Describes an interactive graphics package which illustrates the phase behavior of binary mixtures. The package has been successfully used with graduate and undergraduate students in the chemical engineering curriculum at Cornell University. Features contributing to this success are noted. (JN)

Discusses aims, objectives, and content of a safety course for chemical engineering students. Course emphasizes awareness of hazards, basic concepts and principles of safety engineering, and the ability to recognize, assess, and remedy specific risks occurring in chemical plants. Course implementation is also discussed. (JN)

Describes the advantages and features of computer-assisted laboratory stations for use in a chemical engineering program. Also describes a typical experiment at such a station: determining the response times of a solid state humidity sensor at various humidity conditions and developing an empirical model for the sensor. (JN)

The determination of closed-loop response of processes containing dead-time is typically not covered in undergraduate process control, possibly because the solution by Laplace transforms requires the use of Pade approximation for dead-time, which makes the procedure lengthy and tedious. A computer-aided method is described which simplifies the…

After several lean years, chemical engineering (a popular discipline among women) is witnessing a higher job demand for new graduates. Companies show a trend toward specialty chemicals with resultant needs for more engineering talent. Other opportunities in the field include agriculture and food processing, environmental control, biotechnology,…

A laboratory course design to teach the principles of process data acquisition and control using digital computers was developed at Washington University. The structure of the laboratory and course are described. The course outline and list of experiments are included. (JN)

Describes a course designed to introduce the average chemical engineer, who has only a minimum familiarity with the concepts of capillarity and flow through porous media (and none at all with reservoir engineering concepts) to petroleum production engineering. Includes course outline indicating technical content of the course. (Author/JN)

Thermodynamic availability functions can be viewed graphically, providing valuable unexpected insights into the nature and meaning of the functions. As a demonstration, the following question is explored and discussed: "What is the maximum work a system can perform in moving into equilibrium with the temperature and pressure of its…

Describes a three-step approach for teaching multicomponent distillation to undergraduates, emphasizing patterns of distribution as an aid to understanding the separation processes. Indicates that the second step can be carried out by programmable calculators. (A more complete set of programs for additional calculations is available from the…

Chemical engineers have begun savoring the first fruits of a massive effort to gather, determine, and evaluate data of physical properties and predictive methods for large numbers of compounds and mixtures processed in the chemical industry. The use of this centralized data source is highlighted. (Author/JN)

Describes a sequence of two courses included in the chemical engineering program at the University of Minnesota, Duluth that deal with the processing of hazardous wastes. Covers course content and structure, and discusses developments in pollution prevention and waste management that led to the addition of these courses to the curriculum.…

Investigates student approaches to learning in a second year chemical engineering course by means of a qualitative research project which utilized interview and journal data from a group of 11 students. Identifies three approaches to learning: (1) conceptual; (2) algorithmic; and (3) information-based. Presents student responses to a series of…

Describes stochastic models. Discusses the rationale for stochastic analysis and modeling, and provides a master equation for the models with respect to chemical processes. Lists 29 references. (YP)

Describes benefits and sacrifices of an accreditation program to a department. Discusses some negative effects of accreditation on chemical engineering curricula and what might be done to make improvements. (YP)

Discusses the viability of cognitive apprenticeship for learning science in relation to findings from an investigation of a research project involving high school students working in a university chemical engineering laboratory under the mentorship of a university-based scientist. Reports that students were empowered to seek empirically viable…