BE 306Machines for Agricultural and Biological Processing

3 credits · Biological Engineering · Penn State

This course is designed to provide a broad foundation for understanding machine system design for Biological Engineering students. In addition, this course serves as a foundation for those wishing to develop a more focused understanding of agricultural and general machine systems, and is a prerequisite for ASM and BE 400 level courses. Machine systems are an integral part of many agricultural operations from field production to post-harvest processing, storage, transportation, and bio-based processing. Biomass feedstock logistics and bioenergy production systems are heavily relying on machine systems. Biological Engineers will likely encounter a wide range of powered and automated equipment in their careers. This course consists of lectures, labs, and open-ended design projects. The lab activities will focus on testing and evaluating of machine performance using prototype machines and instruments. Lab activities and design projects will be completed in the format of small groups. This course equips the students to: (1) describe operating characteristics of engines and motors and properly select models for different applications: (2) design machine elements and mechanical power transmission systems to accomplish a machine task: (3) apply basic physics and engineering principles in a variety of machine-product interaction situations: and (4) practice technical report writing and oral presentation.