LabVIEW based e-learning portal for virtual mass transfer operations laboratory

Abstract

This article, introduces the unique concept of virtual mass transfer laboratory, an exercise that has been developed by IIT Guwahati under the auspices of Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) under National Mission on Education through ICT. The virtual mass transfer laboratory constitutes eight distinct virtual laboratory modules that cover various aspects of mass transfer operations, a key subject in chemical engineering education and practice. While all modules are simulation based, in addition to the most essential virtual lab simulator, the virtual laboratory modules essentially include all aspects of virtual laboratory education namely theory, experimental procedure, animation, quizzes etc. The virtual laboratory environment enabled an improved learning of chemical engineering, as learning is often better achieved by practice and repeated experimentation/observation in real world scenarios. Further, field trails and user friendly workshops have also been organized to obtain real time feedback and these have been extremely beneficial to improve the quality of the technical content as well as e-learning in the virtual mass transfer laboratories. Thereby a framework to explore possibilities to further creative component in chemical engineering has been developed.