Motivating Student Learning Using Biofuel-based Activities

Craig J. Hoff; Jennifer Aurandt; Matthew R. O'Toole; Gregory W. Davis; Steven Nartker

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Conference: 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Publication Date: June 23, 2013
Start Date: June 23, 2013
End Date: June 26, 2013
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: New Concepts for Alternative and Renewable Energy Courses
Tagged Division: Energy Conversion and Conservation
Page Count: 12
Page Numbers: 23.10.1 - 23.10.12
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--19019
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/19019
Download Count: 783

Paper Authors

biography

Craig J. Hoff Kettering University

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Dr. Craig J. Hoff is currently Professor and Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Kettering University, in Flint, Michigan, where he teaches in the areas of energy systems and automotive engineering. Dr. Hoff’s research focus is on sustainable mobility technologies.

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Abstract

Developing Student Understanding of the Opportunities and Challenges of Bio-fuelsMeeting the energy needs of the nation and the world is becoming increasingly difficult in the face ofescalating demand and dwindling supply. Developing renewal sources of energy is critical for keepingeconomic engines turning and to allow standards of living to increase. One option is to develop bio-fuelssuch as biodiesel and biogas (or more specifically bio-methane). Bio-fuels can be produced from a widevariety of renewal materials. Developing the technology to produce and utilize bio-fuels is truly amultidisciplinary project, involving chemists to understand the fundamental chemical processes,chemical engineers to efficiently produce the bio-fuel, mechanical engineers to understand the affectsof using bio-fuel in conventional engines, and mathematicians to aide with developing predictivemodels.At XYZ University undergraduate students are developing an understanding of the challenges indeveloping bio-fuel as a renewable source of energy though the undergraduate cooperative educationprogram, undergraduate research opportunities, and through classroom activities. For example in acourse on sustainability students use green chemistry principles to produce bio-diesel in a chemistry laband then test the fuel in a gas turbine in a mechanical engineering lab. As another example,collaboration between a green energy startup company, the city government, and the university isproviding opportunities for undergraduate co-op students and undergraduate research assistants tohelp develop the technology to convert municipal waste into biogas.In the production of biogas, chemistry and chemical engineering students evaluate potential substratesfor implementation in anaerobic digestion. The students complete biological methane potential testing,small scale reactor evaluation, and analytical tests to determine the process parameters for anaerobicdigestion. Current student projects include: the development of an algae bio-refinery, using hospitalpost consumer food waste as a substrate, evaluating soybeans as a substrate, and wetland invasivespecies. In addition, the students are implementing the ADM1 model and working with industry onbiogas separation membranes.More recently, mechanical engineering undergraduate and graduate research assistants have begun tostudy the effects of using bio-methane in automobile engines. One approach was to convert a pickuptruck with a gasoline engine to run on compressed natural gas as a prelude to testing the vehiclerunning on bio-methane. Future work will focus on the effects of biogas on fuel economy andemissions. A parallel study will use a computational approach to understand how to reduce the amountof chemical processing required to prepare bio-methane for use in an automotive engine; and hencereducing the cost of the fuel.Through all of these activities, students are coming to understand the opportunities and challengesassociated with the development of bio-fuels. This paper will describe in more detail the approachesthat were used and the lessons learned.

Citation
Format

Hoff, C. J., & Aurandt, J., & O'Toole, M. R., & Davis, G. W., & Nartker, S. (2013, June), Motivating Student Learning Using Biofuel-based Activities Paper presented at 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Atlanta, Georgia. 10.18260/1-2--19019

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Developing Student Understanding of the Opportunities and Challenges of Bio-fuelsMeeting the energy needs of the nation and the world is becoming increasingly difficult in the face ofescalating demand and dwindling supply. Developing renewal sources of energy is critical for keepingeconomic engines turning and to allow standards of living to increase. One option is to develop bio-fuelssuch as biodiesel and biogas (or more specifically bio-methane). Bio-fuels can be produced from a widevariety of renewal materials. Developing the technology to produce and utilize bio-fuels is truly amultidisciplinary project, involving chemists to understand the fundamental chemical processes,chemical engineers to efficiently produce the bio-fuel, mechanical engineers to understand the affectsof using bio-fuel in conventional engines, and mathematicians to aide with developing predictivemodels.At XYZ University undergraduate students are developing an understanding of the challenges indeveloping bio-fuel as a renewable source of energy though the undergraduate cooperative educationprogram, undergraduate research opportunities, and through classroom activities. For example in acourse on sustainability students use green chemistry principles to produce bio-diesel in a chemistry laband then test the fuel in a gas turbine in a mechanical engineering lab. As another example,collaboration between a green energy startup company, the city government, and the university isproviding opportunities for undergraduate co-op students and undergraduate research assistants tohelp develop the technology to convert municipal waste into biogas.In the production of biogas, chemistry and chemical engineering students evaluate potential substratesfor implementation in anaerobic digestion. The students complete biological methane potential testing,small scale reactor evaluation, and analytical tests to determine the process parameters for anaerobicdigestion. Current student projects include: the development of an algae bio-refinery, using hospitalpost consumer food waste as a substrate, evaluating soybeans as a substrate, and wetland invasivespecies. In addition, the students are implementing the ADM1 model and working with industry onbiogas separation membranes.More recently, mechanical engineering undergraduate and graduate research assistants have begun tostudy the effects of using bio-methane in automobile engines. One approach was to convert a pickuptruck with a gasoline engine to run on compressed natural gas as a prelude to testing the vehiclerunning on bio-methane. Future work will focus on the effects of biogas on fuel economy andemissions. A parallel study will use a computational approach to understand how to reduce the amountof chemical processing required to prepare bio-methane for use in an automotive engine; and hencereducing the cost of the fuel.Through all of these activities, students are coming to understand the opportunities and challengesassociated with the development of bio-fuels. This paper will describe in more detail the approachesthat were used and the lessons learned.
AU  - Craig J. Hoff
AU  - Jennifer Aurandt
AU  - Matthew R. O'Toole
AU  - Gregory W. Davis
AU  - Steven Nartker
CY  - Atlanta, Georgia
DA  - 2013/06/23
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  -  Motivating Student Learning Using Biofuel-based Activities
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/19019
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--19019
ER  -