ENEM20002 - Fluid Power Engineering and Control

Showing: 2026 HE Term 1
General Information

Unit Synopsis

This project-based unit will give you the opportunity to design advanced integrated fluid drive systems for use in industry. It covers comparison of characteristics, construction, selection, design and operation of fluid drives and drive systems; use of mathematical models to analyse performance; machine protection and control schemes; and evaluation of drive system performance. You will apply formulas and explain and record calculations. You will adopt professional approaches to work in teams and learn collaboratively to manage and complete projects. You will manage your own learning; investigate, design and check designed works performed; and communicate professionally using discipline-specific terminology to present designs and problem solutions.

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 - 2019

Term 1 - 2019 Profile
Melbourne Perth Rockhampton
Term 2 - 2019 Profile
Melbourne Perth Rockhampton
Term 1 - 2020 Profile
Melbourne Perth Rockhampton
Term 2 - 2020 Profile
Melbourne Perth Rockhampton
Term 2 - 2021 Profile
Melbourne Mixed Mode Perth Rockhampton

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 25%
2. Written Assessment 25%
3. Practical Assessment 20%
4. Online Quiz(zes) 30%

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

Previous Feedback

Term 2 - 2021 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 4.50 (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:
In Progress
Source: Moodle
Feedback:
MATLAB simulation enhances student problem-solving skills

Recommendation:
The MATLAB tool will be employed further.

Action Taken:
In Progress
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:
In Progress
Unit Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Use advanced mathematical models to design complex fluid drives and their performance
  2. Evaluate the characteristics of different drive systems with regard to advanced applications
  3. Design protection and control systems
  4. Analyse electro-mechanical power and energy conversion systems
  5. Evaluate methods to improve energy efficiency, including the use of renewable energy sources
  6. Create professional documentation using terminology, symbols and diagrams related to electric and fluid drives.

The learning outcomes are linked to Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard and Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) 9 Level.

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