Spreadsheet-based application integrated with Virtual reality for teaching economic and environmental assessment of subsurface gasification and combustion for hydrogen production

Abstract

Herein we developed an education game based on a spreadsheet- activity and virtual reality (VR) for teaching the fundamentals of gasification and combustion. The game could be used as a valuable resource to motivate students at the undergraduate and senior high school level to consider economic and environmental assessment including sustainability concerns as they design a hypothetical chemical product or process. The proposed game is intended to be incorporated into any sustainability course design or chemical engineering course. The game is suitable for both chemistry majors and non-chemistry majors as it introduces fundamental energy changes in chemical reactions and design principles. Additionally, the game can be adapted for high school outreach activities. The game is freely available and encourages students to think critically while considering several factors in making key industrial decisions about a product or process. Factors considered include the water availability, socioeconomic impact, environmental impact, and proximity of technological location to infrastructures. The game is designed to raise awareness about hydrogen as an energy carrier, including its economic aspects and its wide range of industrial applications. It could also be used as a means of recruiting students into chemical sciences and engineering degree programs.