Eduardo A. Montero

Student Engagement in a Structured Problem-Based Approach to Learning: A First-Year Electronic Engineering Study Module on Heat Transfer

Problem-based learning has been at the core of significant developments in engineering education in recent years. This term refers to any learning environment in which the problem drives the learning, because it is posed in such a way that students realize they need to acquire new knowledge before the problem can be solved. This paper presents the experience of a structured problem-based learning approach to the teaching of an introductory study module on heat transfer in the first year of an Electronic Engineering graduate program. A heat sink design problem was posed to students at the beginning of the module. Small groups of students worked on a cooperative learning project for eight weeks, while the teacher acted as the coach and the facilitator of knowledge acquisition. Partial, though not extensive, written reports were collected each week and the student assessments of the learning environment were measured. The paper closes with a list of recommendations intended to assist academics interested in adopting a similar approach.

Phase equilibrium properties of binary and ternary systems containing tert-amylmethyl ether (TAME) as oxygenate additive and gasoline substitution hydrocarbons at 313.15 K

Abstract Experimental isothermal P – x – y data for the binary systems ( tert -amylmethyl ether (TAME)+the hydrocarbons n -heptane, cyclohexane, benzene and 1-hexene) and the ternary system ( tert -amylmethyl ether (TAME)+1-hexene+cyclohexane) at 313.15 K are reported. Data reduction by Barkers method provides correlations for G E using the Margules equation for the binary systems and the Wohl expansion for the ternary system. Wilson, NRTL and UNIQUAC models have been applied successfully to both the binary and the ternary systems presented here and they have been used for predicting the behaviour of the other ternary systems involving TAME+hydrocarbon+hydrocarbon, where the four types of substitution hydrocarbons have been used.

Integrating digital video resources in teaching e-learning engineering courses

In recent years, the possibilities for distance teaching in engineering education have increased tremendously. The widespread availability of the Internet has allowed the use of rich media over long distances. As visual connectivity improves, an opportunity to enrich and rethink the place of learning design in on-line and distance education is presenting itself. This paper presents a case study of development of digital video to be used in e-learning postgraduate engineering courses. Videos should be used in autonomous DVD or embedded in hypermedia learning objects. Multilingual, interactive questionnaires and mixing use of animations and real images are some features of the video. The use of these video is put to the test in a postgraduate course on Solar Energy and other Renewable Energies in Buildings.

Teaching Thermodynamics to Electronic Engineers through active teaching strategies

The paper presents the experience of a structured problem-based learning approach to the teaching of a study module on Thermodynamics in the second year of an Electronic Engineering graduate program at the University of Burgos. In the light of the experience gained, a list of recommendations is presented that might prove of interest to academics interested in pursuing a similar approach.

Thermodynamic Properties of Propanol and Butanol as Oxygenate Additives to Biofuels

Alternative and renewable energy technologies are being sought throughout the world to reduce pollutant emissions and increase the efficiency of energy use. Oxygenate second-generation biofuels fuels lead to a reduction in pollutant emissions and their thermodynamic and transport properties allow that the facilities for transport, storage and distribution of fuels could be used without modification. Higher alcohols, like propanol and butanol, enhance the octane number, boosting the anti-knock effect in gasoline. Then the compression ratio of the engines can be increased without risk of knocking, leading to higher delivery of power. From the combustion point of view, the production of carbon monoxide and volatile hydrocarbons from the combustion of alcohols is less than the one of gasoline. This chapter covers mixtures of butanol and propanol with hydrocarbons. The properties reviewed are excess volume or density (VE), vapour-liquid equilibrium (VLE), and heat capacity (Cp).