(41d) Extensive Utilization of the Linear Least Squares Method for the Unit Operations Laboratory Class

There are eight experiments such as distillation I & II,
reaction, filtration, packed/fluidized beds, and hydrodynamics/CO₂
absorption offered for the senior unit operations class.  Most experiments need
the linear least-squares method to interpret experimental data and extract
desired relationships between operation variables, parameters, and constants
from raw experimental data.

A reaction rate constant and a reaction order are evaluated
by applying a series of reaction experimental data of concentrations of
reactants at various reaction durations to a reactor design equation with the
aid of the linear least squares method. A filter medium resistance and a
specific cake resistance are evaluated by applying a series of filtration
experimental data of filtration volumes at various filtration durations to a
filtration equation with the aid of the linear least squares method.

A relationship between friction factors and particle
Reynolds numbers is evaluated by applying a series of packed-beds experimental
data of pressure drops at various volumetric flow rates to a pressure drop
equation of a packed bed with the aid of the linear least squares method.  A
relationship between pressure drops and volumetric flow rates is evaluated by applying
a series of hydrodynamics experimental data of pressure drops at various
volumetric flow rates to the linear least squares method.

The objectives of applying the linear least-squares method
to raw experimental data or dependent variables obtained from raw experimental
data are for our students to be familiar with statistical analysis of
experimental data, to understand accuracies of experimental data with
correlation coefficients obtained from statistical analysis of experimental
data, to be able to recognize and omit some bad experimental data deviated noticeably
from the rest of experimental data set, and to identify possible experimental
error sources.