Notes on an Idea
TO PROTOTYPE A REMOTE CHEMICAL EXPERIMENT
Initial approval granted!
A draft of the actual proposal is at the end of these notes
DEFINITIONS:
Traditional Chemistry Laboratory Experiment Setup
In the University of Limerick, UL, students wearing personal protective equipment are presented with a experiment in a laboratory. The student would be given a written explanation of the purpose of the experiment and a procedure on how to perform the experiment. The experiment would be a specific arrangement of glassware chemicals and instrumentation. Weights and volumes of solid and liquid Chemicals are recorded. Physical changes such as temperature, pressure and colour are observed and recorded this constitutes the basis of the experiment.
Virtual Chemistry Laboratory Experiment Setup
A graphical representation of traditional laboratory setup on a computer screen. Students can interact with an experiment in the virtual laboratory if they have access to a computer with the experiment on media connected to the computer. If the media is stored on a server it could be accessed through the internet/intranet.
Remote Chemistry Laboratory Experiment Setup
A traditional chemistry laboratory setup monitored by computer controlled sensors and robotics that can be accessed from afar. Students can interact with the remote laboratory if they have access to a graphical enabled device connected to the laboratory computer through the internet/intranet.
ARGUMENTS:
Virtual Experiments
For
Savings in labour equipment and consumables. Safer working environment, no exposure to hazards. Laboratory sessions can be taken at any time any where on a computer. An internet connection is not necessary if the virtual lab is available on removable computer media. Laboratory sessions can be more closely related to the lecture notes.
Against
Doing the experiment this way may seem to fall short of the full laboratory experience
Remote Experiments
For
Savings in technical and demonstrating labour, equipment and consumables. Safer working environment, no exposure to hazards. The student can do the experiment at any time and from any location that has an graphics enabled device with an internet connection. It is a more efficient way of monitoring student progress in the lab. Laboratory sessions can be more closely related to the lecture notes. An experiment could be demonstrated during a lecture.
Against
Although doing the experiment this way may seem to fall short on the full laboratory experience, it's perhaps does not fall as short as in the virtual experiment.
Reference: http://science.uniserve.edu.au/pubs/callab/vol5/cart.html
Examples:
A student-designed remote-controlled experiment in chemistry: http://www-clips.imag.fr/calie04/actes/Dham_final.pdf
Weblabs: Real laboratories that can be remotely controlled through the internet: http://kyatera.incubadora.fapesp.br/portal/weblabs-en
Equipment Required: Computer, cameras, analog to digital interface, solenoids, motors, auto-titrator, auto-dispenser, robot arm, software, sensors for feedback and control, electrodes and sensors for measurement, balance.
Suitable Experiments: Organic chemical preparation of ethanal (organic chemistry), titration of an acid and a base (inorganic chemistry), rates of reaction (physical chemistry). 95% of our first year laboratory experiments are the mandatory experiments for Leaving Certificate students.
Budget: Computer and server 1500, cameras 3X50=150, analog to digital interface 750, solenoids 3X50=150, motors 3X50=150, auto-titrator 800, auto-dispenser 400, robot arm 1350, software 700 sensors for feedback and control 500, electrodes and sensors for measurement 500, balance 500.
TOTAL 7450
Collaboration: Center for teaching and learning, Department ECE, Department CSIS, IDC. (Life science department may be interested in collaborating) This may also may be of interest to secondary level schools (not only in the local area)
Note: The cameras are essential for the student to get the full laboratory experience and for the experiment to really work.
Future work: This approach with other suitable experiments.
END OF NOTES
PROPOSAL TO PROTOTYPE A REMOTE CHEMICAL EXPERIMENT
Introduction and rationale
Attrib Confucius: I hear I forget, I see I remember, I do and I understand.
Traditional Chemistry Laboratory Experiment Setup
I have always had the idea that it would be possible to have "on line chemistry experiments". It wasn't until I attended a seminar where Ian Grout from the University of Limerick UL Electronic and Computer Engineering ECE Department described a remote electronics experiment. Ian used a simple webcam to show the results of an electronic experiment happening in real time. It was through this application of simple of web cam technology that I realised how students would be able to perform a chemistry experiment. In the University of Limerick, UL, students wearing personal protective equipment are presented with a experiment setup in the chemistry laboratory. The student is given a written explanation of the purpose of the experiment and a procedure on how to perform the experiment. The experiment is a specific arrangement of glassware chemicals and instrumentation. Weights and volumes of solid and liquid chemicals are recorded. Physical changes such as temperature, pressure and colour are observed and recorded this constitutes the basis of most experiments.
