Reflectivity - an alternative approach to teaching multiple-effect evaporator sizing to chemical engineering students.

Multiple-effect evaporators are applied extensively in chemical processes to remove relatively large  amounts of solvent from solid-liquid or liquid-liquid mixtures. A common procedure to determine the heat transfer  surface area requires an iterative procedure, which has the disadvantage of being lengthy and time-consuming. A new approach is suggested to reduce calculation. It involves solving a system of equations without any need for  advanced computer programming skills. Chemical engineering students at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) in Durban, South Africa, responded to an evaluation survey after learning both approaches. The new approach improved  the learning experience of students. Highlighted by this study is the need for critical reflectivity to improve instructional delivery