Conference article

In the education of energy and power plant engineers, the learning of heat transfer, its dynamics and process control plays an important role. Deeper touch in dynamic process phenomena in our vibrant times may sometimes be a challenge for students and teachers. Modelling and simulation make a continuously increasing tool as a learning method, in various kinds of application fields. In engineering, using pilot or production plants, by modelling the systems, getting results from simulations and comparing the results to real life data, the intended learning outcomes can be achieved in a varying and motivating way. This paper presents a pilot heat exchanger which was mostly constructed by a few students of energy technology and supervised by their teachers. Some basic physical and identified process models of the heat exchanger are introduced, as well as their simulation results. This heat exchanger is widely used in the basic heat transfer and control system studies of higher education. Positive learning and teaching experiences were already achieved in the design and commissioning phase. As a result, the heat exchanger system offers a multifunctional learning environment with modelling and simulation activities in practice-oriented engineer studies.

heat transfer, modelling, simulation, process control active learning, collaborative learning