Five days Workshop.

Note: 1 Day session will start at 1:30 PM after lunch at the venue.
Venue: Conference Hall, Ground Floor, L Block, IIT Gandhinagar.

Day 1&2: Design of Experimental set-ups for Instruction to Chemical Engineering students
                (by Prof Mukund H. Divekar, IITGN)

 

Content: “Believe in what you see” should be the terminology used for teaching the fundamentals of engineering to undergraduate students. This essentially means that they should be made to appreciate the theoretical aspects practically. This is possible by designing “result oriented” experimental setups for the undergraduate laboratory. Ill designed set-ups may mislead students and have detrimental consequences. It is equally important to analyze the data obtained by performing experiments. Usually analysis can be done using the data obtained from the experiments or using first principle model obtained by mass-energy-momentum balance. Hence, there is a vital role for computational methods for solving process and unit operations models and for analyzing the same. Unfortunately, the following two aspects have been neglected to a large extent 1) designing “result oriented” experimental setup which can practically visualize theoretical concepts and 2) solving various process and unit operations model and analyzing these models as well as experimental data. The other aspect that is of paramount importance is the minimization of the resources required for experimentation. This has been achieved by designing small, closed circuit set-ups and with a strong back up of experienced technical personnel.

This session will cover various important aspects related to Fluid mechanics experimental design. There are two aspects in a laboratory: 1) designing the experiment and 2) performing an experiment. While 1st aspect is emphasized in almost every institute, the second aspect is ignored to a great extent. Hence, the link between the theoretical concepts and the experiments has become weak and as a result of that many undergraduate students don't appreciate the broader scope of experiments. This workshop will attempt to bridge the gap between the theory and practical aspects of Chemical Engineering and thus contains theory and laboratory sessions.

Day 3: Computational Methods in Chemical Engineering (by Dr Nitin Padhiyar, IIT GN)

Content: At various stages in Chemical Engineering, one comes across empirical and first principle models of various processes. For example cubic state of equation, differential equations in terms of transient mass and energy balance for a reactor, mass and energy balance equations in unit operations. While the types of mathematical equations are derived from first principle approach, we obtain experimental data by performing experiments to validate such models. Hence, analyzing these data is also as much crucial as developing a process model. As a result of process modeling and for analysis of data and process model, one comes across various mathematical equations such as linear, nonlinear algebraic equations; differential equations; and solution strategies based numerical integration; interpolation and curve fitting. This workshop will focus on how to use the readily available computational tools such as SCILAB/MATLAB to deal with various mathematical equations found in Chemical Engineering.

Day 4: Introduction and session on “Techniques of Problem solving” (by Prof K. S. Gandhi, IISc Bangalore)

Content: Fruits of a creative act surface suddenly, out of the blue. As a result, there is and has been a debate as to whether creativity is inborn or cultivated. Problem solving involves an act of creativity. While none of us can do anything now about inborn characteristics, all of us can attempt to cultivate creativity. The session will be a summary of the book entitled 'How to solve it?' by mathematician G. Polya. In it, he proposed a systematic approach to problem solving. He lists four steps, one of which definitely involves an act of creativity. For all steps, he outlines several helpful hints, and they are veryuseful. In the lecture, three problems, already solved of course, will be presented to illustrate the method. The three are graded, starting from an `assignment' problem to a well known research problem. The level of creativity required increases as one progresses along the grades. However, Polya's approach is helpful at all levels. Some problems will be solved in tutorials for practice by participants.

Day 5: Research at ChE@IIT Gandhinagar (by ChE Faculty members from IITGN)

Content: Faculty members from Chemical Engineering discipline will give brief presentations on his/her research area. Research in Chemical Engineering at IITGN, covers a wide range of exciting activities including fundamental research as well as applied research in areas such as polymer technology, nanotechnology, biochemical engineering, systems biology and powder technology. Much of the work is based on understanding of scientific principles to address problems in the field of energy, sustainability, environment and healthcare. The research laboratories are well equipped with latest technology equipment. While the research in the experimental work is the major focus, we also have significant computational research activities in the area of process control, optimization, colloids and interfaces, and molecular simulation dynamics. Panel discussion on “Career Path in academics” with the members Prof. S L N Murthy, Prof K S Gandhi and Dr Sameer Dalvi.