Describes a single input/single output feedback control system design program for IBM PC and compatible microcomputers. Uses a heat exchanger temperature control loop to illustrate the various applications of the program. (ML)

Presents the 1990 American Society for Engineering Education award lecture for the Chemical Engineering Division. Following a brief outline of what the computing world includes, the lecture traces computing technology from the early years to milestones, as well as current trends, in both hardware and software development. Highlights the…

Presents three specific examples of chemical engineering problems which can be interactively solved on personal computers with commercially available software. Illustrates the potential impact of interactive problem solving on chemical engineering. Discusses how this has been accomplished at Ben Gurion University (Israel) and the University of…

Describes an experiment involving data acquisition by a computer, digital signal transmission from the computer to a digital logic circuit and signal interpretation by this circuit. The system is being used at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Discusses the fundamental concepts involved. Demonstrates the alarm experiment as it is used in…

Addresses the impact of computing on engineering education and the gradual infusion of computing work into the engineering curriculum since the early 1960s. This lecture discusses the academic computing environment in terms of initial developments, what students should know, how to build a network infrastructure, the "first" computing course, the…

Discussed are expert systems development and teaching, the representation and processing of knowledge, knowledge representation in chemical engineering, and expert systems in chemical engineering. The seven phases of expert system development are illustrated. (CW)

Describes a 15-week course in the fundamentals of microelectronics processing in chemical engineering, which emphasizes the use of very large scale integration (VLSI). Provides a listing of the topics covered in the course outline, along with a sample of some of the final projects done by students. (TW)

Described is a membrane experiment that provides students with experience in fundamental engineering skills such as mass balances, modeling, and using the computer as a research tool. Included are the experimental design, theory, method of solution, sample calculations, and conclusions. (KR)

Illustrated is the use of spreadsheet programs for implementing finite difference numerical simulations of chromatography as an instructional tool in a separations course. Discussed are differential equations, discretization and integration, spreadsheet development, computer requirements, and typical simulation results. (CW)

Describes the Heat Exchanger Network Synthesis (HENS) program used at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Massachusetts) as an aid to teaching the energy integration step in process design. Focuses on the benefits of the computer graphics used in the program to increase the speed of generating and changing networks. (TW)

Describes a course in biochemical engineering fundamentals which relies heavily on the use of personal computers. The computers are used with interactive tutorials, problems that require computer simulations of differential equations, and homework assignments. A list of computer assignments and student term projects is included. (TW)

Discusses the need to design distillation columns that are more energy efficient. Describes a "design and build" project completed by two college students aimed at demonstrating the principles of vapour compression distillation in a more energy efficient way. General design specifications are given, along with suggestions for teaching…

Describes the use of a microcomputer program which was written to analyze batch reactor data by the integral method. Discusses how the program is structured and used by students in engineering kinetics. An example problem is included along with the computer's solution. (TW)

Discusses the need for providing a "toolkit" of computer resources in engineering education programs. Describes the use of the spreadsheet and provides a rationale for using spreadsheets in certain courses, presents considerations for choosing appropriate spreadsheet programs, and gives several examples of applying the spreadsheet to…

Discusses the use of artificial intelligence systems in process engineering. Describes a new program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology which attempts to advance process engineering through technological advances in the areas of artificial intelligence and computers. Identifies the program's hardware facilities, software support,…