(219c) Process Safety Education Using Simulators in a Chemical Engineering Operations Center Experience

As part of a change in Chemical Engineering Process Safety Education and in response to the Safety in Chemical Engineering (SAChE) recommendations, Columbia University Chemical Engineering and Simulation Solutions Inc conducted a four-day Chemical Engineering Operations Center educational experience by means of combining computer simulation with a role player exercise and classroom instruction, in order to educate students on chemical engineering process safety and to provide a unique chemical engineering process safety experience. With multiple years of integrating simulation of chemical engineering processes, the CHEN E4501 Chemical Engineering Process Safety Course uses case studies, computer aided design, and simulation as the integral course content covering instructional objectives. Course content is also on the education and training of operators using simulation. Greater emphasis on the evaluation of chemical engineering student awareness and understanding of chemical engineering process safety was incorporated by using simulation. The results of a lesson sequence on operator training coupled with an operations center role player exercise sponsored by Simulation Solutions Inc. and the methods used to evaluate student performance as related to safety outcomes and student feedback are reported on here. This presentation will focus on the construct and resourcing of the operations center exercise combined with simulation and methods by which student awareness and understanding can be enhanced using simulation of chemical engineering processes.