The Application of Chemical Engineering Simulation in the Teaching of Chemical Engineering Courses in Universities

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Qinhuangdao Yuandao Technology Co., Ltd. was established in June 2013. It is a company that focuses on research, development, production, and sales in the fields of virtual simulation and unmanned production, with its main clients being universities, chemical enterprises, and port groups across the country. The company currently holds one invention patent, one utility model patent, and 9 copyright registrations. It has won first prizes in various information technology competitions on multiple occasions, and has been featured in media outlets such as CCTV’s General Channel and People’s Daily. Abstract: Since humanity entered the 21st century, computer technology has gradually become integrated into various aspects of people’s lives. In the chemical industry, chemical simulation technology is also widely used, and relevant software has been developed for use in chemistry teaching courses in universities. This paper first provides a detailed overview of the principles of simulation chemistry ； Secondly, the importance of establishing chemical engineering simulation unit teaching sessions was analyzed ； Finally, the application of chemical simulation in the teaching of chemical engineering courses was analyzed in detail. Principles of Chemistry is a fundamental course in the chemical engineering field, providing a high-level overview of theoretical knowledge in chemistry, such as the basic principles of unit operations in chemical production, typical equipment, and calculation methods. Due to its high degree of theoretical generalization, the chemical processes and equipment involved require a high level of operational proficiency. Therefore, this requires students, when studying courses in chemical engineering, to integrate theory with practice; when facing real-world engineering problems, they need to apply scientific theories in a way that is closely linked to reality, so as to make accurate judgments and take proper actions. I. Summary of Principles of Simulation in Chemical Engineering 1. Simulation: Simulation refers to the process of imitating real objects and conducting systematic experiments and research on their behavior; it is a type of technology. Chemical simulation is the process of reproducing the experimental procedure using simulation systems on computers, featuring real-time characteristics. Thus, it enables its students to truly and personally experience the operating methods of various unit equipment and instruments in chemical processes. 2. Principles of Chemical Engineering: Principles of Chemical Engineering is a fundamental technical course for the field of chemical engineering and process technology. This course covers in detail the working principles behind chemical production processes, the structure of related equipment, as well as the specific operations involved in using such equipment. It is a very basic yet highly practical introductory course. 3. Chemical process simulation: Chemical process simulation refers to the teaching simulation carried out within chemical processes. Its principles are based on the fundamental laws of chemical processes, and it uses mathematical models and methods to vividly represent these chemical processes on a computer; it constitutes an applied technology. There are many unit operations in the chemical industry that require study, such as the use of centrifugal pumps, heat exchange, evaporation, and absorption processes; all of these can have their production processes accurately depicted using simulation software. This enables chemical industry workers to master operational skills more thoroughly. II. The importance of establishing chemical engineering simulation unit teaching sessions: Chemical engineering unit simulation serves, on the one hand, as a summary of the theoretical concepts covered in earlier courses on chemical engineering principles; on the other hand, it lays the foundation for subsequent practical operations in real-world settings. In chemical engineering, the operation of each unit involves a certain degree of risk; for example, in heat exchanger operations, trainees may suffer burns if they are not careful, and improper operation in absorption towers can lead to gas leaks that result in poisoning. Experimental instruments are quite expensive and in limited supply; without hands-on operation by students, it is impossible to truly understand their effects ； If operations are carried out using equipment, it may lead to equipment damage or operational errors, resulting in immeasurable losses. Therefore, chemical process simulation units were introduced, which significantly reduced the risk of damage to instruments due to the use of equipment. They operate stably, and aside from initial installation, only maintenance is required thereafter. III. Applications of Chemical Simulation in the Teaching of Chemical Engineering Courses 1. Teaching of Principles of Chemical Engineering. Chemical engineering management is one of the most fundamental courses in the field of chemical engineering. Due to financial and other constraints in schools, as well as the increasing number of students, there are fewer and fewer opportunities for each student to carry out actual operations related to the entire chemical processing process. Therefore, by using an experimental simulation operating system, it is possible to take full advantage of the characteristics associated with experimental courses, such as determining the performance curves of centrifugal pumps ； The fluid frictional resistance can also be measured effectively ； Computer simulations are conducted for basic experiments such as heat transfer coefficients, absorption, drying, filtration, and reactive distillation. Through these exercises, the theory of “three transfers and one reaction” covered in the process engineering course can be effectively reinforced, allowing students to gain a deeper understanding of the theoretical knowledge through such experiments. 2. Teaching of Chemical Process Engineering: Chemical process engineering is a fundamental aspect of chemical engineering knowledge, and it is also one of the basic courses in this field. It includes knowledge from various fields such as fundamental chemical engineering, chemical engineering thermodynamics, instrument automation, and chemical engineering design. In this course, students can effectively integrate the principles of chemical processing processes with production methods, process flows, and key equipment. Through the teaching of chemical processes, it is possible to operate the process flow on the DCS screen using both graphics and text. During this process, the operating parameters can be changed arbitrarily in order to find the optimal functional process route and process conditions. Meanwhile, to achieve the best simulation results in chemical engineering, trainees can start with the most basic chemical processing units and, through a series of simulated operations, arrive at the final outcome. For example, when performing filtering operations, before conducting the experiment, the trainee must understand and master the entire process of the experiment, including its dynamic parameters as well as the specific steps involved, before carrying out the actual experimental procedure. 3. Instrumental analysis teaching: The analysis of chemical instruments is one of the required courses in the chemical engineering curriculum. It enables effective determination of the chemical composition, state, structure of materials, as well as for scientific research and quality control. On the other hand, through these specialized instrumental analyses, complex chemical reactions can be understood. Generally, traditional teaching methods rely on lectures by the instructor along with demonstrations; within such limited class time, it is difficult for students to understand the principles and operating procedures of chemical analysis instruments, such as atomic absorption spectroscopy simulation experiments, ultraviolet analyzers, and infrared analyzers. Through simulation experiments using simulators, trainees can gain a more detailed understanding of the operation methods and usage of the instruments, and grasp their operating procedures and characteristics in a vivid manner. Conclusion: Chemical simulation holds great significance in the field of chemical engineering. Students must not only have a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the basic knowledge in this field, but also gain a deeper understanding through practical experience. In summary, the use of simulation-based chemical engineering teaching, along with the flexible application of various teaching methods and tools, can further improve the quality of chemical engineering education for students, thereby enhancing the overall quality of teaching.