Postgraduate - UnitCHE5296 - Minimising enviromental impact

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Synopsis

This unit will equip students with the ability to supervise the measurement and control of emissions and the meeting of emission targets, to evaluate new developments in the control of emissions in biorefining, pulping, bleaching and papermaking operations and to make appropriate and innovative recommendations, to identify opportunities for reducing emissions from processes, to undertake a lifecycle analysis with full understanding of the assumptions made and their significance and to assess the impact of carbon dioxide reduction legislation and make appropriate recommendations for process improvement. This unit will examine the practical and fundamental aspects of processes for controlling solid, liquid and gaseous emissions from biomass processing plants. It will provide an understanding of legislation which affects environmental impact issues. It will study processes for the minimsation of energy and water usage and legislation and issues related to minimization of carbon dioxide emissions and carbon trading.

Outcomes

Learning objectives of this unit are that the student will:

1. Acquire an increased knowledge and understanding of:
• Solid, liquid and gaseous emissions from pulping, bleaching, papermaking and biorefinery operations
• Environmental legislation and conformance requirements
• Measurement of levels of emissions
• Processes for minimizing emissions
• Effluent treatment processes
• Pinch analysis
• Procedures for minimising energy and water utilization and cost
• Life cycle analysis
• Carbon trading and related issues

2. Develop the skills required to:
• Supervise the measurement and control of emissions and the meeting of emission targets
• Analyse new developments in control of emissions in pulping, bleaching, papermaking and biorefinery processes and make appropriate and innovative recommendations
• Assess mill performance in the minimization of the usage and costs of energy and water
• Undertake a lifecycle analysis with a good understanding of the limitations imposed by assumptions and the approach used
• Assess the likely impact of carbon legislation and to make appropriate recommendations for action

3. Demonstrate the ability to:
• Undertake in depth research of the literature and/or reports on a specific topic related to process emissions or water or energy usage, analyse the information obtained and produce a report which demonstrates understanding and insight
• Organise practical experiments, make detailed observations of experiments, analyse the results and produce an accurate and detailed report

Assessment

Assignments and reports: 40%
Test: 10%
Final Examination: 50%

Chief examiner(s)

Assoc Professor Karen Hapgood

Contact hours

28 hours lectures and 8 hours laboratory classes in a one week intensive, 115 hours private study