(329b) Using Simulators for a Competitive Process Safety Exercise

Columbia University Chemical Engineering and Simulation Solutions Inc. have developed a competitive process safety chemical engineering exercise using simulators in order to educate students on chemical engineering process safety. As part of a four-day Chemical Engineering Operations Center educational exercise combining computer simulation and classroom instruction this team educates students on chemical engineering process safety and provides a unique chemical engineering process safety experience. In 2019, this academic and industry team developed a new method of using the simulators inspired by Esports. 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 in the course content covering instructional objectives. The results of the 2019 lesson sequence and the Competitive Process Safety Exercise sponsored by Simulation Solutions Inc. and the methods used to evaluate student performance as related to safety outcomes are reported on here. This presentation will focus on the competitive exercise results.