FTE-34806 Modelling of Biobased Production Systems

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Contents:

Advanced biobased production systems are expected to provide society with food, fuel and biomaterials in de post-fossil fuel era. Reaching beyond farm level, these production systems combine product flows and waste flows from plant and animal production processes together with novel bioprocessing technologies.
Testing such novel concepts by building pilot plants usually is too expensive. The same holds for evaluation of modifications to the production system. Then mathematical models of the novel biobased production process can be a powerful tool to predict the performance and behaviour of the proposed system solutions.
In view of the above, this course discusses a systematic approach for modelling biobased production systems. The approach starts with the analysis of a complex biobased production process combining plant production, animal production and local processing . This is followed by a breakdown of the system into subsystems. Static and dynamic models for the subsystems will be developed, implemented in simulation software and analysed. Subsequently the models of the subsystems are integrated to predict and to analyse the total system. The behaviour of the total system is studied by a systematic design of simulation experiments, and is analysed with respect to the performance in terms of economy and greenhouse warming potential. Methods for assessing model uncertainty and sensitivity will be introduced and applied in the case study.
The course focusses both on the background of the methodologies for modelling, simulation and analysis, and at experiencing the development, implementation in simulation software and use of models. For this purpose basic models for plant growth, animal production systems and processing technology at farms are discussed and exercised. Students will work in groups on an application example.
This course gives an overview of the different modelling and simulation techniques available for a biosystems engineer and provides a link to later courses and thesis work in the program.
This course is the first course in the MSc Biosystems Engineering. Besides modelling biobased production systems the course comprises therefore an orientation on the study domain and a multiple day field trip with visits to relevant organizations, universities and industries in the Netherlands and surrounding countries. The students have to write a report about this field trip.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- analyse a complex problem and the breakdown of such system in (small) subsystems;
- develop static and dynamic models for (small) systems, including basic models of plant growth, animal production and processing technologies;
- compose the model of the full system from models of the subsystems;
- evaluate/validate/calibrate the models using literature data;
- know how to set up simulation experiments for verification and understanding of the model and system behaviour;
- know how to perform sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of a dynamic model;
- explore the possibilities to improve the performance by closing cycles and introducing new technologies in a biobased production system;
- and to have a good view on the study domain and activities of relevant organizations, universities and industries in the Netherlands and surrounding countries related to biosystems engineering.

Activities:

- lectures;
- modelling practical's;
- multiple day excursion.

Examination:

- written (closed book) exam on the lectures and study material (50%):
- report and model of case study from practical (teams of 2 students) (50%);
- report of the field trip (pass required).

Literature:

Reader, copies from literature and hand outs of lectures.