CBE 3732 Unit Operations: Measurement, Valves, Presentations, and Personal Finance

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering temperature and flow measurement instruments, valves and process piping, professional technical presentation skills, and personal financial fundamentals for engineers.

Thermocouple

A temperature measurement device consisting of a junction of wires made from two different metals that produces a temperature-dependent voltage relative to a reference junction at a known temperature.

Seebeck Coefficient

The slope of the measured voltage versus temperature ($\frac{dV}{dT}$) produced by a thermocouple, which varies with temperature rather than being a constant value.

Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD)

A temperature sensor that determines temperature by measuring the predictable change in electrical resistance of a metal (typically platinum, nickel, or copper) as temperature changes.

Platinum Resistance Thermometer (PRT)

The most common class of RTD, utilized due to platinum's excellent corrosion resistance, wide useful temperature range, long-term stability, linear temperature-resistance behavior, and suitable temperature coefficient of resistance ($\alpha$).

Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) Thermistor

A ceramic or metal-oxide temperature-sensitive resistor whose electrical resistance decreases as temperature increases, commonly used for temperature sensing or inrush current limiting.

Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) Thermistor

A temperature-sensitive resistor whose electrical resistance increases with rising temperature, often employed as a self-resetting current limiter or circuit fuse.

Rangeability (Turndown Ratio)

The operational range of fluid flow rates that a flowmeter can measure within an acceptable level of accuracy, expressed as a ratio of maximum to minimum flow (e.g., $10:1$).

Gear Flowmeter

A positive displacement flowmeter where entering fluid is transported around the outer perimeter of two meshing gear wheels in the cavity spaces between gear teeth.

Oval Gear Flowmeter

A positive displacement flowmeter in which fluid forces a pair of oval-shaped geared rotors to rotate, capturing and transferring fixed volumes of fluid in the crescent pockets between the gears and housing.

Rotary Abutment Flowmeter

A positive displacement meter containing three synchronized rotors where a central rotor rotates opposite two displacement rotors via timing gears, offering low pressure drop and high viscosity fluid compatibility.

Venturi Tube Flowmeter

A constriction-type differential pressure meter with a smooth converging inlet and diverging diffuser section, offering the lowest friction loss among constriction-type flowmeters.

Orifice Plate Flowmeter

A differential pressure flowmeter that uses a flat metal plate with an opening clamped between flanges, characterized by the highest permanent friction loss among head meters.

Pitot Tube

A differential pressure flow instrument that measures local fluid velocity by comparing dynamic impact pressure at the tube tip with static pressure sampled from perpendicular wall holes.

Vortex Shedding Flowmeter

An oscillatory flowmeter where fluid passing a bluff body sheds alternating vortices with a frequency ($f$) that is directly proportional to volumetric flow rate according to $V = k \times d \times f$.

Fluidic Flowmeter

An oscillatory flowmeter in which fluid oscillates between interior sidewalls via feedback channels diverted to the inlet, with oscillation frequency detected by a cooled, electrically heated thermistor.

Target Flowmeter

A flowmeter consisting of a disc or target suspended at a right angle inside the pipe, measuring dynamic fluid impingement force using strain gauges to produce a signal proportional to the square of flow rate.

Thermal Mass Flowmeter

A meter that measures gas mass flow rate by heating sensor tube coils and measuring the temperature-induced electrical resistance differential across an upstream and downstream winding using a Wheatstone bridge.

Coriolis Flowmeter

An inline meter that measures mass flow rate directly by vibrating a flow tube and measuring the phase shift caused by the Coriolis acceleration of fluid moving through the oscillating conduit.

Rotameter (Variable Area Flowmeter)

A flowmeter where fluid moves upward through a vertical tapered tube, lifting a float to a height where upward buoyant and drag forces balance the downward gravitational weight of the float.

Gate Valve

A multi-turn valve designed strictly for on/off isolation service (fully open or fully closed) that provides an unobstructed, straight-through flow path with minimal pressure drop.

Globe Valve

A multi-turn valve featuring a disc translating perpendicular to an internal seat opening, providing excellent throttling and flow regulation despite a relatively high pressure drop.

