Designing Solutions by a Student Centred Approach: Integration of Chemical Process Simulation with Statistical Tools to Improve Distillation Systems

Abstract

Abstract-Projects thematically focused on simulation and statistical techniques for designing and optimizing chemical processes can be helpful in chemical engineering education in order to meet the needs of engineers. We argue for the relevance of the projects to improve a student centred approach and boost higher order thinking skills. This paper addresses the use of Aspen HYSYS by Portuguese chemical engineering master students to model distillation systems together with statistical experimental design techniques in order to optimize the systems highlighting the value of applying problem specific knowledge, simulation tools and sound statistical techniques. The paper summarizes the work developed by the students in order to model steady-state processes, dynamic processes and optimize the distillation systems emphasizing the benefits of the simulation tools and statistical techniques in helping the students learn how to learn. Students strengthened their domain specific knowledge and became motivated to rethink and improve chemical processes in their future chemical engineering profession. We discuss the main advantages of the methodology from the students' and teachers perspective.

A Stochastic Simulator of a Multi-Component Distillation Tower Built as an Excel Macro

“…Experiences on the didactic use of chemical process simulators are included in [20], where Aspen HYSIS was used for training engineers in the handling of distillation trains and in [21] where Honeywell Unisim Design was used in training operators of an isopropanol plant. Regarding the reports on the development of home-grown process simulators in educational institutions for pedagogical purposes, authors in [22] describe the steady state simulator Lazarus, run in UML and developed as a freeware with the option of incorporating modules from third parties, authors in [23,24] developed programs to study the dynamics of heat exchanger networks, authors in [25] provided a web-based natural gas distribution system simulator, authors in [26] described the LABVIRTUAL learning platform which includes steady-state simulators, and authors in [27] presented a dynamic reactor simulator programmed in Matlab.…”

Achieving a better understanding of binary azeotropic mixtures distillation through Aspen Plus process simulations

“…Process simulations have been successfully integrated into chemical engineering textbooks . Regarding the articles, the use of commercial and noncommercial process simulators with educational purpose has also been extensively reported . However, the details on how to use the simulator's capabilities for improving the students’ understanding are not always provided.…”

Using Mathcad to facilitate the design of chemical reactors involving multiple reactions

“…Moreover, a significant number of computer‐aided educational experiences by using mathematical software packages or programs, which were developed both commercially and individually by instructors, can be also found in the chemical engineering‐pedagogical field. Some illustrative examples are described below: (a) IPython software was applied for teaching kinetics of complex heterogeneously catalyzed reactions ; (b) DHXA software was used to teach transient analyses of shell‐and‐tube heat exchangers ; (c) a submerged membrane bioreactor simulator was built with a friendly interface ; (d) Chemical Workbench system was used for the simulation of a wide spectrum of physical and chemical phenomena ; (e) CHEMSIMUL simulator was applied for chemical kinetics ; (f) heterogeneous chemical kinetics at a gas‐surface interface was analyzed by CHEMKIN ; (g) XSEOS is an Excel add‐in for computer properties with thermodynamic model often used for teaching chemical engineering thermodynamics ; (h) Matlab is used for educating students in chemical process control , for the design of continuous contacting countercurrent unit operations and for solving chemical engineering problems using the arc‐length continuation method ; (i) polymath can be employed for both chemical equilibrium calculations and chemical reaction engineering (e.g., modeling isomerization of unsaturated fatty acid with catalyst deactivation) ; (j) MATHEMATICA was used to illustrate important aspects of nonlinear dynamics drawn from the chemical and biochemical engineering field and to estimate the parameters of several models that describe transient chemical engineering processes .…”