A teaching methodology based on Mathcad for improving the calculation of pumping power

Abstract

Some of the most important engineering skills required nowadays are related with the managementof computational tools. This study proposes the implementation of a novel teaching methodology forimproving the calculation of pumping power by using the Mathcad software. This methodology includes:(1) training courses on initiation to Mathcad, (2) the delivery of a report with theoretical considerationsabout pumping power, the problem statement, the traditional procedure to solve it, as well as the mainindications to do it with Mathcad, and (3) a virtual platform conceived as a meeting space. The assessmentof this educational experience, which was carried out with the second-year chemical engineering studentsenrolled in the Fluid Flow course, revealed that Mathcad is a powerful computational tool for them. Thus,it eliminates the mathematical difficulties, facilitates the understanding of the phenomenon under con-sideration and the study that the input variables exert on the solution, and also increases the motivationof the students for solving other engineering problems. Therefore, these results support the hypothesisthat computational tools like Mathcad direct chemical engineering students towards successful learning.