An instructive software was developed and programmed as an educational aid for design of distillation tower and tray hydraulics using visual basic language. This user-friendly software can be used as an educational aid for undergraduate Chemical Engineering courses. This tool allows students to study the behavior of the distillation tower and explore the different mass transfer and unit operation features. The students will be able to perform many simulation exercises including the tower overall and interior design and predict the behavior of undesired phenomena such as weeping and flooding. The software environment facilitates students' learning by providing a step-by-step procedure and instructions that are consistent with standard course books. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 24:577-585, 2016; View this article online at ; DOI