Immersive Virtual Crude Distillation Unit learning experience : the EYE4EDU Project

The new educational EYE4EDU project, based on proposing to bachelor degree students different exercises on a Virtual immersive Crude Distillation Unit (VCDU), is described. The VCDU combines the action of EYESIM and DYNSIM software from AVEVA Company, for the physical representation and the dynamic chemical behavior of the plant. The educational impact of the project was quantified. In fact, before using the immersive software, a test with 22 questions was proposed to all participants about the theory of the Crude Distillation Unit plants. After the virtual exercises, the students repeated the test, without further study time, doubling their average rating. In fact, the average marks were 10.5/30 and 20.8/30 before and after the virtual exercise, respectively. The opinion of the students about this project and the software was strongly positive, with an average evaluation of the 14 questions proposed in a final survey equal to 4.58 / 5.