Identifying Key Factors to Learning Process Systems Engineering and Process Integration through DEMATEL

• Published in: Chemical engineering transactions Vol. 70
• Main Authors: Kathleen B. Aviso, Rochelle Irene G. Lucas, John Frederick D. Tapia, Michael Angelo B. Promentilla, Raymond R. Tan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: AIDIC Servizi S.r.l 01.08.2018
• ISSN: 2283-9216
• DOI: 10.3303/CET1870045

The growing relevance of improving the environmental impact of industrial processes makes it imperative to ensure that the concepts of Process Systems Engineering (PSE) and Process Integration (PI) are incorporated into the professional skills toolbox of chemical engineers. Such knowledge provides the chemical engineer with rigorous methodologies for the optimal synthesis and design of industrial processes to ensure that opportunities for resource conservation, energy savings and emissions reduction are maximized. Many of the prerequisite concepts are initially introduced in the undergraduate level as part of curriculum. Thus, any weakness in educational foundations in such concepts can result in poor Process Integration learning outcomes. This work examines the inter-relationship between core competencies developed by students in chemical engineering subjects in their ability to learn PSE/PI concepts using the method Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL). DEMATEL is a powerful framework for establishing the cause and effect relationship between system factors. Results are intended to identify which competencies should be strengthened to facilitate learning of PSE/PI concepts and consequently recognize where student’s prior knowledge of PSE/PI become useful for learning other chemical engineering subjects.