TEACHING CHEMICAL ENGINEERING USING COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS

COMSOL Multiphysics is a cross-platform finite element analysis solver and multiphysics simulation software. It allows conventional physics-based user interfaces and coupled systems of partial differential equations. Several modules are available for COMSOL, categorized according to the applications areas, namely: Electrical, Mechanical, Fluid, Chemical, Multipurpose, and Interfacing. The chemical modules allow studying problems in the field of Chemical Reaction Engineering, Batteries and Fuel Cells Module and Electrochemistry. Herein, we highlight the use of COMSOL for solving chemical engineering problems in the classroom. The current experience has shown that the use of COMSOL simulations during theoretical and practical lectures increases the participation and the involvement of the students. This paper describes how the use of computer simulation could be used in different subjects of Chemical Engineering.