The Chemical Engineering laboratory is the practical cornerstone of B.Tech Chemical Engineering and B.Tech Process Engineering programmes. From distillation and extraction to heat transfer and reaction kinetics, the laboratory equipment must cover both unit operations and process control. This guide provides a complete equipment list, specifications, and AICTE norms for chemical engineering laboratory setup.
Chemical Engineering Lab Categories
- Chemical Process Principles Lab (Semester 3–4)
- Heat Transfer Operations Lab (Semester 5–6)
- Mass Transfer Operations Lab (Semester 5–6)
- Reaction Engineering Lab (Semester 6–7)
- Process Control and Instrumentation Lab (Semester 5–7)
- Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics Lab (Semester 3–4)
Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics Lab
| Equipment | Specification |
|---|---|
| Pipe friction apparatus | Laminar/turbulent flow in pipes, manometer bank, 0.01–10 m/s velocity range |
| Flow measurement apparatus | Venturimeter, orifice plate, rotameter in series — hydraulic bench fed |
| Centrifugal pump test rig | H-Q curve, efficiency, NPSH determination; 0.5 kW motor, 50 L/min max flow |
| Bernoulli’s theorem apparatus | Convergent-divergent channel with 8 pressure tappings |
| Reynolds apparatus | Dye injection visualisation of laminar, transitional, turbulent flow regimes |
| Hydraulic bench | Self-contained recirculating water supply, volumetric measurement tank |
Heat Transfer Operations Lab
| Equipment | Specification |
|---|---|
| Double pipe heat exchanger | Co-current and counter-current flow, Cu inner tube 16mm OD, 2m length |
| Shell and tube heat exchanger | 4-pass, 19 tubes × 1.2m, LMTD and overall HTC determination |
| Plate heat exchanger | Stainless steel plates, 0.04 m² area per plate, 20 plates |
| Forced convection over a tube | Blower unit, heated cylinder, thermocouple bank |
| Condensation and boiling heat transfer | Film condensation on a vertical surface, nucleate and film boiling observation |
| Thermal conductivity apparatus | Guarded hot plate method, k determination for insulation materials |
Mass Transfer Operations Lab
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| Equipment | Specification |
|---|---|
| Distillation column (glass) | Bubble cap or sieve plate, 50mm dia, 6-plate column, reflux condenser |
| Liquid-liquid extraction unit | Mixer-settler, 3 stages, glass construction |
| Packed column (absorption) | 50mm dia, Raschig ring packing, CO₂ absorption in NaOH |
| Tray dryer | 4-tray, 60°C to 80°C, airflow measurement |
| Spray dryer (laboratory scale) | Inlet air temp 0–250°C, feed rate 0.1–0.5 L/h, 1.5 kW |
| Fluidised bed dryer | 100mm dia column, variable airflow, pressure drop measurement |
| Crystallisation unit | Batch type, 5 L capacity, cooling crystallisation of salt/sugar solutions |
| Evaporator (single effect) | Climbing film, 0.1 m² heating area, steam or electric heated |
Reaction Engineering Lab
| Equipment | Specification |
|---|---|
| Continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) | 2 L glass vessel, variable speed stirrer, pH and temperature monitoring |
| Plug flow reactor (PFR) | Tubular reactor, saponification of ethyl acetate, conductivity monitoring |
| Batch reactor | 5 L glass jacketed, temperature-controlled (0–100°C), stirrer, condenser |
| Residence time distribution (RTD) apparatus | Conductivity-based tracer study for CSTR and PFR |
Process Control and Instrumentation Lab
| Equipment | Specification |
|---|---|
| Process control trainer (temperature) | PID controller, thermocouple, heater, process vessel |
| Flow control loop | Control valve, flow transmitter, PID controller, PC interface |
| Level control loop | Differential pressure transmitter, pneumatic control valve, PC SCADA |
| Pressure control loop | Pressure transmitter, I/P converter, back pressure regulator |
| Analytical control — pH | pH electrode, pH transmitter, acid-base dosing pumps, control valve |
| Data acquisition system | 16-channel, 4–20 mA input, RS-485/USB, SCADA compatible |
Safety Equipment (Mandatory for Chemical Labs)
- Emergency eyewash station — at every lab entrance, ANSI Z358.1 compliant
- Safety shower — within 10 seconds travel from any chemical workstation
- Chemical fume hood — minimum 1 per 6 students (100 FPM face velocity)
- Fire extinguishers — CO₂ for electrical, dry chemical for chemical fires
- Chemical spill kit — absorbent, neutralising agent, disposal bags
- Personal protective equipment — goggles, lab coat, chemical-resistant gloves, face shield
- Ventilation — minimum 10 air changes per hour in all chemical laboratory spaces
Budget Estimate for Chemical Engineering Labs
| Lab | Approximate Cost (INR) |
|---|---|
| Fluid Mechanics Lab | ₹12–18 lakhs |
| Heat Transfer Lab | ₹15–22 lakhs |
| Mass Transfer Lab | ₹25–40 lakhs |
| Reaction Engineering Lab | ₹15–25 lakhs |
| Process Control Lab | ₹20–35 lakhs |
Equipping a Lab? Get a Quote in 24 Hours
Scientico India manufactures CE-certified, ISO 9001:2015 laboratory equipment — exported to 60+ countries since 1993. Get a CIF proforma invoice within 24 hours.
Lab Equipment Featured in This Guide
Manufactured in-house by Scientico India — ISO 9001:2015 & CE certified, exported to 60+ countries. Request a CIF quote within 24 hours.
Aerobic Water Treatment Pilot Plant – HydraNexis HNX 06View details & get quote →
Orifice Discharge & Free Jet Flow Apparatus | FluidoSurge-X 116View details & get quote →
Bernoulli’s Principle Module | FluidoSurge-X 358View details & get quote →
Continuous and Indeterminate Beams Apparatus | FortiTestX 07View details & get quote →
Base unit for Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Training System | PolarX – 584View details & get quote →
Thermoelectric Engine | ThermoFlux – 7085View details & get quote →Setting up or upgrading a lab? Send your equipment list or syllabus — get a CIF proforma invoice within 24 hours.