CHEG 2810
Data Acquisition and Handling
Fall, 2010

Objectives
Topics
Outcomes
Evaluation & Grades
Administration
Lab & Oral Reports
Experiments

Catalog Description:

A lecture & laboratory consideration of the methods used to collect experimental or process data, data handling, and data presentation.  Students will obtain a working knowledge of methods and limitations that must be considered when applying or collecting process information.
                                                           
1 cr.
                                                      
Prerequisites:  CHEG 1810

Instructors:

Dr. Peter E. Parker     Office:   CEAS  A 221
voice: 269 276-3519
e-mail:  peter.parker@wmich.edu
course web page:  homepages.wmich.edu/~parkerp
office hours:    Tuesday 1:30 – 2:30;  Wednesday  2:00 – 3:00
or by appointment 
(Subject to change --- see my web page for up-to-date information.)

Dr. Andrew Kline   Office:    CEAS A 220
voice:  269 276-3516
e-mail:  andrew.kline@wmich.edu

Mr. Harold Hladky    Office:  CEAS  A 228
voice:  269 276-3513
e-mail:  harold.hladky@wmich.edu

Laboratory:

Tuesday:  2:30 – 5:20;   Lecture:   CEAS   D 210;  Lab  A 112
Thursday  2:30 – 5:20;  Lecture:   CEAS   C 122 ;  Lab  A 112
Thursday 6:00 –  8:50;  Lecture:   CEAS   D 210;   Lab  A 112

Course Objectives:

1. Develop an understanding of various methods to collect process data.
2. Develop skills in data reduction and analysis.
3. Develop skills in oral and written communication.

Prerequisites, by topic

1. Ability to use a computer in a MS Windows or Mac environment
2. Ability to write grammatically correct technical reports.

Topics

1. Lab Safety -- Fire extinguisher operation
2. Process measurement and signal acquisition
3. LabView
4. Data presentation
5. Data reduction
6. Basic measurement devices
7. Temperature measurement
8. Pressure measurement
9. Flow measurement
   

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Learning outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate skills in the use of conventional "mechanical" methods of collecting data, such as the use of thermometers, pressure gauges, refractometers, etc.
2. Students will demonstrate skills in the use of electronic means of collecting data and the ability to develop LabView virtual instruments
3. Students will demonstrate the ability to appropriately fit linear regression lines to experimental data.
4. Students will demonstrate the ability to transform data and determine if the experimental data fit appropriate models.
5. Students will orally present the results of their experimental work and demonstrate skills in graphical presentation of data.
6. Students will submit written reports of their experimental work in the standard departmental format.

Text: 

There is no required text.  A course pack with descriptions of the experiments, guides for written and oral reports, and other information is available in the bookstores.  The course pack is required.

Supplemental Texts:

Holman, J. P.   Experimental Methods for Engineers.  recent editions  McGraw Hill

Perry, R., and Green, D.,   Chemical Engineer's Handbook.   McGraw-Hill

Evaluation

Performance against the course objectives will be measured primarily by the laboratory reports.   These reports (oral and written) will be used to measure understanding of the data acquisition process, ability to analyze data, and to critically evaluate the experimental process.  Reports will be graded both for technical content and "style", which includes grammar, spelling, and punctuation.  Oral reports will also be evaluated.

Written Laboratory Reports                            60%
Presentations & Critiques                               30%
Quizzes & Team Evaluations                          10%.

 

Grading Scale  (tentative)

A  92 –100 %              BA  88 – 91    B  80 - 87      
CB 76 – 79                  C  69 – 75       DC  65 – 68
D  55 – 64                   E < 55

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Course Administration

This is a laboratory course in which experiments are done in small teams, usually two or three students.  The student teams will be assigned by the instructor and team membership will not change during the semester except in very exceptional circumstances. Each team will be responsible for conducting the experiments, submitting the written report, and orally presenting the results.  Each individual will also be required to review and critique videos of his or her oral presentations.

Team work always brings issues of fairness and equal participation to the fore.  It is expected that each team will work internally to solve problems of appropriate participation by the team members.  If necessary, the instructor will intervene to ensure that team dynamics do not adversely affect the learning process. 

