(93c) Teaching Particle Technology to Engineering Students

The education in particle technology varies depending on the country, and whilst it might be completely absent in some countries (e.g. US) it might be taught extensively in others (e.g. Germany and UK). Often, the curricula suffers from a lack of inclusion of the most recent advancement in the discipline.

In this paper, the teaching of particle technology in Germany, UK and Australia is analysed, and the analogies and differences in terms of content and teaching methodologies are discussed. We then discuss a new pedagogical approach to the teaching of particle technology that relies on the so-called 'inverted classroom' format, where most of the work is done by students outside the class. The teaching approach draws on a holistic way of elucidating a real system, such as the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, which is studied in terms of its main components: riser, standpipe, cyclone and silo discharge. The ultimate aim is to preparing the students to the challenges that they will face in their profession when dealing with the handling and processing of powders.