(21g) “I Thought PTFE Tape Was Optional”: Teaching Practical Engineering Skills As a Component of Unit Operations

Undergraduates are increasingly skilled at computer simulation, seemingly at the expense of mechanical aptitude and knowledge of process fabrication and operation techniques. While this may not be a serious problem in large organizations, many beginning engineers enter small companies in which they are the sole technical resource, and a lack of practical skills may substantially hinder their professional progress.

The unit operations course at the University of Wisconsin – Madison has traditionally required students to design and construct several experiments during the term.  Over the past four years our approach has undergone considerable development, resulting in the following initiatives:

• Students in the unit operations and fluid mechanics laboratories are now required to assemble portions of the equipment prior to performing experiments, in order to familiarize them with tools, materials, and equipment commonly found in process environments.
• Many experiments are structured to include a troubleshooting or process improvement component, in which students analyze the operation of the experiment and make determinations concerning maintenance, backup operation, or repair.
• There is increased emphasis on measurement uncertainty and statistics, and most measurements are obtained using data acquisition systems. A number of the experiments employ PLCs for measurement and control purposes.

This paper discusses the current state of the senior laboratory curriculum, student response to the changes, and ongoing challenges such as minimizing equipment damage and successfully training teaching assistants.