Needle Valve

A multi-turn valve featuring a long, tapered needle-like point at the end of the stem that provides fine, precise flow adjustments with linear flow characteristics.

Ball Valve

A quarter-turn valve using a ported spherical ball to open or close fluid flow quickly, characterized by low pressure drop, high reliability, and clear visual handle orientation.

Butterfly Valve

A quarter-turn valve that controls flow using a central disc rotated $90^\circ$, commonly selected for large-diameter lines due to substantial savings in weight, space, and cost.

Check Valve

A self-actuating mechanical valve that permits fluid flow in only one direction and closes automatically to prevent reverse flow (e.g., swing, lift, and ball check designs).

Pipe (Engineering Definition)

Heavy-walled conduit manufactured in moderate lengths ($20\text{--}40\,\text{feet}$) with slightly rough walls, designated by nominal diameter and schedule, and joined using threads, flanges, or welds.

Tubing (Engineering Definition)

Thin-walled conduit supplied in long continuous coils or straight lengths with smooth walls, designated by true inside or outside diameter, and joined using compression, flare, or soldered fittings.

Pipe Schedule

A standardized designation representing pipe wall thickness, where the outside diameter stays identical for a given nominal size while wall thickness increases with schedule number (e.g., Schedule 40 vs. Schedule 80).

National Pipe Thread (NPT)

The standard U.S. specification for tapered pipe threads, creating a mechanical seal between the mating thread flanks that is typically sealed with PTFE tape or paste.

Two-Ferrule Compression Fitting

A tube joining system (such as Swagelok) comprising a front ferrule that forms a seal against the body and a rear ferrule that swages down to mechanically grip the outer tube wall.

7x7 Rule

A traditional presentation guideline recommending no more than 7 lines of text per slide and 7 words per line, though modern guidelines emphasize that following it still results in excessive text.

Aspect Ratio (Presentation Graphics)

The proportional ratio of image width to image height, which must be locked and preserved when resizing slides or pictures to avoid visual distortion.

Oral Presentation Pacing Rules

Delivery pacing standards that recommend allowing $1\text{--}2\,\text{minutes}$ per slide and targeting a speaking pace of approximately $130\,\text{words per minute}$ when scripting or reciting from memory.

Executive Presence

The projection of confidence, authority, and professional engagement during a talk, which is undermined by upward inflection, excessive filler words, or defensiveness during questioning.

Progressive Tax System

An income tax structure where income is divided into brackets and taxed at incrementally higher rates, ensuring that earning an additional dollar never reduces total net take-home pay.

Form W-4

An IRS form completed upon hire that provides tax withholding information to the employer to align payroll withholding with an employee's estimated annual tax liability.

Health Savings Account (HSA)

A tax-advantaged account tied exclusively to high-deductible health plans where pre-tax funds roll over year-to-year and remain portable across employers for qualified medical expenses.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

An employer-administered pre-tax healthcare account used for out-of-pocket medical expenses that is subject to a strict annual 'use it or lose it' forfeiture rule.

401(k) Matching

An employer contribution that matches an employee's pre-tax retirement savings up to a fixed salary percentage (typically $4\text{--}8\%$), offering guaranteed immediate return on investment.

Traditional IRA

An individual retirement arrangement where contributions are made with pre-tax income to reduce current taxable income, with taxes deferred until distributions are taken in retirement.

Roth IRA

An individual retirement arrangement funded with post-tax earnings, allowing all investment growth and qualified withdrawals in retirement to be completely tax-free.

4% Safe Withdrawal Rate

A retirement planning rule of thumb stating that withdrawing $4\%$ of an investment portfolio's starting balance annually will allow savings to last throughout retirement without depleting.

Rule of 72

A calculation shortcut estimating the number of years required for an investment to double in value by dividing $72$ by the annual percentage rate (APR).

Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH)

A financial economic hypothesis asserting that asset prices fully reflect all available information, meaning the market prices securities accurately and no structural bargains exist.

Collision Insurance

Auto insurance coverage that pays to repair or replace the policyholder's vehicle if it is damaged in a crash, generally required by lenders for financed vehicles.

Comprehensive Insurance

Auto insurance coverage that protects against incidental vehicle damage caused by non-collision events such as theft, vandalism, falling objects, weather, or fire.