Objectives
The Automation Engineering Technology program prepares graduates to install, calibrate and maintain control systems and instruments used on electronic, pneumatic and hydraulic automation systems. Automation systems will include electronic motion and proximity detectors, limit switches, various transducers to measure pressure, temperature, level and flow, programmable logic controllers, electric, pneumatic and hydraulic motors, wireless transceivers, conveyor systems, pumps, and computer and robotic systems.
Course description
Semester 5
# AEN3501 - 006 - Automation Sensors
This course will include the study of primary elements and measuring elements used in the measurement of pressure, level, temperature, and flow. Students will learn the basics of engineering drawings used in the instrumentation field and symbols and standards used by various industries. Theoretical and lab work will be used to develop the skills required for accurate calculations and measurements of various information signals used in industrial instrumentation. The course will review various electronic components and their functions and roles in the instrumentation industry. An important factor in any instrumentation installation is the accurate calibration of all euqipment involved. The student will learn and practice the proper procedures for testing, documentating, and calibrating a wide variety of instruments. Research of equipment specifications and installation considerations will be carried out throughout the course.
# AEN3506 - 006 - Automatic Control I
This course is a study of closed loop control functions including the concepts of process equipment characteristics such as on-off control, proportional, integral, and derivative modes of control. Students will examine the effects of deadband and proportional band adjustments on process control. Process characteristics such as dead time, system lag and capacitance will be studied to determine their effects on system response.
# AEN3510 - 005 - Computer Control Systems I
This course is intended to introduce the student to Programmable Logical Controllers (PLC) and explain their many functions in plants and industry. Students will be introduced to the symbols and drawings associated with PLCs as well as ladder diagrams. Various methods of programming and troubleshooting will be examined and PCs will be used for this purpose. The material will be general enough in nature so that the knowledge can be used with other systems. Laboratory work will support fundamentals covered.
# AEN3516 - 003 - Mechanical Systems
Creating comfortable and healthy living and working environments are a major concern today. This course is the study of mechanical systems as related to commercial and industrial environments. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC), refrigeration, plumbing, lighting, safety, preventative maintenance, energy conservation, and environmental considerations will be studied. Efficiency of systems during exteme weather situations is an important cost saving concern and the use of modern commercial DCS systems used for efficient control will be covered with hands-on programming included.
# MTH3600 - 004 - Applied Mathematics
Prerequisite: MTH 3500 This course will apply the mathematics skills taught in the previous courses to the solution of practical problems. There will be included a wide range of problems such as the application of quality assurance, quality control, statistical tests for research projects, and mass energy balances.
# TEC3501 - 001 - Technical Report Research
Prerequisites: ENG 1780, ENG 1751 In this course, students will select and research a topic for their technical report, which is required in the final semester of their program. Students will assess and use primary and secondary research sources that best support the goals of the technical projects. To obtain approval for their topics, students will present both a written and oral proposal to their professors.
Semester 6
# AEN3601 - 003 - Automated Systems I
This course will include the study of automated systems found today. It will include industrial processes used in the production of pulp and paper, mineral processing, water treatment, and sewage and waste treatment. Process and instrumentation diagrams will be examined and students will be expected to identify various systems, explain their opration, select appropriate sensors, controllers, and final control elements as well as produce wiring diagrams for the control systems. A variety of instrumentation and electrical drawings will be used to help students recognize individual loops used in complex processes.
# AEN3605 - 003 - Telecommunications in Automation
This course will include the study of industrial networking and various communications buses used in industrial applications today. Students will learn to implement SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) in process control situations. Ethernet continues its steady march onto the plant floor and the technologist needs to make use of Ethernet functionality that was initially only used by Enterprise network administrators. They need to be familiar with network cards, hubs, switches, routers,and TCP/IP. Students will see how the factory-floor network of the future integrates all company operations into a single information base using a variety of solutions.
# AEN3610 - 005 - Automation Engineering I
This course covers the engineering calculations portion of the program. Included are calculations involving area, volume, pressure, level, temperature, and flow. Topics covered will include Bernoulli's Theorem, Torricelli's Theorem, the Ideal gas law, thermodynamic principles, and efficiency factors. All of the calculations and scenarios used as examples are based on realistic industrial applications. Today's technologist graduate must be comfortable with the mathematical calculations involved in system design, troubleshooting, and modification situations. Students will also be required to do control valve sizing and orifice plate sizing and to calculate piping losses, heat transfer, and size pumps, as well as complete related calculations for their final project. This subject also supports the final technical project.
# AEN3616 - 007 - Automatic Control II
To ensure safety and quality at all times, industrial control strategies incorporate a wide degree of complexity beyond that of the basic control loop. With the use of today's PLCs and DCs systems, the strategies and possibilities are practically endless, but require a strong understanding of how all parts in a system are going to interact. Cascade, Ratio, and Feed forward control are just three methods used to improve overall system control. An investigation of various DCs systems to control processes, which also include advanced signal calculations, controller, and complex loop tuning techniques will be covered. This course also supports the final technical project.
# MTH3506 - 003 - Tech Math V-Electronics/Instrument
This is a study of basic elements of integral calculus and its application to applied problems. Specific course content varies with program. Topics covered for each program include the indefinite integral as an inverse operator, physical interpretation of definite integral, and the use of definite integral to solve physical problems.
# TEC3601 - 001 - Technical Report
Prerequisite: TEC 3501 - Technical Report Research Students complete a formal engineering technical report based on primary and secondary research compiled in TEC 3501 and the final semester. Students further refine their communication, presentation, researching and report writing skills. In addition, students describe their technical report in an oral presentation and demonstrate knowledge of the subject by defending their report data before professors and classmates. The technical report must include sufficient technical content to demonstrate a level of knowledge expected of engineering technology students. The report must also meet the standards set by the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists.
