graduate and undergraduate stu-
section on Heat Transfer, which cover the theory and appli- dents, created and delivered on-site courses for industry,
cation of heat transfer in the process industries. In addition to and developed and nurtured new chemical engineering
Heat Transfer, the book has two other sections, Fluid departments. He has published over 90 papers in interna-
Mechanics and Mass Transfer. Each section introduces the tional journals. His consultancy has covered the chemical,
theoretical background, describes the applications and equip- petroleum, petrochemical, and fertilizer industries and
ment, and anticipates and resolves operational issues. The government organizations. Professor Raju’s students report
Mass Transfer section introduces underlying concepts (phase that his teaching style was always practical, focusing on
equilibria, mass transfer coefficients, correlations involving solving real-world problems rather than just teaching a
dimensionless numbers, polymorphic structures), describes concept; he invariably used examples from his extensive

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