Using process simulators in the study, design, and control of distillation columns for undergraduate chemical engineering courses

Nowadays high schools should teach students how to use the software that they will use at work. This article shows the importance to promote a closer relationship between the engineering computer programs offered by companies like Aspen Technology Inc., and the chemical engineering students. The methodology consists of creating a tutorial which illustrates, in an interesting way, subjects through engineering software packages. The main theme treated in this tutorial is distillation column simulation and design; it also includes a brief look into distillation column control by means of dynamic simulations. This article presents an interactive guide with three case studies, where the subjects of design and control for a binary simple system and the development of a simulation for a complex ternary system are studied. These guides were implemented in Separation Processes and Process Design courses and the guide evaluation results show an acceptance by the students. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 19: 621–630, 2011