Institute of Particle Process Engineering

Labor Mechanical Process Engineering I

Dr.-Ing. Kai Nikolaus

Organization:

Several laboratory experiments are carried out in Laboratory Mechanical Process Engineering I, spread over the semester at two-weekly intervals. The experiments are conducted in small groups. Students can arrange the dates of the experiments and exams individually with the supervisors. Each group must submit a report on each experiment (approximately 20 pages). The assessments for each experiment are divided into a preliminary test (short exam) and a final test (exam). Laboratory reports are also graded. 

As part of their preparation, students will receive instructions for the experiments, as well as a guide specifying important requirements for preparing the laboratory reports. All documents are made available via the OLAT learning platform. There are deadlines by which the lab reports must be submitted to the relevant supervisor.

Each laboratory experiment has several assessments:

  1. An examination before the experiment

  2. Evaluation of performance during the experiment

  3. Submission and evaluation of the laboratory report

  4. Examination after the experiment

To pass the 'Laboratory Mechanical Process Engineering I' module, you must pass all of the above examinations for each laboratory experiment.

Mandatory event and prerequisite for participation in the laboratory: Safety briefing on April 16, 2026, in room 44-466.

Registration for “Laboratory Mechanical Process Engineering I” takes place via KIS-Office and is possible from March 12, 2026, to April 15, 2026. All registered students will be informed of their group assignment by email and will receive the access code for the OLAT course at semester start. 
 

Content: 

Practical training on apparatus and systems for basic operations in mechanical process engineering (comminution, agglomeration, mixing etc.) accompanying the lecture Mechanical Process Engineering I. Implementation and evaluation of experiments and critical assessment of the results. Preparation of balances and application of methods for modeling the processes. Application of measurement methods for operating variables and particle measurement technology.

Contact / Tutor:

Dr.-Ing. Kai Nikolaus
 

Dates:

Dates by arrangement (no fixed date)
 

Additional information:
Lecture material:

The lecture material for the lab will be placed in OLAT.  

Laboratory experiments

Particle size distribution

  • Determination of the particle size distribution of a particulate material system using sieve analysis and scattered light measurement

Laboratory ball mill

  • Comminution of solid particles under the effect of mechanical forces using a ball mill to increase the specific surface area of the bulk material

Agglomeration

  • Combining powdery fine material into coarse-grained material portions using a pelletizing plate

Mixing

  • Combining different substances using paddle mixers and static mixers to produce a homogeneous mixture

 

Fluidized bed

  • Fluidization (loosening) of bulk solids by means of air intake to realize the basic operations of drying, agglomeration, mixing (partly with reaction), conveying