Development of a Simulation Laboratory for Chemical Engineering Instruction

本项目将论证化学工程模拟实验室(CESL)作为教授化学工程概念的工具的可行性。CESL旨在向化学加工设备的操作灌输一种直观的感觉，这一理解通常是化学工程师在几年的工作经验后才能获得的。模拟可以补充传统的课堂和实验室体验，为学生提供逼真的接触过程和现象的机会，这些过程和现象太昂贵、太大、太耗时或太危险，无法通过其他方式进行研究。该项目将开发三个“流程”模块。第一个应描述水箱的排出。这个简单但有趣的问题将集中在模块开发的一般问题上。其他两个模块将根据第一个模块的经验进行选择，但预计将涉及几个处理单元(例如，泵、热交换器、反应堆)。一种适用于稳态运行，另一种适用于非稳态运行。除了这三个流程模块外，该项目还将开发一个管理流程模块使用方式的高级“控制”程序。控制程序将允许模块在三种模式(实验室、稳定或不稳定操作)中的任何一种模式下运行。控制程序设计的灵活性将允许将来加入更多的模块。这七名教职联合调查员将与工业顾问、学生助理、计算机供应商和图形编程专家密切合作，开发模拟模块。这些模块将被引入两门本科课程(秋季的单元操作课程和春季的运动学课程)。将通过平行控制小组对这些模块的教学影响进行评估，以比较量化指标和离职访谈，以获取学生的印象。已经制定了计划，在AIChE和ASEE的年度会议上传播本项目成果。开发的软件和文档将通过互联网上的ftp服务器分发给全国各地的化学工程部门。

This project will demonstrate the feasibility of a Chemical Engineering Simulation Laboratory (CESL) as a tool for instruction of chemical engineering concepts. The CESL is designed to instill an intuitive feel for the operation of chemical processing equipment, an understanding that is ordinarily obtained by chemical engineers only after several years of on-the-job experience. Simulation can complement traditional classroom and laboratory experiences by providing the students with realistic exposure to processes and phenomena that are too expensive, large, time-consuming, or dangerous to examine otherwise. This project will develop three "process" modules. The first shall characerize the draining of a tank. This simple, but interesting problem, will allow concentraing on the general problme of module development. The other two modules will be selected buased upon experience with the first but will are expected to involve several process units (e.g., pumpts, heat exchangers, reators). One will be appropriate for use in steaty-state operation, and the other in unsteady-state oepration. In addition to these three process modules, the project will develop a high-level "control" program that governs the way the process modules are used. The control program will allow the modules to be run in any of three modes (Laboratory, Steady, or Unsteady operation). Flexibility in the design of the control program will allow for the incorporation of additional modules in the future. The seven faculty co-investigators will work closely with industrial consultants, student assistants, the computer vendor, and graphics programming experts to develop the simulation modules. The modules will be introduced into two undergraduate courses (Unit Operations in the fall and Kinetics in the spring). Assessment will be made of pedagogic impact of the modules via parallel control groups to compare quantitative metrics and exit interviews to capture student impressions. Plans are in place disseminate the present the project results at annual meetings of the AIChE and ASEE. The developed software and documentation will be distributed to chemical engineering departments across the nation via an ftp server on the Internet.