Biodiesel: An AlternativeBiodiesel: An Alternative Fuel Source Fuel Source

Kathyrn Spates, Biology teacherKathyrn Spates, Biology teacher

Barbara Jordan High School for CareersBarbara Jordan High School for Careers

Dr. Timothy JacobsDr. Timothy Jacobs

Department of Mechanical EngineeringDepartment of Mechanical Engineering

Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University

DAY ONEDAY ONE

Students will take pretestStudents will take pretest Journal writing: To engage students Journal writing: To engage students

and check for prior knowledgeand check for prior knowledge Class Discussion: To involve them in Class Discussion: To involve them in

problem solving and planningproblem solving and planning Share my EShare my E33 experience experience Discuss group project and class Discuss group project and class

symposiumsymposium

ANAN

ALTERNATIVEALTERNATIVE

FUEL SOURCEFUEL SOURCE

Objectives: The learner willObjectives: The learner will Gain an understanding of terminology Gain an understanding of terminology

associated with the lessonassociated with the lesson Identify and apply techniques that Identify and apply techniques that

engineers use to solve problemsengineers use to solve problems Compare and contrast physical and/or Compare and contrast physical and/or

chemical properties of 3 – 5 different chemical properties of 3 – 5 different biodiesel fuels biodiesel fuels

Evaluate biodiesel as compared to Evaluate biodiesel as compared to petroleum diesel and other alternative petroleum diesel and other alternative fuelsfuels

TAKS and TEKS Objectives Biology

• 1.1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 3B, 3C and 3D• 3.12A

Chemistry• 4.8B

IPC• 4.8E

PETROLEUM DIESEL

How do the twofuels differ petroleum dieselvs biodiesel?

What is different about the twocarbon cycles? Explain WHAT DO YOU THINK

THIS SLIDE IS TRYINGTO SHOW?

What are some viable ways to What are some viable ways to address the depletion of the fossil address the depletion of the fossil fuel(petroleum) and minimize its fuel(petroleum) and minimize its environmental effects in the environmental effects in the transportation sector?transportation sector?

1.1. Decrease its usageDecrease its usage

2.2. Improve vehicle performanceImprove vehicle performance

3.3. Use alternative fuelsUse alternative fuels

Why Alternative FuelsWhy Alternative Fuels Two pieces of legislation: The Clean Air Act Two pieces of legislation: The Clean Air Act

Amendments of 1990 (CAAA) and the Amendments of 1990 (CAAA) and the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT) led the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT) led the way towards alternative fuelsway towards alternative fuels

CLASS DISCUSSIONCLASS DISCUSSION

What specifications would an alternative fuel What specifications would an alternative fuel need to have in relation to the environment? need to have in relation to the environment? In relation to the vehicle?In relation to the vehicle?

How do we determine whether the alternative How do we determine whether the alternative fuels meet these specifications (testing)?fuels meet these specifications (testing)?

Given the constraints in this classroom, what Given the constraints in this classroom, what do you propose we do to address what we do you propose we do to address what we discussed? How do we go about getting the discussed? How do we go about getting the information we need to address those issues?information we need to address those issues?

ENGINEERS DOING RESEARCH

Dr. Sergio Capareda

Dr. Timothy Jacobs

Dr. Ding Zhu

Dr. Mark HoltzappleYOU

My RET ExperienceMy RET ExperienceResearch Experiences for TeachersResearch Experiences for Teachers I learned about the fundamentals of I learned about the fundamentals of

an internal combustion (IC) engine an internal combustion (IC) engine and the combustion processand the combustion process

Mechanical Engineeringat its finest

Combustion Cycle Combustion Cycle inside a cylinderinside a cylinder

ADVANCED ENGINE ADVANCED ENGINE RESEARCH LABORATORYRESEARCH LABORATORY

Purpose is advancing Purpose is advancing energy conversion of energy conversion of internal combustion internal combustion engines by engines by investigating in-cylinder investigating in-cylinder combustion processes, combustion processes, use of alternative fuels, use of alternative fuels, emission formation emission formation processes and after processes and after treatment systemstreatment systems

Bridging To The ClassroomBridging To The Classroom The usage of The usage of

alternative fuels, alternative fuels, emphasis on emphasis on biodieselbiodiesel

Exhaust emissions Exhaust emissions of biodiesel as of biodiesel as compared to compared to petroleum dieselpetroleum diesel

The influence The influence biodiesel would biodiesel would have on the carbon have on the carbon cyclecycle

GROUP PROJECT ANDGROUP PROJECT ANDCLASS SYMPOSIUMCLASS SYMPOSIUM

Work in teams to investigate petroleum fuel and other Work in teams to investigate petroleum fuel and other alternative fuels in depth and become the class experts on alternative fuels in depth and become the class experts on one of them.one of them.

Analyze the impact of using the fuel in three major areas:Analyze the impact of using the fuel in three major areas: its long-term availability and the ease of distributionits long-term availability and the ease of distribution its impact on emissions, human health, and the environmentits impact on emissions, human health, and the environment its ease of operation, maintenance, and refuelingits ease of operation, maintenance, and refueling

Each team will be assigned a stakeholder or interest group Each team will be assigned a stakeholder or interest group to represent. They will listen to the presentations and to represent. They will listen to the presentations and compare and evaluate the fuels from that perspectivecompare and evaluate the fuels from that perspective..

Presentations may take one or more forms: a poster or Presentations may take one or more forms: a poster or series of posters, a display board, a video, a PowerPoint series of posters, a display board, a video, a PowerPoint presentation, a booklet, or a pamphlet.presentation, a booklet, or a pamphlet.

DAY 2WEBQUESTBIODIESEL

Let’s Explore and Learn More Let’s Explore and Learn More Biodiesel WebQuestBiodiesel WebQuest

Working in groups of 3, students will Working in groups of 3, students will complete the webquestcomplete the webquest

Control right-click with the mouse to Control right-click with the mouse to activate the websitesactivate the websites

Fill in the answers as they navigate Fill in the answers as they navigate through the websitesthrough the websites

Make notes of any links they may Make notes of any links they may want to explore for their projectwant to explore for their project

DAY 3DAY 3LAB ACTIVITYLAB ACTIVITYCOMPARING COMPARING BIODIESELSBIODIESELS

Design a LabDesign a Lab Design procedures to find the density of Design procedures to find the density of

the different biodiesels and the the different biodiesels and the viscosity of the biodiesels if given the viscosity of the biodiesels if given the materials belowmaterials below

Materials provided:Materials provided:• BalanceBalance beakersbeakers• TimerTimer graduated graduated

cylindercylinder• ThermometerThermometer graduated pipettegraduated pipette• Graph paperGraph paper• Safety gear: gloves, apron, gogglesSafety gear: gloves, apron, goggles

Evaluations and Assessment

Students will take post-test Group projects and presentations will

be evaluated using a rubric Student groups will also self-evaluate

themselves

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

College of Engineering College of Engineering at Texas A&M University at Texas A&M University and the Eand the E33 advisors/staff advisors/staff

National Science National Science FoundationFoundation

The Texas Engineering The Texas Engineering ExperimentExperiment

Dr. Timothy Jacobs and Dr. Timothy Jacobs and his studentshis students

Bjorn SantosBjorn Santos EE33 participants participants