The design course is an integral part of chemical engineering education. A novel approach to the design course was recently introduced at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. The course aimed to introduce students to systematic tools and techniques for setting and evaluating performance targets for processes, as well as…

Inter-group peer evaluation through wikis was implemented as a method for senior capstone design teams to improve writing and the critical evaluation of data. Each group was evaluated by peers using a qualitative discussion and evaluated quantitatively by instructors. Students had an increased interest in contributing to online knowledge centers,…

Discusses how basic thermodynamics concepts are integrated with design problems. Includes course goals, instructional strategies, and major advantages/disadvantages of the integrated design approach. Advantages include making subject more concrete, emphasizing interrelation of variables, and reinforcing concepts by use in design analysis; whereas…

Discusses strategies for teaching problem-solving techniques during an engineering design course in the third year of a four-year degree program. Describes the content of six problem-solving curricular modules, course organization, evaluation and assessment, and results. (Contains 28 references.) (WRM)

Addresses some of the issues associated with teaching chemical engineering design, specifically the capstone design sequence developed at the University of Dayton and the experience gained developing and teaching these courses. Discusses the pros and cons of chemical-process flowsheet-simulator use. (Contains 11 references.) (WRM)

Presents course outline, topics covered, and final project (doubling as a take home final exam) for a one-semester, interdisciplinary course on the design and behavior of chemical reactors. Interplay of chemical and physical rate processes is stressed in the course. (JM)

Describes the spectrum of process design problems. Suggests a methodology for teaching some concepts used in design, including the types of processes considered and their designs, new tools useful in conceptual design, and a strategy for developing conceptual designs. (YP)