Course specification for MEC2501

Staffing

Examiner: Tobias Low
Moderator: Tony Ahfock

Requisites

Pre-requisite: MEC1501

Synopsis

The drive to meet consumer demands for economically competitive and high quality products requires effective and efficient processing technologies. These processing technologies are required to transform the raw material to its final product with the optimal use of the raw material in a sustainable manner, using minimal energy, and producing less harmful by-products. The effective design, development and operation of processing operations are fundamental in achieving these goals.

This course takes a multi-disciplinary approach to provide the student with the knowledge base and application skills to design complete process engineering systems. These designs would include the specification of vital hardware systems and associated sensors and actuators to allow safe, effective control of the operation. The course further expands on the fundamental knowledge gained in the pre-requisite course `Introduction to Process Engineering', by undertaking the specification and design of suitable processing systems and control strategies.

The aim of this course is to provide the student with theoretical knowledge and design skills based on the concepts of Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Computer Controlled Systems, sensors and actuators, and graphic-user interface systems.

Objectives

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. On completion of this course, students should be able to:

understand the basic principles of fluid flow in pipes;
understand the difference (and effect) of turbulent and laminar flow in pipes;
understand the principles and operation of a steam plant including steam turbines;
analyse the broad range of flow control devices; its advantages and limitations and effect on flow of fluid;
understand basic electronic theory used in computer-controlled systems;
develop basic control strategies for flow control, including the appropriate sensors and actuating mechanisms required;
develop user interface systems to allow for the effective and safe operation of the process.

Topics

	Description	Weighting(%)
1.	Principles of fluid flow	15.00
2.	Steam Plant – generation and use	15.00
3.	Flow control devices	10.00
4.	Basic Electronic Theory	15.00
5.	Sensors and Actuators	15.00
6.	Computer controlled systems, including PLC’s and microcontrollers	20.00
7.	Human-machine interface, including the design of GUI’s	10.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from USQ's Online Bookshop (unless otherwise stated). (https://bookshop.usq.edu.au/bookweb/subject.cgi?year=2013&sem=02&subject1=MEC2501)

Please contact us for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://bookshop.usq.edu.au/contact/)

There are no texts or materials required for this course.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Student workload requirements

Activity	Hours
Assessments	50.00
Examinations	2.00
Lectures	26.00
Private Study	51.00
Tutorials	26.00

Assessment details

Description	Marks out of	Wtg (%)	Due Date	Notes
ASSIGNMENT 1	200	20	26 Aug 2013
ASSIGNMENT 2	200	20	30 Sep 2013
ASSIGNMENT 3	200	20	28 Oct 2013
2 HOUR RESTRICTED EXAMINATION	400	40	End S2	(see note 1)

NOTES

Student Administration will advise students of the dates of their examinations during the semester.

Important assessment information

Attendance requirements:
It is the students’ responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.)
Penalties for late submission of required work:
If students submit assignments after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded. No assignments will be accepted after model answers have been posted.
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade in a course a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks for the course.
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks (or grades) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
Examination information:
In a Restricted Examination, candidates are allowed access to specific materials during the examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the restricted examination for this course are: writing materials (non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination); a non-programmable electronic calculator (students must indicate on their examination paper the make and model of any calculator(s) they use during the examination).
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the examination period at the end of the semester of the next offering of this course.
University Student Policies:
Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene University policies and practices. These policies can be found at http://policy.usq.edu.au/portal/custom/search/category/usq_document_policy_type/Student.1.html.

Assessment notes

The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the Examiner.
Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be despatched to USQ within 24 hours if required by the Examiner.
In accordance with University Policy, the Examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances.
If electronic submission of assessments is specified for the course, students will be notified of this in the course Introductory Book and on the USQ Study Desk. All required electronic submission must be made through the Assignment Drop Box located on the USQ Study Desk for the course, unless directed otherwise by the examiner of the course. The due date for an electronically submitted assessment is the date by which a student must electronically submit the assignment. The assignment files must be submitted by 11.55pm on the due date using USQ time (as displayed on the clock on the course home page; that is, Australian Eastern Standard Time).
If the method of assessment submission is by written, typed or printed paper-based media students should (i) submit to the Faculty Office for students enrolled in the course in the on-campus mode, or (ii) mail to the USQ for students enrolled in the course in the external mode. The due date for the assessment is the date by which a student must (i) submit the assessment for students enrolled in the on-campus mode, or (ii) mail the assessment for students enrolled in the external mode.
The Faculty will NOT normally accept submission of assessments by facsimile or email.
Students who do not have regular access to postal services for the submission of paper-based assessments, or regular access to Internet services for electronic submission, or are otherwise disadvantaged by these regulations may be given special consideration. They should contact the examiner of the course to negotiate such special arrangements prior to the submission date.
Students who have undertaken all of the required assessments in a course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of a course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded one of the temporary grades: IM (incomplete - Make up), IS (Incomplete - Supplementary Examination) or ISM (Incomplete - Supplementary Examination and Make up). A temporary grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non-directed personal study.
Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or to sit for an examination at the scheduled time may apply to defer an assessment in a course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination; IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete - Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).
Harvard (AGPS) is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use Harvard (AGPS) style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (AGPS) style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide.
http://www.usq.edu.au/library/help/referencing/default.htm

MEC2501 Process Engineering Systems

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