Integrating computer applications into undergraduate courses: Process control and utility design

• Published in: Education for chemical engineers 2013-04, Vol.8 (2), p.e45-e57
• Main Authors: Rahman, N.A., Hussain, M.A., Jahim, J.M., Kamaruddin, S.K., Abdullah, S.R. Sheikh, Kamaruddin, M.Z.F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioreactor; Cost; Design software; Heat transfer area; MATLAB; Real-time control
• ISSN: 1749-7728; 1749-7728
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ece.2013.02.003

The current studies describe integrating computer application for some undergraduate course that is user-friendly, inexpensive and easy to use. The process control and utility design is a compulsory course for third year undergraduate students in the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Fuzzy logic control enables designers to control complex systems more effectively than traditional methods. Teaching students fuzzy logic only in theory using a process control module can be a task that is time-consuming and does not present a challenge. The development of a real-time fuzzy logic control system for controlling bioreactor parameters, such as pH and reaction temperature, during the isomerisation of fructose by immmobilised glucose isomerase (IGI) from S. murinus. Use of fuzzy logic control system enhanced fructose production in all of the bioreactors tested as indicated by integrated absolute error (IAE) and integrated square error (ISE) values that were less than one. Two methods of calculation known as the method of Kern and the method of Bell-Delware were used in designing the utility. The difference between the two methods was that the effect of leakage and bypass flow that occurs on the shell side is not involved in the Kern method. Design software utilities such as Bell-Delware currently use a combination of methods and algorithms, including a genetic algorithm to produce a design with more utility. In this study, two types of utilities were under consideration; the shell and tube type and the multi-effect evaporator. By setting design parameters such as the dimensions of the tube, the calculation can be carried out to obtain the heat transfer area and cost. Utility design software development was performed using MATLAB software version 7.8, which is equipped with various advanced applications. Based on the analysis of the comparison between the use of a manual method and the use of software for the calculation of the four utilities, the overall average difference was less than 15%.