Emerson makes donation to Texas ChE to improve labs, equipment

This spring, Emerson is sponsoring upgrades to a distillation column and computer labs in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering. The upgrades valued at $217,000 are being rolled out in two phases, including an in-kind gift of equipment and hardware to modernize a distillation column experiment station and funds to update the undergraduate computer labs.

Roughly 180 graduate and undergraduate students utilize the distillation column every year located in the department’s Unit Operations Lab. Upgraded equipment donated by Emerson includes the DeltaV™ distributed control system software and hardware, a server cabinet, junction boxes, KVM switches,  Evosite control room console furniture, along with servers, workstations, monitors and a power column.

Installation of the latest DeltaV systems in the Operations Lab will give students hands-on learning experiences with cutting-edge process control equipment and software, along with the skills required to tackle process control-related challenges they experience in industry, post-graduation. The upgraded distillation column will be fully operational and available for use this spring semester as part of CHE 264, the Projects and Process Lab course.

BEFORE & AFTER

“We are so grateful to Emerson for this gift,” says Dr. Thomas Truskett, department chair. “The instrumentation is the same that is used in control centers of an actual plant, so the learning experiences students will get in our department will be directly applicable to working in a control room setting. These upgrades will allow students to get an up-close view of how this equipment is configured and used and give them exposure to real-world challenges they might face.”

Emerson’s Round Rock location is the global innovation headquarters for their Systems and Solutions business. As a follow up to the hands-on learning modules with DeltaV, students will also have the opportunity to visit the nearby facilities and see how the instrumentation is used to deepen their understanding of control processes.

“For decades, we’ve maintained a strong relationship with the University of Texas through donations like this, along with education, research and development initiatives,” says Jamie Froedge, president of Process Systems and Solutions, Emerson Automation Solutions. “Emerson remains committed to supporting the communities where we operate and fostering learning and educational programs for current and future engineers.”

The new, flexible systems will also allow for easier upgrades and modifications, enabling the department to add and expand capabilities in the future.

Students interested in the course can receive more information from the Undergraduate Advising Office. Career opportunities and internships with Emerson are also available on the Emerson website. Additional information about the undergraduate computer lab upgrades will be available shortly.

 

About Emerson

Emerson (NYSE: EMR), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global technology and engineering company providing innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and residential markets. Our Emerson Automation Solutions business helps process, hybrid, and discrete manufacturers maximize production, protect personnel and the environment while optimizing their energy and operating costs. Our Emerson Commercial and Residential Solutions business helps ensure human comfort and health, protect food quality and safety, advance energy efficiency, and create sustainable infrastructure. For more information visit Emerson.com.

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