29405 - Food Systems

Learning outcomes

During the course many machines and plants are shown and the related working principles are discussed. It is expected that the student will learn some basic engineering design principles and that will be able to recognize the main machines of food industry.

Course contents

Machine components

- Materials and their physical properties.

- Measurement instruments.

- Rotative and alternative actuators.

Plant components for energy and mass transfer

- Solid materials movement.

- Liquid materials movement: centrifugal and volumetric pumps.

- Pumps design.

- Pumps and nozzles for food.

- Heat exchangers.

- Cooling plants.

Food transformation plants

- Numerical methods for process simulation.

- Fresh fruits and vegetables sorting lines.

- Cocoa and coffee plants transformation.

- Frozen vegetables processing.

- Mineral water production.

- Plants for cooking.

- Ice cream production.

Readings/Bibliography

PDF Booklet available on teacher website [http://angelofabbri.altervista.org/] and Virtuale [https://virtuale.unibo.it] .

Some further reference text, available at the library:

- D. Friso - Ingegneria dell'industria alimentare. Operazioni unitarie del food engineering. Macchine e impianti. Edizioni CLEUP, Padova, 2013

- R.L. Earle, M.D. Earle - Unit operations in food processing,
http://www.nzifst.org.nz/unitoperations

- R.P. Singh, D.R. Heldman - Introduction to Food Engineering, Edition, Academic Press, London

- Ibarz A., Barbosa-Canovas G. - Unit Operations in Food Engineering, Ed. CRC Press, 2003

- C. Pompei - Operazioni Unitarie della tecnologia alimentare

- C. Peri, B. Zanoni - Manuale di Tecnologie Alimentari I, CUSL, Milano, 1994

- ASABE Textbook: Food & Process Engineering Technology
http://elibrary.asabe.org/textbook.asp?confid=fpet2004

- P. De Vita, G. De Vita - Manuale di meccanica enologica. - Hoepli

Teaching methods

The physical principles of most common machines are explained. Some discussion are developed about the critical comments of different possible technical solutions for food plants.

Usually students have the possibility to visit some industrial plants.

Assessment methods

The examination usually takes place in the computer laboratory of the Food Science Campus/Villa Almerici and is made by a multiple-choice test:

- the text of the assignment can concern both numerical exercises and theoretical aspects, considering all the subjects developed during the course without prevailing or minority topics. A multiple-choice questionnaire facsimile is available together with booklet and online on EOL (https://eol.unibo.it);

- exams are generally held in shifts of 25 students/hour. Subscription is carried out by AlmaEsami service: https://almaesami.unibo.it. The list usually closes 2 days before the exam;

- even if the exams start at 10am, it is sufficient for the student to go outside the computer lab at the start of the shift;

- during the exams it is necessary to have a pen, an identification card and remember University accreditation coordinates. Books, handouts, notes or electronic devices are not permitted, with the exception of non-programmable calculators.

- the student learns the outcome of the test immediately after closing and this result remains valid for the exam day only.

- Students with disabilities can contact the specific University or Polo service in advance, in order to agree on the activation of any adaptations.

- The student may choose an English version of the test, just warn the teacher two days in advance.

The structure of the test and scores is remembered at the start. This will vary a bit but is generally as follows:

- multiple choice test with on the EOL platform;

- maximum time available to answer the questions: generally 20-30 minutes, even if the student can finish earlier. A timer on screen remarks the residual time. All the answers are editable until the conclusion (this also implies that it is possible to answer the questions in any order);

- the test consists of at least 12 questions, for each of which several alternative answers are proposed, only one of which is correct;

- a negative score is provided for wrong answers, in order to discourage random compilation. Score attributed for the answer: correct Pc=3, wrong Ps=-1 and omitted Po=0;

- to pass the test with a minimum score, it is necessary to answer correctly at least 4 questions, while 11 correct answers (with the possible integration of an interview) can lead to the attribution of honours.

Teaching tools

Blackboard; video projector; PC; Internet connection; factory visits; many machine components are shown during lessons.

Links to further information

http://angelofabbri.altervista.org/

Office hours

See the website of Angelo Fabbri