BBE 4412w -- Changes

Mon Jun 28 12:37:59 2010

Effective Term : New:  1113 - Spring 2011
Old:  1089 - Fall 2008
Course Title Short : New:  Biocomposites & Biomass Energy
Old:  Bio-based Prod Mfg & Apps II
Course Title Long : New:  Biocomposites and Biomass Energy
Old:  Bio-based Products Manufacturing and Applications II
Max-Min Credits
for Course
:
New:  4.0 to 4.0 credit(s)
Old:  3.0 to 3.0 credit(s)
Academic
Progress Units
:
New:  Not allowed to bypass limits.
4.0 credit(s)
Old:  Not allowed to bypass limits.
3.0 credit(s)
Financial Aid
Progress Units
:
New:  Not allowed to bypass limits.
4.0 credit(s)
Old:  Not allowed to bypass limits.
3.0 credit(s)
Repetition of
Course
:
New:   Repetition not allowed.
Old:   Repetition not allowed.
Course
Equivalency
:
New:  BBE 5412
Old:  00827 - BP 4412/5412
Editor Comments : New:  Change credits from 3 credits to 4 credits, due to the Renewable Energy section from BBE 4407 moved to BBE 4412W/5412

Course name change to reflect the revised course content.

This change is part of the course consolidation whereby BBE 3412 "Building Materials Estimating" is eliminated from the curriculum.  The course content from BBE 3412 will be moved to BBE 4407 "Manufacturing and Applications of Bio-based Products I". In order to accommodate this move, the Renewable Energy section within BBE 4407 will be moved to BBE 4412W/5412.  This change consolidates the renewable energy materials into BBE 4412W/5412, making for greater efficiency in the teaching of these topics.



Old:  this is a prereq change only
Proposal Changes : New:  Change credits from 3 credits to 4 credits, due to the Renewable Energy section from BBE 4407 moved to BBE 4412W/5412

Course name change to reflect the revised course content.

This change is part of the course consolidation whereby BBE 3412 "Building Materials Estimating" is eliminated from the curriculum.  The course content from BBE 3412 will be moved to BBE 4407 "Manufacturing and Applications of Bio-based Products I". In order to accommodate this move, the Renewable Energy section within BBE 4407 will be moved to BBE 4412W/5412.  This change consolidates the renewable energy materials into BBE 4412W/5412, making for greater efficiency in the teaching of these topics.



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Student Learning Outcomes : * Student in the course:

- Can identify, define, and solve problems

New:

Please explain briefly how this outcome will be addressed in the course. Give brief examples of class work related to the outcome.

You will learn the performance issues related to biocomposites and how to analyze product applications which would be appropriate given these material properties.

How will you assess the students' learning related to this outcome? Give brief examples of how class work related to the outcome will be evaluated.

Course examinations will evaluate student understanding of biocomposite applications and properties. Furthermore, writing assignments will be evaluated with a grading rubric that specifically addresses these issues.

Old: unselected


- Can locate and critically evaluate information

New:

Please explain briefly how this outcome will be addressed in the course. Give brief examples of class work related to the outcome.

You will need to research and explain scientific literature concerning renewable energy sources and opportunities and limitations associated with these energy sources. Your research analysis will be included in your paper assignments.

How will you assess the students' learning related to this outcome? Give brief examples of how class work related to the outcome will be evaluated.

The grading rubric for the papers will specify the expectation and evaluation criteria for research of scientific literature and the integration of this material into the paper.

Old: unselected


- Have mastered a body of knowledge and a mode of inquiry

New:

Please explain briefly how this outcome will be addressed in the course. Give brief examples of class work related to the outcome.

You will be required to demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental concepts of adhesion and mat consolidation / densification as they relate to biocomposites manufacturing.

How will you assess the students' learning related to this outcome? Give brief examples of how class work related to the outcome will be evaluated.

Course examinations and the first major paper will serve as an assessment of student mastery of the issues adhesion and mat consolidation / densification in the manufacturing of biocomposite products.

Old: unselected


- Can communicate effectively

New:

Please explain briefly how this outcome will be addressed in the course. Give brief examples of class work related to the outcome.

You will be required to write two papers to demonstrate your written communication skills and you will also be required to participate and present during a class debate. The debate will address renewable energy options.

How will you assess the students' learning related to this outcome? Give brief examples of how class work related to the outcome will be evaluated.

For both papers and oral presentations, there will be distinct guidelines specifying expectations and evaluation criteria.

Old: unselected


Provisional
Syllabus:
Please provide a provisional syllabus for new courses and courses in which changes in content and/or description and/or credits are proposed that include the following information: course goals and description; format/structure of the course (proposed number of instructor contact hours per week, student workload effort per week, etc.); topics to be covered; scope and nature of assigned readings (texts, authors, frequency, amount per week); required course assignments; nature of any student projects; and how students will be evaluated.

The University policy on credits is found under Section 4A of "Standards for Semester Conversion" at http://www.fpd.finop.umn.edu/groups/senate/documents/policy/semestercon.html . Provisional course syllabus information will be retained in this system until new syllabus information is entered with the next major course modification, This provisional course syllabus information may not correspond to the course as offered in a particular semester.

