ENEM20002 - Fluid Power Engineering and Control

General Information

Unit Synopsis

This project-based unit is about designing fluid power systems for automated and semiautomated industrial plants. This unit deals with exploring fluid power elements and their ISO standard symbols, designing fluid power circuits using actuators, directional control, and other valves, sensors, and control systems. Control technology may include both hydraulic and pneumatic systems integrated with programmable controllers (PLCs and micro-controllers). In small teams, you will undertake project work involving solving real-life industrial problems. There are also several laboratory experiments in areas of hydraulic and pneumatic operating system design and control circuit design integrated with PLCs for automated machines. You will use simulation software (SimScape and/or FluidSim) for confirming the functionality of designed projects prior to prototyping. You will communicate professionally using discipline-specific terminology to present designs and problem solutions. Students enrolled in online mode must attend a compulsory residential school to facilitate peer collaboration and attainment of the unit learning outcomes.

Details

Level Postgraduate
Unit Level 8
Credit Points 12
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.25
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites There are no pre-requisites for the unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School Compulsory Residential School
View Unit Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 2024

There are no availabilities for this unit on or after Term 1 - 2024

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 12-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 25 hours of study per week, making a total of 300 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Written Assessment 20%
2. Written Assessment 20%
3. Laboratory/Practical 20%
4. Online Quiz(zes) 40%

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 2 - 2021 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 4.5 (on a 5 point Likert scale), based on a 72.73% response rate.

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Source: Students
Feedback
PLC programming training would be more fruitful if it was done before study break week.
Recommendation
Recommended to organise PLC program training earlier rather than at the end of the term. Earlier communication with OMRON Electronics can help to get a PLC expert for guest lecture delivery.
Action Taken
A guest lecturer was invited to introduce various control measures including Simulink and PLC.
Source: Student
Feedback
Pneumatic control integrated with PLCs was a good experience.
Recommendation
It is recommended to continue with the developed structure of the unit (fluid power, pneumatics, and PLCs together). This may help students graduate with job-ready skills in industrial automation and production.
Action Taken
Two projects were considered: one with hydraulic fluid power and another with pneumatic power. In both projects, students employed control strategies to complete the projects.
Source: Student
Feedback
Fluid power simulation with SimScape was very helpful.
Recommendation
Continue teaching simulation of fluid power circuits using SimScape and FluidSim facing the current challenges of industry automation.
Action Taken
SimScape and SimScape Fluid were employed in the tutorial session and students used these simulation tools along with other control measures to complete their projects.
Source: Unit Coordinator
Feedback
Exam (replacing quiz) is essential
Recommendation
In the post-COVID period, an exam carrying 40% value should be introduced. This will improve the quality of assessment of students' knowledge and skills.
Action Taken
The online individual exam, valued at 40% was considered to assess student content knowledge and problem-solving skills.
Source: Moodle
Feedback
Students favour engaging learning and teaching approach for their learning.
Recommendation
The good engaging teaching approach for student learning will be employed and improved further.
Action Taken
Nil.
Source: Moodle
Feedback
MATLAB simulation enhances student problem-solving skills
Recommendation
The MATLAB tool will be employed further.
Action Taken
Nil.
Source: Moodle
Feedback
Lab activities were in online mode due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Recommendation
Face-to-face lab activities solve laboratory-related problems in CQU campuses.
Action Taken
Nil.
Unit learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Design complex fluid drives and analyse their performance
  2. Evaluate advanced applications of drive systems in industrial plants
  3. Design fluid control circuits integrated with programmable controllers for automated machine systems
  4. Design and analyse electro-mechanical and fluid control power and energy conversion systems
  5. Design protection and control systems for fluid power machines
  6. Analyse electro-mechanical power and energy conversion
  7. Create professional documentation using terminology, symbols and diagrams related to electric and fluid drives.

The Learning Outcomes for this unit are linked with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standards for Professional Engineers in the areas of 1. Knowledge and Skill Base, 2. Engineering Application Ability and 3. Professional and Personal Attributes at the following levels:
Intermediate
1.3 In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I 5I 6I 7I )
1.4 Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I 5I 6I 7I )
1.5 Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I 5I 6I 7I )
2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I 5I 6I 7I )
2.3 Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I 5I 6I 7I )
3.2 Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I 5I 6I 7I )
3.3 Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanour. (LO: 1N 2N 3I 4I 5I 6I 7I )
3.6 Effective team membership and team leadership. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I 5I 6I 7I )
Advanced
1.1 Comprehensive, theory-based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I 5A 6I 7I )
1.2 Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2A 3I 4I 5I 6I 7I )
1.6 Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline. (LO: 1A 2A 3A 4A 5I 6I 7I )
2.1 Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I 5A 6I 7A )
2.4 Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects. (LO: 1A 2A 3A 4I 5I 6I 7A )
3.4 Professional use and management of information. (LO: 1A 2A 3A 4A 5I 6I 7A )
3.5 Orderly management of self, and professional conduct. (LO: 1I 2I 3A 4I 5I 6I 7A )

Note: LO refers to the Learning Outcome number(s) which link to the competency and the levels: N – Introductory, I – Intermediate and A - Advanced.
Refer to the Engineering Postgraduate Units Moodle site for further information on the Engineers Australia's Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineers and course level mapping information

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 - Written Assessment • • •
2 - Written Assessment • • •
3 - Laboratory/Practical • • • •
4 - Online Quiz(zes) • • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Advanced Level
• Professional Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 - Knowledge • • •
2 - Communication • •
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills • • • •
4 - Research •
5 - Self-management •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Advanced Level
• Professional Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8