What we propose here is a traditional chemistry laboratory setup controlled by a computer connected to sensors, and controls. This setup can be accessed remotely over an internet connection. Students can interact with the remote laboratory if they have access to a computer connected to the laboratory computer through the internet/intranet. Increasingly, critical and expensive processes in the chemical industry are controlled remotely by computers operating in networks. Chemical companies are restructuring their experimental facilities on site to be able to operate processes remotely via their intranet. Although the purpose of this experiment is not to emulate an industrial laboratory situation it is an added bonus.
From the students perspective:
In a recent survey of 160 Chemistry and Environmental Science Department CES students: 25% thought that the links between theory and practice were poor. 40% thought that the clarity of teaching in practical sessions was poor. All students surveyed agreed that laboratory sessions were useful. There were a few relevant comments:
"1. The order labs are done in sometimes has no relation to where you are in the course, so you are doing experiments without having done any of the theory, which diminishes the value of the practical experience and makes handups more difficult expecially if the theory is complex, or requires integration of several topics yet to be covered in lectures."
"2. Doing practical coursework makes the lectures and subject more relevant."
"3. Lab work can tend to be slightly irrelevant and unrelated to the material being covered in the lectures at that time."
Student numbers, time table restrictions, the expense and complexity of chemical and process engineering equipment all dictate that students are taught in large groups. facilitating students with a remote experiment will mean that we can teach them in smaller groups.
Remote and distance learning were identified as opportunities in a recent CES SWOT analysis.
Choice of Experiment:
Dynamic Process Characteristics of a Simple Holding Tank as a First Order System
Industrial applications of liquid level control can be found in the food processing beverage dairy effluent etc. typical actuators used in liquid level control systems include pumps, motorised valves on/off valves. Liquid level measurement for feedback can be by capacitance, pressure, or float. In this laboratiory exercise the students model, calibrate, adjust and monitor a 2 tank level control system. In particular this experiment exposes the students to the fundimental modeling principle of fluid mass balance, depth sensor calibration and feedback control design methodology for a coupled two tank level control system. Exp F1.pdf
Existing Coupled Tanks Experiment
Summary of the key objectives
Address some of the issues for understanding and learning in chemical engineering.
Enable remote access to chemistry experiments.
If we are to compete in an ever increasing distance learning environment we need to develop a way to enable our distance learners access practical sessions.
Remote laboratory experiments should enhance the student learning experience because students can practice an experiment before doing the experiment in the lab. They will also facilitate individual and small group student access to practical sessions.
Remote laboratory experiments should reduce the wastage and consequently the cost of practical sessions. In addition, maximum use can be made of laboratory resources, with remote usage during non-scheduled lab periods.
There is an urgent need for robust and realistic training in remote tools and processes.
By using internet accessible experiments, that can be operated remotely, with software widely used in the industry, we will at least keep pace with industry.
Lessons learned in the production of this prototype the will enable the team develop other remote experiments.
By using proprietary software packages and off the shelf hardware the knowledge base will be transferable.
Remote experiments would create a safer working environment for the student.
Implementation plan
The experiment we have chosen as a prototype is: Dynamic process characteristics of a simple holding tank as a first order system.
