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Application of Virtual Reality (VR) based learning platform to Hydraulic Fracturing

Joseph Kwon

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July 20, 2019

Future of Cyber Assisted Chemical Engineering Education

Breckenridge, CO

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OUTLINE

  1. Introduction

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  • Application

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  • Potential & Prospect

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1. Introduction

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1. Introduction: Application of VR

Virtual Reality (VR) & General Applications

  • Advanced Manufacturing 
    • Learning new machining platform and training new employees

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  • Healthcare 
    • Simulations for learning surgery

Figure 1. Examples of VR application. Courtesy of SimInsights Inc., CA, USA.

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Advantages of Virtual Reality

Effective learning, enhanced safety and reduced cost can be achieved.

  1. Free from safety issue

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  • Reduced physical limitation

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  • Low financial burden

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  • Easy installation & Deployment

Figure 2. VR based machining lab. Courtesy of SimInsights Inc., CA, USA. Supported by NSF SBIR. �

2. Application: Benefits

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2. Application to Chemical Engineering

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Existing Challenges on Training Chemical Engineers

  • Limited opportunity for physical experience
    • Field visitors are generally inaccessible to the plant equipment.
    • 2-D computer simulations (e.g., AspenTech) cannot provide physical experience.
  • Various workplace safety hazards
    • Exposure to toxic chemicals and falling can take place.
    • Despite thorough pre-checkup, human errors are inevitable.
  • Vast & Hard-to-reach plant sites
    • Most chemical plants are extensive and far from the major cities.
    • Field trip is nearly impossible due to distance and cost.

2. Application: Current challenges

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Examples of Virtual Reality in Chemical Engineering

  1. 360° stereoscopic 3-D vision

Video 1. VR based plant employee training.

  1. Multi-sensory stimulation
  1. Available active control action

Immersive and physical experiences from VR training are unique.

2. Application: Benefits

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Application to Chemical Plants – Training

2. Application: Chemical plants

Figure 3. Virtual facility training.

  1. Scalable hands on training: VR can cover multiple scales

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  • Low cost & universal application: Same equipment and operating system can be used for different types of plants.

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  • No risk of bodily injury: Safety is secured during the VR training.

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Challenges: Education on Hydraulic Fracturing

2. Application: Hydraulic fracturing

    • Fundamental knowledge is required from the beginning of VR module development.

(Fluid dynamics, Heat & mass transfer, etc.)

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    • Reproduction of hydraulic fracturing process is graphically complicated, requiring high-end computers.

Moving Boundary Problem

Figure 5. Overview of hydraulic fracturing.

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3. Potential & Prospect

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Extension to Augmented Reality (AR)

3. Potential & Prospect:

Figure 7. Active application of VR and AR in workplace

  • Train in VR & Work in AR

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Acknowledgements

Acknowledgments

  • Financial support from the Artie McFerrin department of chemical engineering, Texas A&M Energy Institute, and Singinsight Inc. are gratefully acknowledged.
  • SimInsights Inc. is supported by NSF SBIR.

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References

References

  • J. T. Bell and H. S. Fogler. Virtual Reality in Chemical Engineering Education. Proceedings of the 1998 ASEE North Central Section Meeting, 1998.
  • J. T. Bell and H. S. Fogler. The application of Virtual Reality to Chemical Engineering and Education. Proceedings of the 2004 IEEE Virtual Reality, 2004.
  • J. F. Jebaraj and E. Kirubakaran. A Framework for Desktop Virtual Reality Application for Education. International Journal of Computing Algorithm, 5(1):23-28, 2016.
  • J. R. Domingo and E. G. Bardley. Education Student Perceptions of Virtual Reality as a Learning Tool. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 46(3):329-342, 2018.
  • P. Siddhamshetty and J. S. Kwon, Simultaneous measurement uncertainty reduction and proppant bank height control of hydraulic fracturing. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 127:272-281, 2019.
  • K. Cao, P. Siddhamshetty, Y. Ahn, R. Mukherjee, and J. S. Kwon, Economic model-based controller design framework for hydraulic fracturing to optimize shale gas production and water usage. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 58:12097-12115, 2019.
  • Statista Research Department, Goldman Sachs, Forecast size of the augmented and virtual reality market worldwide in 20 and 2025 by segment (in billion U.S. dollars); https://www.statista.com/statistics/610112/worldwide-forecast-augmented-and-mixed-reality-software-market-by-segment [Accessed on July 18, 2019].

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Thank you