ET00CE24 Biofuels Engineering and Energy Technology (5 cr)
Cooperation network course
Network: FITech Energy studies for Master’s students
Available for: Doctoral studies, Master's students and Bachelor's and Master's students
This course is offered through the Network for Fitech Energy 2. These studies are available for master's and doctoral degree students studying in the Faculty of Mathematics and Science and the Faculty of Information Technology.
Grading scale:
0-5
Description
The course follows the contents (not all) of the reference book: Biofuels Engineering and Technology, (Springer) written by the responsible teacher. The course is divided mainly into two sections. In the first section, the focus is on the questions: how biomass generates? What are the main types of biomass utilized for energy conversion? How we assess the suitability of biomass for energy conversion? After delineating the aspects related to light harvesting (utilization of radiation by biological devices seen as bio-energy converters), the assessment of the quality of the biomass is covered firstly by proximate analysis (calorimetric bomb) and secondly by evaluating the composition of biomass with the methods of elemental analysis and chromatography.
The second part of the course will focus on the questions: what are the best solutions applied in biofuels engineering? What are, among others, the different routes involved for biogas, bioethanol and biodiesel production? How we can utilize the biofuel generated for the purpose of energy conversion?
Learning outcomes
After this course, the students will be able to cope with a series of scientific principles. They will have a clear understanding of how biomass is generated and what are the analogies of these phenomena with common engineering problems. Students will recognize the main methods utilized for quality assessment of biomass and estimate the suitability of the feedstock for the purpose of power conversion. During the course, students will be able to summarize the most important pathways utilized for biofuels production, distinguish the main reactor types used and will be capable of analyzing the main related parameters involved. They will distinguish and summarize the different routes performed for products like biogas, bioethanol and biodiesel. Students will possess critical thinking about the different quantitative problems involved.
Description of prerequisites
This course is at master’s level studies. It is assumed that students have passed a bachelor degree