Study information

Environmental Processes - entry

MODULE TITLEEnvironmental Processes CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODEECMM134 MODULE CONVENERUnknown
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 0 11 0
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 5
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

This module is aimed at students looking to have a deeper understanding of the impacts water has on engineering projects and human health. The module covers water management, water quality, water treatment and wastewater treatment processes and technologies, with applied examples, and the necessary background science to understand them. By the end of the module, the student should be able to understand the basic environmental chemistry associated to water management, the water quality required for engineering use, and the treatment processes available.

AIMS - intentions of the module

This module aims to provide an understanding of environmental processes associated with water resources management (environmental engineering). The first part of the module aims to provide the required background, covering topics related to chemistry, physical processes and biology in environmental engineering. The second part of the module aims to cover water quality, water treatment and wastewater treatment, as required for use in engineering processes and for human/ecosystem health.

There are no requisite or co-requisite modules for this course. Overall, the module is expected to involve students in approximately 11 weeks for a total of 150 hours of learning, including 22 hours of lectures, 60 hours assignments; and 68 hours private study.

Prior knowledge of engineering processes is desired, but the module is designed as a standalone course and the background theory required is provided in the class textbook. The module is suitable for specialist students advancing on the MSc in Water Management and for any student in a civil and environmental engineering degree. Non-specialist students with an interest in wter management can attend, provided they have a scientific background and can understand basic engineering concepts.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge

1. Write balanced chemical reactions and equilibrium expressions for air-water chemical reactions, volatilization, acid-base reactions, oxidation-reduction reactions, precipitation-dissolution, and sorption-desorption processes.
2. Predict distribution of chemicals among different environmental media
3. Understand reactors: types, behaviour, properties and operation
4. Apply ficks law, stokes law and darcys law to environmnetal problems
5. Understand the different types of population growth models applied to microbial populations
6. Calculate the parameters associated with biological activity in water systems (BOD, BOD5, COD etc)
7. Understand the characteristics and quality of water from different natural sources
8. Recognise the impacts in water quality of: engineering projects, contaminant events, population growth, ubanization and land use
9. Identify physical, chemical and biological constituents that exist in untreated water and typical concentration ranges for the major constituents
10. Understand and design appropriate water treatment processes to match regulatory water quality requirements under different environmental, technological and economic conditions
11. Identify distinct hydrological, physical, chemical and biological inputs that make up municipal wastewater and list typical concentrations of the major constituents
12. Understand and design appropriate wastewater treatment processes to match regulatory water quality requirements under different environmental, technological and economic conditions

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge

13. Improve understanding of engineering unit processes operation and design
14. Ability to identify, formulate and analyse water management and treatment problems
15. Improve IT skills
16. Ability to relate theoretical design with industrial/real life water resources management

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge

17. Develop independent learning skills
18. Enhance report and presentation skills

 

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

FIRST PART – Environmental Chemistry

Chemistry             

- Activity and Concentration

- Thermodynamic Laws

- Volatilization

- Air-Water Equilibrium

- Reaction Stoichiometry

- Air-Water Equilibrium

- Acid-Base Chemistry

- Oxidation-Reduction

- Precipitation-dissolution

- Adsorption, Absorption, and Sorption

- Kinetics

Physical Processes

- Mass Balances

- Energy Balances

- Mass Transport Processes

Biology 

- Population Dynamics

- Oxygen Demand: Biochemical, Chemical and Theoretical

- Material Flow in Ecosystems

- Health and Public Welfare

 

SECOND PART – Water Treatment Processes

Water Quality       

- River Water Quality

- Lake and Reservoir Water Quality

- Wetlands

- Low-Impact Development

- Groundwater Quality

Water Treatment  

- Introduction

- Characteristics of Untreated Water

- Water Quality Standards

- Overview of Water Treatment Processes

- Coagulation and Flocculation

- Hardness Removal

- Sedimentation

- Filtration

- Disinfection

- Membrane Processes

- Adsorption

- Energy Usage

Wastewater Treatment        

- Introduction

- Characteristics of Domestic Wastewater

- Overview of Treatment Processes

- Preliminary Treatment

- Primary Treatment

- Secondary Treatment

- Modifications to the Activated-Sludge Process

- Attached-Growth Reactors

- Removal of Nutrients: Nitrogen and Phosphorus

- Disinfection and Aeration

- Sludge Treatment and Disposal

- Natural Treatment Systems

- Energy Usage during Wastewater Treatment

LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 24 Guided Independent Study 126 Placement / Study Abroad 0
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled learning & teaching activities 22 In class lectures. 2 hours per week.
Guided Independent Study 36 Set of problems related to the current lectures. 3 hours per sheet.
Scheduled learning & teaching activities 2 Exam tutorial during last module lecture
Guided Independent Study 90 Assessment preparation; private study

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Problem Sheets 3 hours per sheet, 6 sheets in total during the term 1 - 18 Comments
       
       
       
       

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 50 Written Exams 50 Practical Exams 0
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Written Examination 50 2 hours, closed note/book, formula sheet provided 1 - 14 Comments and recommendations
Group Project 30 2-3 people group written report on water/wastewater treatment design and technology. 10000 +/- 10% words. 1 - 18 Comments and recommendations
Problem Sheets 20 6 Individual problem sheets based on each module section.  1 - 17 Comments and recommendations
         
         

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-reassessment
Written Examination Written Examination 1 - 14 Next referral exams as per timetable
GroupProject Individual Essay 1 - 17 Next reassessment opportunity
       

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

There is no resubmission possible for the problem sheets worth 20% of the final mark. Scaling of written examination or group/individual project depends on each case. If student needs to resubmit the written examination only, then the written exam is worth 50%. If student needs to resubmit the group project only, then the re-assessed individual essay is worth 30%. If the student needs to resubmit BOTH the written exam and the group project, then the exam is worth 50% and the individual essay is worth 30%.

RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

Basic reading:

 

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

 

Web based and Electronic Resources:

 

Other Resources:

 

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set Mihelcic, J R, Zimmerman, J B Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, sustainability, design John Wiley and sons 2009 978-0470165058
Set Metcalf and Eddy Wastewater Engineering. Treatment and Reuse McGraw Hill 2004 978-0071241403
Set Leslie Grady Biological Wastewater Treatment 1999 0824789799
Set Mackenzie Davis Introduction to Environmental Engineering McGraw Hill Companies 2008 0070418780
CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES None
CO-REQUISITE MODULES None
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 7 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Friday 18th May 2012 LAST REVISION DATE Tuesday 21st January 2014
KEY WORDS SEARCH Environmental Engineering, Water, Water Chemistry, Wastewater Treatment, Water Quality

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.