We choose this experiment because it involved many of the principles we could transfer to other experiments. It will be a precursor to other experiments and it was relatively simple to adapt much of the existing apparatus. The existing experiment uses some rather outdated equipment so this would be an ideal opportunity to replace that equipment. It is proposed that work will commence on the prototype in August. We estimate that the prototype will take 6 months to complete. It has been recognised that this laboratory will be a valuable asset in further promoting the chemical engineering degree scheduled for 2010
ganntchart.xls:
| Remote Chemistry Laboratory - Gantt Chart |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| Tasks |
Start Date |
Duration (days) |
End date |
| Order parts to make tanks, sensors and controls |
06/07/2009 |
5 |
10/07/2009 |
| Manufacture tanks |
27/07/2009 |
10 |
08/08/2009 |
| Connect motors |
10/08/2009 |
10 |
21/08/2009 |
| Test motor functionality |
24/08/2009 |
9 |
04/09/2009 |
| Connect sensors |
07/09/2009 |
10 |
18/09/2009 |
| Test sensor functionality |
21/09/2009 |
10 |
02/10/2009 |
| Connect valves |
05/10/2009 |
10 |
16/10/2009 |
| Test valve functionality |
19/10/2009 |
10 |
30/10/2009 |
| Connect cameras |
02/11/2009 |
10 |
13/11/2009 |
| Test camera functionality |
16/09/2009 |
10 |
27/11/2009 |
| Develop administration program |
06/07/2009 |
40 |
27/11/2009 |
| Test the experiment |
30/11/2009 |
5 |
04/12/2009 |
| Conduct usability test |
07/12/2009 |
5 |
11/12/2009 |
| Make system changes |
14/12/2009 |
5 |
18/12/2009 |
| Test system |
04/01/2010 |
1 |
05/01/2010 |
| Conduct usability test |
01/02/2010 |
3 |
03/02/2010 |
| Make system changes |
08/02/2010 |
2 |
09/02/2010 |
| Conduct final usability test |
10/02/2010 |
2 |
12/02/2010 |
Team Members and short biographies
Robert Hutchison
Robert is an experienced team leader with over 35 years experience in many fields of chemistry. 26 of those years in The University of Limerick. Robert will manage the project and combine the physical and graphical elements of the project.
Qualifications:
MA (elearning Design and Development) University of Limerick. HNC (chemistry) University of Ulster.
Date of appointment in UL
January 1983
Current position/grade
Senior Technical Officer.
Previous technical/industrial/research experience
Previous technical/industrial/research experience:
1979 to 1983 Technician, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
1976 to 1979 Assistant Scientific Officer, Department of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, Newforge Lane, Belfast.
1974 to 1976 Technician, Short Brothers and Harland, Belfast.
1971 to 1974 Technician, Queens University Belfast, Department of Child Health in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.
Skills sets:
Computer applications involving animation, web design, audio and video capture and manipulation, and learning management systems.
Software applications include: Macromedia Fireworks, Dreamweaver, Flash; Adobe Robohelp, Premier; Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, FrontPage. JASC Paint Shop Pro; Moodle; Sakai; and National Instruments Labview.
Operation of the equipment and techniques used in Mass, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Fourier Transform Infra-Red, Ultra violet and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; Gas, Ion exchange, Gel, and High Performance Liquid, Chromatography; X-Ray Diffraction; Kheldahl, Karl Fischer, Potentiostat, and Bomb Calorimeter; environmental monitoring. Special procedures involved in sample preparation for chemical analysis. I Prepare and publish operating procedures for all the equipment above. I made a video to promote and explain the Technology Awareness Programme and an interactive CD to promote Materials Ireland.
I developed an instructional website to help give students a better understanding chemical instrumentation.
I design the experiments to promote chemistry and science to students attending the university promotion events: Open Days, IUP, and school visits and science week activities.
Seamus McMonagle
Seamus is the principle academic member of the team. He teaches chemical engineering and has recently put together a new degree course in chemical engineering. His experience is vital to develop the learning outcomes of the prototype experiment.
Qualifications:
D. Phil. in Heterogeneous Catalysis, University of Ulster; B.Sc. in Chemistry (1st Class Honours) University of Ulster; Higher National Certificate (H.N.C.) in Chemistry, Northwest College of Further & Higher Education, Derry.
Date of appointment in UL: May 1986.
Current position/grade: Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering.
Previous technical/industrial/research experience:
1986-present Senior Lecturer, Lecturer (1990-1996), and Assistant Lecturer (1986-
1990) in Chemical Engineering, CES Department, UL.
1984-1986 Chemical Engineer, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Research
Company, Chalk River, Ontario, Canada.
1982-1984 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Chemistry Department, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
1973-1976 Laboratory Technician, Du Pont Company Ltd., Maydown, Co. Derry.
Skills sets:
Extensive skills in teaching and research at third level in the process engineering and chemistry fields. Some aspects of importance in the present proposal:
· Design, composition, and delivery of on-line teaching materials for lectures and tutorials.
· Design and implementation of process engineering and chemistry laboratory practical experiments for undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes, and for research projects. In most cases this has involved developing computer control and data acquisition systems using various interface platforms including LabView, LabWorks, and GENESIS.
