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Work in Progress: Introducing Process Simulators to Mechanical Engineering Seniors in a Thermofluids Course

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Conference

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Baltimore , Maryland

Publication Date

June 25, 2023

Start Date

June 25, 2023

End Date

June 28, 2023

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Technical Session 2: Thermo-Fluids Projects and Active Learning

Tagged Division

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

Page Count

6

DOI

10.18260/1-2--44297

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/44297

Download Count

89

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Paper Authors

biography

Ibrahim Hassan P.E. Texas A&M University at Qatar

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Dr. Ibrahim Hassan has over twenty years of research experience in the field of Energy and Thermal Fluid Sciences. His research interests include Heat Transfer, Multiphase Flow, Flow Assurance, and Turbomachinery.

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Omar Al-Ani Texas A&M University at Qatar

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Abstract

This paper presents the authors’ experience in introducing the Aspen Plus software to support students in understanding various types of thermofluid cycles for an undergraduate mechanical engineering thermofluids course.

In most thermodynamics/thermofluids courses, students are asked to analyze thermofluid systems using a combination of steam tables or the ideal gas law equations. However, in industry, an engineer would be expected to use a process simulator to simulate thermofluid cycles. The main motivation of this project was to familiarize students with such software.

Students were assigned to work in groups of two to analyze three different types of thermofluid cycles; Rankine cycles, gas power cycles, and refrigeration cycles. Each cycle was covered in an assignment. The assignment prompt was to analyze the cycles by hand using steam tables or ideal gas relationships and then to simulate the cycle using a commonly used process simulator, Aspen Plus. This allowed students to compare their hand-calculated answers with the Aspen simulation. Students were provided a comprehensive video tutorial in the beginning of the semester to explain how to use the software.

After evaluating the assignments submitted by the students, it was found that students were proficient in the use of the software to analyze basic and complex thermofluid cycles. By integrating software that is commonly used in industry, students will be better prepared to design an analyze systems in the real world.

Hassan, I., & Al-Ani, O. (2023, June), Work in Progress: Introducing Process Simulators to Mechanical Engineering Seniors in a Thermofluids Course Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--44297

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