Introducing freshmen to reverse process engineering and design through investigation of the brewing process
- Autores: Stephanie Farrell, Robert P. Hesketh, James A. Newell, C. S. Slater
- Localización: The International journal of engineering education, ISSN-e 0949-149X, Vol. 17, no. 6, 2001, págs. 588-592
- Idioma: inglés
- Enlaces
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Resumen
Freshman engineering students at Rowan University are introduced to engineering design through aseries of hands-on engineering and design projects. These design experiences in the first semesterare incrementally progressive; their purpose is to lead the students into the second semester and asingle, in-depth, reverse engineering project. Previous projects have included the dissection ofseveral inexpensive commercial products such as coffeemakers, toothbrushes, water purifiers, andhairdryers. This paper describes our effort to introduce reverse engineering and design of a processinto the course. The focal point is a laboratory project in which students investigate a process forthe production of beer. After a brief introduction to the brewing process and a comparativetechnical evaluation of commercially available beers, the students set out in teams to perform ahands-on, reverse-engineering investigation of the fermentation process and home-brewing equip-ment. Next, each team plans a commercial venture involving the brewing process. The teams plantheir ventures (which may range from a brewery or restaurant to a full-scale brewery anddistribution network), and present their designs and a marketing plan to the other groups. Thebrewing process introduces freshman students to engineering fundamentals related to materialbalances and stoichiometry, fluid flow, heat and mass transfer, and biochemical reactions. Thisproject, meets several educational objectives: to develop creative and critical thinking, to introducedesign principles, to provide hands on experience, to develop teamwork and communication skills,and to stimulate enthusiasm for engineering.
