Spreadsheets for assisting Transport Phenomena Laboratory experiences

Academic laboratories have been traditionally used for complementing and reinforcing in a practical way the theoretical instruction received in classroom lectures. However, data processing and model evaluation tasks are time consuming and do not add much value to the student's learning experience as they reduce available time for result analysis, critical thinking and report writing skills development. Therefore, this project addressed this issue by selecting three experiences of the Transport Phenomena Laboratory, namely: metallic bar temperature profiles, transient heat conduction and fixed and fluidised bed behaviour, and developed a spreadsheet for each one of them. These spreadsheets, without demanding programming skills, easily process experimental data sets, evaluate complex analytical and numerical models and correlations, not formerly considered and, convey results in tables and plots. Chemical engineering students that tested the spreadsheets were surveyed and expressed the added value of the sheets, being user-friendly, helped them to fulfil lab objectives by reducing their workload and, allowed them to complete deeper analyses that instructors could not request before, as they were able to quickly evaluate, compare and validate different model assumptions and correlations. Students also provided valuable suggestions for improving the spreadsheet experience. Through these sheets, students’ lab learning experience was updated.

► Three spreadsheets were developed for assisting the Transport Phenomena Laboratory.
► The spreadsheets compare experimental data sets against models and correlations.
► Students were surveyed for feedback on acceptance and usefulness of the sheets.
► Students reported workload reduction and improved analysis quality in final reports.
► Spreadsheets are valuable for enhancing the teaching-learning process in laboratory.