New:  BBE 4412W Biocomposites and Biomass Energy
4 Credits

Spring Semester  2011
9:35 - 11:30   Tu and Th

Instructor:        Writing Assistant:

Bob Seavey        Allen Gooch
30B Kaufert Laboratory        gooch002@umn.edu
612/624-3028
bseavey@umn.edu

Texts:

        -  Forest Products and Wood Science        Bowyer Shmulsky and Haygreen

        -  Wood Handbook

        -  Green Plastics: An Introduction to the New Science of Biodegradable Plastics
        E. S. Stevens

        -  Introduction to Chemicals from Biomass   James Clark and Fabien Deswarte

        -  Biomass and Alternate Fuel Systems: An Engineering and Economic Guide
        Thomas F. McGowan

Course Objectives:

By completing this course students should be able to:

1.        Understand the fundamental issues in the manufacture of densified composite products from ligno-cellulosic materials.

2.        Understand and describe the equipment and operations used in manufacturing wood-based composite products including plywood, particleboard, oriented strand board, laminated veneer lumber, I-joists and so forth.

3.        Understand and describe the types adhesives used in manufacturing wood products and composites.

4.        Know the raw materials, general manufacturing process and potential products used for biodegradable plastics.

5.        Understand the fundamental issues and relationships for the utilization of biomass for the manufacture of compostable plastics and renewable energy.

6.        Understand the major concerns related to renewable fuels, their opportunities and challenges in the coming years, as well as the critical marketing issues for bioenergy with respect to sustainability and energy demand.

Course Schedule

Week 1        Course Introduction        -         Cellular Solids
¿        Wood as a multi-component polymer system
¿        Wood chemistry as it relates to composite fiber products

Week 2        Cellular Solids
¿        Thermoplastic softening of lignocellulosics
¿        Laboratory Project - Hardboard Manufacturing

Week 3        Fundamentals of Adhesion
¿        Introduction to adhesives and adhesion
¿        Urea and phenol formaldehyde adhesive
¿        Phenol resorcinol, melamine & isocyanate adhesives
¿        Chemistry of specific adhesives
¿        Laboratory Project - Oriented Strand Board Manufacture

Week 4        Manufacture of plywood: veneering technology
¿        Product applications for plywood products
¿        Grade stamps & third party testing (APA & TECO)
¿         Manufacturing and product performance of laminated veneer lumber
        (LVL) and parallel strand lumber (PSL)

Week 5        Manufacturing and product performance of residential structural components
¿        I-joists: materials and fabrication
¿        Oriented strand lumber (OSL)
¿        Laminated strand lumber (LSL)       

Week 6        Introduction to biodegradable plastics         (Green Plastics   E. S. Stevens)
            [Readings:        Green Plastics - Chapters 1 - 5]
        ¿        Plastics as materials
        ¿        Plastics and the environment
        ¿        Chemical nature of plastics
        ¿         Plastics degradation

Week 7        Biodegradable plastics
        [Readings:        Green Plastics - Chapters 6 - 9]
        ¿         Biopolymers
        ¿        Reemergence of bioplastics
        ¿        Factors affecting growth
        ¿        Prospects for the future



First Paper Assignment Due  -  Manufacturing and Adhesion of Biocomposites
       
Week 8        Introduction to Biofuels and Renewable Energy
        ¿        Embodied energy
        ¿        Life-cycle analysis with respect to energy investments

Exam 1

Week 9        Spring Break

Week 10        Biomass for Energy    Biomass and Alternate Fuel Systems  T. F. McGowan
        [Readings: BAFS - Chapters 1 - 6]
        ¿        Alternate fuels
        ¿        Fuel properties and combustion theory
        ¿        Liquid fuels from biomass
        ¿        Combustion equipment
        ¿        Biomass fuel storage and handling
        ¿        Cogeneration and power generation       

Week 11        Biomass for Energy
        [Readings: BAFS - Chapters 7 - 14]
        ¿        Emissions and control
        ¿        Environment and safety
        ¿        Biomass fuel supply and storage
        ¿        Fuel switching
        ¿        Economic analysis of biomass combustion systems
        ¿        Biomass fuel processing routes and economics
        ¿        Biomass fuel Processing networks

Week 12         Introduction to the utilization of biomass for chemcials   
        [Introduction to Chemicals from Biomass  James Clark and Fabien Deswarte       
        Chapters 1 - 4]
            ¿        The Biorefinery Concept
            ¿        The Chemical Value of Biomass
        ¿        Green Chemical Technologies
        ¿        Production of Chemicals from Biomass


Week 14        Chemicals from Biomass
        [Readings: Chemicals from Biomass - Chapters 5 & 6]
        ¿        Biomaterials
        ¿        Production of Energy from Biomass

Second Paper Assignment Due - Opportunities and Challenges for Renewable Energy

Week 15        Additional topics related to biofuels and renewable energy
        ¿        Biobutanol and black liquor for energy
        ¿        Biodiesel, corn ethanol, and cellulosic ethanol
        ¿        Energy policy and biofuels carbon trade
        ¿        Wind, tidal and hydro power sources

Week 16        Renewable Energy Debate and course review

Final Exam


Grading:

The course grade will be based on exams, quizzes, laboratory exercises, homework sets and assigned papers.  Class attendance and participation are critical parts of this course.
The relative weight of the various components is as follows:

¿        Problem sets, laboratory exercises,
class presentation, and short quizzes  ..................................  10%

¿            Writing assignments (2)  ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿..        40%

¿        Renewable Energy Debate ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿        10%

¿        Midterm exam   ..................................................................   20%

¿        Final Exam   .......................................................................   20%



Writing Intensive Course Requirements

This is a writing intensive course. The primary type of writing assignment will be research essays on either assigned topics or from topics chosen from an assigned list. The writing assignments will be evaluated for content, organization and clarity.   At the beginning of the semester, students will be given the protocol for assessment of their writing.  Initial drafts of reports and essays will be corrected and returned for final revision and grade.


Old:  <no text provided>