Presentation on Experiments & Experiences with Scilab in Undergraduate Education at Scilab India 2014 Conference, IITB

1. Experiments & Experiences with Scilab in
Undergraduate Education
P. R. Naren
School of Chemical & Biotechnology
SASTRA University
Thanjavur, Tamilnadu 613 401 INDIA
E-mail: prnaren@scbt.sastra.edu
Scilab India Conference
IIT – Bombay
3 – 4 Dec 2014
Progress Through Quality Education

2. SASTRA University
• Established in 1984
• Deemed university 2001
– Deemed University u/s 3 of UGC
Act, 1956
• Re-accredited with A grade by
NAAC in 2014
• Transparent merit based admissions
– 10k students , 1k faculty
• School of Chemical & Biotechnology
– Chemical Engg.
– Biotechnology
– Bioengineering
– Bioinformatics
• Research centre
• Thanjavur
– 300 km from Chennai
– 40 km from Trichy
– Historic place
– River Cauvery
– Rice bowl
Chennai
Thanjavur
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3. Outline
• Elective course CAChE
• Scilab workshops
• UG semester projects
• Textbook companion projects
• Specific pitfalls and difficulties
• Recommendations
• Summary
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4. Elective Course: CAChE
Computer Applications in Chemical
Engineering
– Elective B.Tech Chem. Engg.
 6th semester, Dec 11 – Apr 12
 3 batches – 80 students
– Core M. Tech Chem. Engg.
 2nd semester, Dec 13 – Apr 14
• Scilab as computing tool
• Complements problem solving
– Process calculations
– Thermodynamics
– Reaction Engineering
– Mass and Heat transfer
• Lectures and Practical
– Algorithms
– Implementation of numerical
techniques
 2 hr per week
– Tutorial
 2 hr. per week
– Assignment
– Internal assessment
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5. Spoken Tutorials in Learning Phase
• Students introduced to Scilab through Spoken tutorials
– Online test
 Test questions needs to be revamped
– Possibility of higher level test at end of course ?
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6. Scilab Workshops
• Awareness creation
• I year undergraduates
– Across disciplines
– Under SASTRA
University IIChE Student
Chapter
• 2 successful editions
– Oct. 2013, 2014
– 500 participants
• Promotion :FDP
programme
– At BITS, Trichy
• Content open to public
in.linkedin.com/in/prnaren
www.slideshare.net/narenpr
– PPT
– Codes
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7. Scilab Tutorials : I year UG
• Tut1: Product of two nos.
• Tut2: Product of two nos. + user input
• Tut3: Matrix calculations based on user
choice
• Tut4: Matrix calculations based on user
choice with condition check
• Tut5: Spline curves
• Tut6: Building blocks
• Tut7: Equation of motion : v
• Tut8: Equation of motion: v and x
• Tut9: Roots of polynomial
• Tut10: Smart Input for Tut4
• Tut11: Write output into text file
• Tut12: Sum on n numbers
• Tut1: Print statements
• Tut2: Input function
• Tut3: Switch case
• Tut4: If then else
• Tut5: Plot functions
• Tut6: Function (Sub routines)
• Tut7: ODE function : I order
• Tut8: Simultaneous ODE : Two I order
• Tut9: Inbuilt function fsolve
• Tut10: GUI
• Tut11: File operations
• Tut12: For looping
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8. Scilab Tutorials: Mech. & Biotech.
Scilab Features
• Tut5: Plot functions
• Tut6: Function (Sub routines)
• Tut7: Inbuilt function fsolve
• Tut8: Linear regression
– “’ operator
• Tut9: File operations
• Tut10: For looping and GUI
• Tut11: ODE function : I order
• Tut12: Simultaneous ODE :
– Two I order
Mechanical Engg. - Thermodynamics
• Tut5: Specific heat
capacity
• Tut6: Building blocks
• Tut7: Molar volume
from Virial equation
• Tut8: Enthalpy vs.
Temperature
• Tut9: Write output into
text file
• Tut10: Molar volume
from IGL
Biotechnology
Tut5: Michaelis Menten rate
Tut6: Building blocks
Tut7: Roots of polynomial
Tut8: Activation energy
Tut9: Write output into text
file
Tut10: Pressure drop in FBR
Tut11: Substrate conc M-M
rate
Tut12: Equation of motion: v
and x
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9. Semester Projects
• Use of Scilab for process design / reactor engineering
models
– Pressure balance model of Circulating Fluidized bed
– Development of reactor engineering model for fixed bed reactor
• Use of GUI based input
– Ease
– Added benefit
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10. Textbook Companion Projects
• Opportunity for high performers / self-learners to
– Learn Scilab
– Understand subject knowledge better through coding
– Paid internship
– Contribute Scilab resources
• 2 Completed and 2 ongoing
• Similar scheme for developing Scilab sample codes
repository ?
– Domain specific
– Numerical techniques
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11. Specific Pitfalls and Difficulties
• Better synchronization of file / folder browser
– Rename option
– Delete option
• Lack of specificity in reporting of errors
a = 2 +
Error: Expression or statement
is incomplete or incorrect.
!--error 2
Invalid factor.
– Inline error notification for incompatible syntax
 Scilab script
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12. Specific Pitfalls and Difficulties
• Better user interface and graphical artwork for
aesthetic appeal
– Concatenation in case of multiple loops
• Customized applications / add-ons
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13. Recommendations
• Enhanced documentation
– Make it available on FOSSEE platform as reference textbook
• Better organized help menu
• Active Scilab help community / forum
• Toolboxes
– Curve fit, PDE
• Spoken tutorials / Scilab companion project : FOSSEE: SciTutorials
– PDE, Stiff ODEs
– Numerical techniques
 Discipline specific
 Pooled from textbook companion codes
• Scilab proficiency certificate
– Incentive for learning
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14. Summary
• Ample scope for growth as efficient and effective
computational tool for engineers
– Aids Problem solving
– Complements learning
FOSSEE potential to be harnessed
SciTutorials
Reach students better
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15. Acknowledgements
• Students of CAChE Course
– 2013, 2014 and 2015 batches
– S. Abhinav, Rutgers, NJ
– G. Subash, ICT, Mumbai
– Sneha R. Iyer, ICT, Mumbai
– Priyam Nayak, IBM, Bangalore
• Faculty colleagues SCBT
• SASTRA University IIChE Student Chapter
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16. Thank You
• Prof. Kannan Moudgalya, IITB
• Scilab Team, FOSSEE, IITB
– Usha Viswanathan, Project Manager
– Mohamed Kasim Khan, Spoken Tutorial
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17. Thank You
A person who never made a mistake never tried
anything new.
- Albert Einstein
- 1879 -1955
Contact E-mail
prnaren@scbt.sastra.edu
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