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

Authors

  • Isabel M. Joao ADEQ, ISEL – Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal. CEG-IST, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8690-1584
  • Joao M. Silva ADEQ, ISEL – Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal. CATHPRO-CQE, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1244-6483

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijep.v7i3.6795

Keywords:

Active learning, Aspen HYSYS, Distillation, Factorial design, Higher order thinking skills, Problem solving

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

Author Biographies

Isabel M. Joao, ADEQ, ISEL – Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal. CEG-IST, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal

Isabel Maria João is a Professor at the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, School of Engineering (ISEL), at the Chemical Engineering Department since 2000. She has 9 years of Industrial experience in a Plastic industry where she was the chief of the laboratory of I&D and quality control and improvement. Isabel received her PhD degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from IST/UTL and a Master degree in Management and Quality of Materials from FCT/UNL and she also holds a graduation in Chemical Engineering from IST/UTL. She is a researcher at the Centre for Management Studies of IST (CEG-IST) and her areas of interest include Innovative Product and Process Design, Quality Management and Decision Analysis and In-formation Systems.

Joao M. Silva, ADEQ, ISEL – Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal. CATHPRO-CQE, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal

João Miguel Silva is a Coordinator Professor at the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, School of Engineering (ISEL) and the Head of the Chemical Engineering Department since 2010. He is member of the research center CQE – Centro de Química Estrutural in the Heterogeneous Catalysis and Catalytic Processes (CATHPRO) group at IST. João received his PhD degree in Chemical Engineering in 1994 from IST/UTL and is co-author of over 50 articles in peer-review journals. His areas of interest include Innovative Product and Process Design, Process Simulation and Heterogeneous Catalysis, specifically with zeolites.

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Published

2017-09-29

How to Cite

Joao, I. M., & Silva, J. M. (2017). Designing Solutions by a Student Centred Approach: Integration of Chemical Process Simulation with Statistical Tools to Improve Distillation Systems. International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy (iJEP), 7(3), pp. 4–18. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijep.v7i3.6795

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 3 (2017)

Section

Papers