S07
BAE 103
Energy in Biological Systems
Course Syllabus
An introduction to energy flow and transformations within biological systems that include the human environment; and the production and processing of plants, animals and micro-organisms. Topics to be covered include the engineering problem solving approach, basics of thermodynamics, psychrometrics, calorimetry and Gibb's energy.
Biosystems engineering is the application of engineering principals to biological systems. Biosystems engineers deal with water quality and environmental issues associated with the planning and design of structures and systems for managing our natural resources; machine systems for food processing and production; processing and packaging of food and biotechnology products; and the design of environmental control systems for residences, plant and animal production. The unifying link in the biosystems engineering profession is the interface between engineering and biology.
This course was conceived and designed to provide a framework that illustrates the application of the engineering problem solving approach to biological systems. While many of the topics in this course require a fundamental background in calculus, physics, chemistry, biology, and the engineering sciences for the students to fully master, it is expected that an elementary treatment of these topics in the first year will provide students with framework and expectation for understanding basic and engineering sciences as they apply to the biosystems engineering profession. This course will also serve as a formal introduction to psychrometrics, Gibbs' energy and calorimetry; topics void of more formalized treatments within the basic and engineering sciences.
At the completion of this course students will be able to:
1) Apply the engineering problem solving approach to perform energy balances on biological systems;
2) Apply the fundamentals laws of thermodynamics to solving problems relating to energy transfer and transformations within biological systems;
3) Use the psychrometric chart to solve problems relating to air-water vapor mixtures;
4) Apply the Gibb's Energy concept to estimate the chemical potential to build proteins and power muscle contraction;
5) Use direct and indirect bomb calorimetry to estimate the energy content of biological; and
6) Estimate power and energy requirements for controlling plant and animal environments.
Lecture Hours: 2 - 50 minute class meetings per week - 8:00 to 8:50 AM, M and W
Location: Room 236, C.E. Barnhart Building
Instructor: Scott A. Shearer, Ph.D.
Office: Room 218, C.E. Barnhart Building
Office Phone: 257-3000 ext.218
E-mail: shearer@bae.uky.edu
Course Texts (Suggested)
Serway, R.A. and R.J. Beichner. 2000. Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Volume 1. 5th Edition. Thomson Learning, Inc.
Cengel, Y.A., and M.A. Boles. 2002. Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach. 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
During the semester students will complete numerous homework assignments. Late assignments will not be accepted after the due date (not counting excused absences). If an exception is made, assignments will be penalized 20% for each day late. Persons with excused absences (according to University policy) may in some cases be able to make up the material. In these cases, if it is not feasible to duplicate a missed assignment, the assignment will not be factored into the final grade. More explicit definitions of the course requirements are as follows:
Individual Assignments: Individual homework assignments will be composed of problem solving exercises exclusively. Be sure you understand the specifics of the problem statements, and that you respond accordingly. These assignments will account for 30% of your final grade.
Class Participation: Students will be expected to contribute to the learning process by sharing your ideas and insights relative to the issues being discussed. Class participation and attendance will count for 10% of the final grade.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given to insure that students master problem solving assignments in a timely fashion. Students should be prepared for eight announced quizzes this semester. Quiz grades will count for 40% of your final grade.
Final Exam: A comprehensive final exam will be administered at the end of the semester during the regularly scheduled exam period. Students will be given example questions during the last two weeks of class. The final exam will count for 20% of your final grade.
Grading Schedule:
100% < A < 92%
92% < B < 83%
83% < C < 74%
74% < D < 65%
65% < E
Please note, any form of plagiarism or cheating will not be tolerated. This behavior will result in a final course grade of "E" and charges of academic misconduct!
SAS
S07
Energy in Biological Systems
Course Outline
Week 1: Problem Solving Skills
Unit and Dimensional Analysis
Problem Solving Approach
Presentation of Solution
Week 2: Thermodynamics of Biological Systems
Systems Definitions (biological, chemical, thermal, fluid, mechanical, electrical)
First and Second Laws (alternative and fossil fuels, photosynthesis)
Concepts of Work, Energy and Power
Week 3: Thermodynamics of Biological Systems Cont.
Energy Balance (IC engine)
Energy Conversion (photosynthesis)
Carnot Efficiency (steam, sterling cycle, diesel, and hot gas turbine engines)
Week 4: Changes of State
Heat Capacity
Heat of Fusion (hydro-cooling of fruits and vegetables)
Heat of Vaporization
Week 5: Fluid Flow in Biosystems
Fluid Statics
Mass Balance
Bernoulli’s Equation (irrigation pumping head)
Pressure Loss (fluid movement in the human body)
Week 6: Psychrometrics
Basic Properties
Heating and Cooling Processes
Humidification and Dehumidification
Week 7: Psychrometrics Cont.
Human Comfort
Drying (solar grain drying)
Latent and Sensible Energy Balances
Week 8: Elementary Heat Transfer in Biosystems
Radiation (potato storage)
Convection (spray cooling of dairy cows)
Week 9: Elementary Heat Transfer in Biosystems Cont.
Conduction (heat loss through residential homes)
Greenhouses
Week 10: Spring Break!
Week 11: Heating
Energy Sources
Energy Conversion
Week 12: Refrigeration Cycles
Air Conditioning
Heat Pumps (ground loops and soil temperatures)
COP
Week 13: Thermodynamics for Living Systems
Environments for Microorganism Growth
Week 14: Gibb's Energy
Maximum Non-Expansion Work
Chemical Potential to Build Proteins
Chemical Potential to Power Muscle Contraction
Week 15: Applications of Gibb's Energy
Plant Systems
Animal Systems
Week 16: Calorimetry
Bomb Calorimetry
Indirect Calorimetry
Week 17: Final Exam - Wednesday, May 2 from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Room 236, C.E. Barnhart Building