Written reports will be initialed by all team members.  Your initials on the team report indicates that you have read, understood, and agree with the contents of the report.

Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated.  All students are expected to comply with the WMU code of ethics as defined in the student handbook.  Failure to follow these rules is cheating.  Anyone found cheating will be given a failing grade in the course as well as being subject to Departmental and University actions.

Implementation

Each section will be divided into working teams of 2, or possibly 3 students.  In general, each team will perform an experiment one week and make an oral presentation of the results the following week.  Written reports are due the day of the oral presentation.  There will also be lecture material presented on the days of the oral presentation.  

Each section will be divided into two sub groups (A & B) of 10-12 students, with each sub group having 4 to 6 student teams.  One sub group will be in lab while the teams in the other sub group are delivering their oral presentations. 

Assignment of individuals to teams and teams to the sub team will occur shortly after the first class meeting to accommodate late registrants.  Team and experiment assignment will be posted on the class web page.   The tentative schedule is:

The experimental descriptions are contained in the course pack.  Note that the experiment descriptions are relatively brief.  I expect each team member to read the description, think about the experiment, consult appropriate reference material, and read equipment instructions before coming to lab.  Each experiment should be completable in one lab session.  In the event a team believes they would like extra time to work on an experiment (e.g. to redo a botched experiment!), then the team should make special arrangements with either myself or Mr. Hladky to obtain additional lab time.  However, the lab report will still be due the week following the laboratory assignment.  I strongly suggest that each team assign team member responsibilities, and perhaps even visit the lab to read instruction manuals, etc. before the lab session.  Coming to lab prepared will help you successfully complete the experiment well within the lab time period.

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Lab Reports

Lab reports must be typed reports that discuss the experiment and its outcome.  The standard format for memo lab reports, contained in the course pack, is to be used.  Please follow it.  In addition to the written report, each team will give an oral presentation of their work the week following the lab work.  The written report is due at the time of the oral presentation.  Thus, the week that a team is not in lab, it will have a lab report due and an oral presentation of that lab report.  A sample lab report and guidelines for oral presentations are contained in the course pack.

Written reports that contain more that 15 errors ( in form or grammar) will be returned for correction.  This cycle will continue until the report contains 15 or fewer errors.  The final report will be graded and the “style” portion of the grade reduced one half letter grade for each correction cycle. 

The first lab report will be assessed rather than evaluated to provide you with guidance for future lab reports.  The "15 error" rule will not apply.

Students are encouraged to take advantage of the Writing Center and other services on campus to improve their written communication skills. 

Oral Presentations

The oral presentation is essentially a presentation of the lab report and should take at least 10 minutes and no more than 20 minutes.  Each team member is expected to share roughly equally in the presentation.  This requires that the team determine how to transition between speakers.  Questions about the presentation can be directed to any member of the team.

As with the written report, the first presentation will only be assessed.  All other presentations will be evaluated.  Guidelines for giving an oral presentation are contained in the course pack, as is the oral presentation evaluation form..

We will use the oral reports as an opportunity to improve oral communication skills.  Oral reports will be video taped.  In the past, we have used VHS video tapes.  We have upgraded technology and will make the videos available on DVD.  The DVDs will be kept in the PCI Department office.  You will need to visit the department office to “check out” the DVD of your presentation to develop your critique.  The original DVD become part of the department files.  I will be happy to assess any individual's (or team's) presentation.  Individual critiques of the team’s oral presentation will be due with the following lab report.  This critique should be relatively short and note things that the team did well and things the team needs to work on to improve their oral presentation skills.  It must also contain one or two items the individual needs to work on to improve his or her presentation skills.  A memo format is appropriate.

 

CHEG 2810
Data Acquisition

Fall Semester – 2010

Laboratory Experiments

Experiments will not be done in strict numerical sequence.  Due to equipment limitations, each team in the lab will normally be working on a different experiment.  During the course of the semester, each team will conduct five of the following experiments. 

Notes:
Experiment 1 will be done by all teams in the first lab.

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