The development and deployment of a virtual unit OPS laboratory

The Texas Tech University has developed and deployed a virtual senior operations unit (OPS) laboratories for the benefit of engineering students. Students are able to access the computer-based laboratories more easily than the physical laboratories that help them to conduct experiments at home and try out new ideas. The virtual laboratories are also effective in developing new ideas into concepts. The university is planning to introduce computer-based virtual experiments by simulating senior unit operations laboratory, which is employed by it to reinforce to senior chemical engineering students, the basic chemical engineering principles associated with various pieces of process equipment. The major pieces of equipment used in the virtual laboratory, include a double-pipe heat exchanger and a packed column ammonia absorber.