FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICS AND MACHINERY
Module Mechanics and Machinery

Academic Year 2022/2023 - Teacher: Emanuele CERRUTO

Expected Learning Outcomes

The aim of the course is to transmit the knowledge on basic mechanics necessary for the management and monitoring of production processes. At the end of the course the student will know the basic characteristics (power, efficiency, design elements) of the main machines of interest for the agri-food sector (heat exchangers, refrigeration machines, internal combustion engines, pumps, etc.), basic processes (heat transmission, ideal gas thermodynamics, moist air thermodynamics) useful for the continuation of studies in the food technology sector, and will have developed attention to the technical-engineering aspects of the discipline and the critical evaluation of numerical results.

Course Structure

The teaching (6 CFU) includes 28 hours of lectures and 28 hours of other activities, mainly guided numerical exercises for solving problems of practical interest for the profession of food technologist. PowerPoint presentations are mainly used to conduct lessons and exercises. If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported  syllabus. Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

Information for students with disabilities and/or DSA

As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline. It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the persons of professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia and Anna De Angelis.

Required Prerequisites

In order to understand the contents of the teaching, it is essential that the student possess the basic knowledge of physics and mathematics, normally acquired during high school.

Attendance of Lessons

Highly recommended, but not mandatory. The attendance of the lessons helps the students to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired during the lessons to the resolution of practical problems inherent to their own professional training.

Detailed Course Content

Fundamentals of mechanics: International System of Units (SI); forces applied to the machines; mechanical work; friction: sources and remedies; efficiency; basics on power transmission systems.

Applied thermodynamics (thermodynamic system, first and second law of thermodynamic, thermodynamic diagrams); heat transmission in steady state condition (conduction, convection, radiation); gases and vapours (quality, use of table of water vapour); moist air properties (humidity, enthalpy, psychrometric charts).

Basic machinery in agro industrial plants: heat exchanger (equi- and counter-flow, sizing), pumps (positive displacement pumps, centrifugal pumps, power pump calculation), compressors, centrifugal separators and extractors, main electrical machines, Otto and Diesel internal combustion engines, refrigeration cycles.

Textbook Information

The teacher provides all the material necessary for the study of the topics covered in the classroom (handouts with the theoretical part and slides for the guided development of the exercises). In addition, the following texts are recommended, without prejudice to the freedom to consult any other text:

1. Anzalone G., Bassignana P., Brafa Musicoro G., Meccanica, macchine ed energia, Hoepli.

2. Çengel Y., Termodinamica e trasmissione del calore, Mc GrawHill.

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1The International System of UnitsDidactic material provided by the teacher
2Elements of applied mechanicsReference 1 - Didactic material provided by the teacher
3Machine efficiencyReference 1 - Didactic material provided by the teacher
4Passive resistancesReference 1 - Didactic material provided by the teacher
5Notes on the means to reduce frictionDidactic material provided by the teacher
6Motion transmission systemsReference 1 - Didactic material provided by the teacher
7Notes on motion regulation systemsDidactic material provided by the teacher
8Basic thermodynamicsReference 1 - Reference 2 - Didactic material provided by the teacher
9Thermodynamic transformationsReference 1 - Reference 2 - Didactic material provided by the teacher
10Transmission of heat by conductionReference 1 - Reference 2 - Didactic material provided by the teacher
11Transmission of heat by convectionReference 1 - Reference 2 - Didactic material provided by the teacher
12Transmission of heat by radiationReference 1 - Reference 2 - Didactic material provided by the teacher
13Heat exchangersReference 1 - Reference 2 - Didactic material provided by the teacher
14Thermodynamics of moist airReference 2 - Didactic material provided by the teacher
15Refrigerating machinesReference 2 - Didactic material provided by the teacher
16Internal combustion enginesReference 1 - Didactic material provided by the teacher
17Pumps for the agri-food sectorReference 1 - Didactic material provided by the teacher
18Other machines of interest for the agri-food sectorDidactic material provided by the teacher

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

During the course there will be two written tests lasting 2 hours reserved for attending students (attendance of at least 70%). The final exam takes into account the results of the ongoing tests, which are valid only within the academic year in which they were carried out, and consists of two tests, a compulsory written test and an optional oral one, following the passing of the written test. with a score of at least 18/30. The written test is structured in multiple choice questions based on theoretical knowledge or requiring the resolution of numerical exercises. Verification of learning can also be carried out remotely, should the conditions require it. The deadline for booking the written tests usually expires three days before the date of the test indicated in the exam calendar.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

All the teaching material (lecture notes with the theoretical part, slides used during the lessons, texts of the exams assigned in previous years) is made available on the STUDIUM platform.

The topics most frequently requested during the oral interview concern:

SI unit of measurement of quantities of interest (energy, power, pressure)

Calculation of efficiency in machines connected in series or in parallel

Friction and grip

Conditions of equilibrium

Power transmission systems

Equation of state of ideal gases and calculation of heat and work exchanged in the main thermodynamic transformations

Modes and laws governing the transmission of heat

Types of heat exchangers and their sizing

Thermodynamic cycles of refrigeration machines

Thermodynamic cycles of internal combustion engines

Calculation of pumping power

Thermodynamics of most air