· Responsible for process engineering software training for the following packages:
- ControlStation (process dynamic modelling & control simulation)
- Aspen HYSYS (continuous flow process flowsheeting and simulation)
- SuperPro Designer (batch process flowsheeting, scheduling and simulation)
- SmartPlant P&ID (intelligent P&ID drawing software suite)
- Polymath (differential equation solver)
James Kelly
James is the principle supervisor in the chemical engineering laboratory. James is a team player and is part of a 10 member technical group in the CES Department. James would be responsible for the daily operation capabilities of the experiment.
Qualifications:
HEA Diploma in instrumentation analytical methods.
NCEA certificate in chemistry with microbiological and biochemistry techniques.
Date of appointment in UL: March 1989..
Current position/grade: Senior Technical Officer.
Previous technical/industrial/research experience:
University of Limerick and ongoing.
Skills sets:
- Providing technical support to students (in particular final year project students) on BSC degree programmes in Pharmaceutical & Industrial Chemistry, Biochemistry, Environmental Science, Health & Safety and Graduate Diploma in Chemical Engineering
- Providing technical support to researchers - postgraduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty in various disciplines (e.g. Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry etc.)
- Preparation and demonstration of undergraduate teaching laboratories in various disciplines as above.
- Operation, calibration, troubleshooting and maintenance of general laboratory equipment and specialized items of equipment (e.g. chemical engineering rigs, . etc)
- Managing the operation and the procurement for the department central stores for chemicals, equipment, glassware and consumables (general and specialized).
- Managing and co-coordinating the disposal of chemical and biological waste for the department and affiliated research institutes. This includes carrying out deactivation processes for certain chemicals, co-coordinating the shipment of chemical and biological waste for incineration and maintaining and completing any associated paperwork.
- Carrying out general laboratory and equipment risk assessments, chemical agent risk assessments and laboratory inspections.
- Member of the departmental safety committee.
Costing
Required funding:
PC Server and software 1500euro.
Web cameras X 4 200euro
National instruments A/D converter X 2 500euro
Mindstorms robotic system 250 euro
Digital equipment and software: 2450euro
Acrylic sheet to build tanks 220euro
Pump 350
On/off valve 50
Flow controller 1500
Flow meter 230
Depth sensor 120
Weight sensor 550euro
Measurement and controll devices 2900 euro
Matched funding:
For costing purposes we use a standard 1540 hours per year and 220 days per annum.
So a technical officer average salary is 64471 inc PRSI and Pension. This gives an hourly rate of 41.86 per hour or 293.05 per day.
Senior Lecturer €101702 per annum. Rate €462 per day.
Rental is about €20 per sq Ft and this figure could be used.
1 technician 147 days for 2 hours/day 5567 euro
1 technician 107 days for 2 hours/day 2093 euro
1 technician 10 days for 2 hours/day 439 euro
1 senior lecturer 23 days for 2 hours/day 1386 euro
Laboratory space 26 weeks 18 sqft @ 20euro per sqft 360euro
Existing equipment PC, control station, pump, tanks, valve, replacement value: 7500 euro
Web server labview licence and software 2000 euro
Innovative nature of the project
Although A number of examples exist
Development of a web-based laboratory for control experiments on a coupled tank apparatus http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=00912713
A student-designed remote-controlled experiment in chemistry: http://www-clips.imag.fr/calie04/actes/Dham_final.pdf
Weblabs: Real laboratories that can be remotely controlled through the internet: http://kyatera.incubadora.fapesp.br/portal/weblabs-en
This prototype will break new ground in the CES Department at the University of Limerick. No Experiment of this type exists in the University of Limerick. This is a precursor for other experiments not only in chemical engineering but potentially in some of the undergraduate chemistry laboratories.
The impact of the project on teaching and learning
Students usually find experiments of this type difficult to grasp (as evidenced in the survey Markclass undergraduate survey) it is hoped this method of instruction will help to remove the mystique that seems to surround the chemical engineering laboratory exercises.
The remote laboratory will facilitate potential distance learning students on the new course in Chemical Engineering. The remote laboratory will also promote further innovations in the CES Department experiments. The success of this experiment will encourage the team to secure other, perhaps more substantial funding, to build a completely controlled remote laboratory. At the very least, the team will be able to start work on another remote experiment.
By prototyping a remote chemistry lab we hope to be able to transfer the technology learned to be able to make other experiments remotely accessable.
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