Republic of the Philippines

BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Pablo Borbon Main II, Batangas City
College of Engineering, Architecture & Fine Arts
www.batstate-u.edu.ph Tel. No. (043) 425-0139 loc. 118

MECHANICAL AND PETROLEUM ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Midterm Examination
PETE 411 - Methods of Research for PetE
First Semester, AY 2018--2019

Name:_____________________________ Score:_____________
Section: _____________ Date:______________

General Directions: Answer the following questions on the answer sheet provided.
Write legibly and avoid too much erasures.
Comprehension:
Directions: Elaborate your answer by giving an example.
1. Discuss the values of research to man. Elaborate your answer by giving an
example. (8 points)
2. What are the characteristics of research? Enumerate each and discuss. Cite an
example that will support your answer. (12 points)
3. What are the qualities of a good researcher? Discuss each and relate it to research
itself. (10 points)
4. Enumerate the types and classification of research. Differentiate each. (12 points)
5. Define research. How do you come up with a research topic/problem? Enumerate
its characteristics. (18 points)

Application:
Directions: Read the given background of the study. Analyze each statement and
formulate a research topic/problem/title. From the formulated research topic, draft your
general and specific objectives.
a. Research Topic
b. Objectives
 General
 Specific

1. Background of the Study

The energy source of today’s world mainly come from fossil fuels or non-
renewable sources. It is a fact that part of almost every individual’s life is the use of
energy such as in heating, transportation, electricity generation, etc. These sources
are projected for future depletion and cannot be replaced instantly. In addition,
energy forms that come from fossil fuel has greatly increased in market price. The
demand for energy increases every year in response to the development in the
industry and society.
As a solution, renewable sources research grows an interest in society. Shorter
period of time is required to form this kind of resources, and it can be in the form of
solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower or bioenergy. Renewable energy also has an
edge for its competitive market pricing. One source of renewable energy is biomass.
Due to environmental concerns such as climate change, global warming and
pollution, production of chemicals form renewable sources became great interest of
research and biochemical technologies are able to produce such chemicals. In
biochemical, biomass is broken down into smaller molecules by bacteria or enzymes.
The earliest generation of biochemical is from the discovery of fermentation.
Fermentation allows for the generation of valuable industrial and specialty
chemicals. The key for the success of fermentation is the kind of feedstock to be
used.
Feedstock for ABE (Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol) can be of first generation
biomass (from food crop), second generation feedstock (from agro-industrial
residues), or from third generation feedstock (from algae). Among the generation of
feedstock, second generation is the most desired feedstock for ABE fermentation
since it is non-food and does not compete for land use. The sugar content of this
residue is promising for biochemical production. Fruit peels, among agro-industrial
residues, is a remarkable source of sugar which makes them an interesting candidate
for production of acetone, butanol and ethanol. Possible sources of acetone-butanol-
ethanol are banana, mango and pineapple peels.
From the given background, additional data are given to further understand the
processes involved in this study.
The raw materials used was a mixture of peelings specifically pineapple, mango,
and banana peelings taken from Public Market of Batangas City and Tagaytay City.
The feedstock was composed of equivalent amount of fruit peelings. Collected
peelings were cut and washed. The mango, pineapple, and banana were sundried for
a maximum of 10 hours per day. Exact amount of each type of fruit peelings were
dried and mixed in proportion for a total of 200 grams. The moisture content of
mixed fruit peelings was determined at Lipa Quality Control Center (LQCC) before
alkaline peroxide pretreatment. A preliminary experiment was conducted through
enzymatic saccharification to determine the best amount of enzyme and contact time
that yielded the highest amount of sugar. The enzymes were obtained in Biotech
UPLB.
The fruit peelings hydrolysate with the best result in terms of total sugar content
continued on to the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process.
Fermentation time used was the same as the time used in enzymatic saccharification.
The fermentation was done without pH control using waterbath shaker and
precultured Clostridium acetobutylicum were inoculated on the fermentation which
were obtained from Biotech UPLB. Distillation of mixture was done to separate
acetone, butanol, and ethanol.
The physicochemical properties of the produced acetone, butanol and ethanol
were evaluated at INTERTEK, Makati City and were compared to standards using t-
test and Analysis of Variance. The determination of percent yield was done by
getting the total volume of solvents over the total volume of the fermentation broth.
The assessment of the performance of the produced butanol and ethanol was
evaluated by using it as fuel for lamp in terms of burning rate and illumination time.
However, the study was limited to the process of extracting acetone, butanol and
ethanol from fruit peelings laboratory scale only. This temperature used in enzymatic
saccharification, and simultaneous saccharification and ABE fermentation was
limited to 37°C to permit bacterial growth and activity of the srain (Clostridium
acetobutylicum) used. (Source: Perez M. et al, 2017)

2. Background of the Study

Drilling fluid is one of the important factors in a drilling operation. It is widely
used in the upstream oil and gas industry. It ensures a safe and productive oil or gas
wells. Drilling fluid is a mixture of water, clay, weighting materials and additives.
The main use of the drilling fluids was to remove cuttings continuously. In
enhancing the usage of it, numerous additives were introduced, and simple fluid
became a complicated mixtures of solids, liquids and chemicals. As the drilling fluid
evolved, their design changed to have common features that aid safe, economic and
satisfactory completion of the well.
Rheology is the study of the deformation of fluids and sflow of matter.
Rheological properties of a drilling mud include yield point, gel strength and
viscosity. Rheometry is the measurement of the flow of these complex liquids in
simple geometries, with object being able to obtain a consistent description of the
rheology, in order to understand the flow behavior in complex flows.
It is important in the analysis of fluid velocity profiles, fluid viscosity, and
annular borehole cleaning. The rheological properties are used for analyzing well
borehole hydraulics to assess the functionality of mud system. In drilling operations,
the rheological properties should be tested in order to control and maintain it. Failure
to do this will cause some problems like financial, loss of time and in extreme cases,
it could result in abandonment of the well. These are the problems to be addressed.
Most industrially relevant materials exhibit complex rheological behavior. These
properties determine a material’s process ability and end-use performance. This
means that rheological measurements are critical to a wide range of industries
including aerospace, asphalt, automotive, ceramics, elastomers, electronics, food,
personal care, biomedical, paints, and coatings, inks, petroleum products,
pharmaceuticals and more. A rheometer can be used to measure and understand how
rheological properties influence every stage of industrial production. It measures the
way fluid responds to applied shear or stress. However, most rheometer cannot
determine the acidity of the drilling fluid that is one of the most important properties
of the drilling fluids. Thus the researchers added a pH meter to determine the pH
level or acidity of the drilling fluids aside from other rheological properties.
From the given background, additional data are given to further understand the
processes involved in this study.
The study focused on the development and fabrication of the proposed project. It
includes the design putting into consideration and different components of apparatus.
The locally available materials were used and were taken into consideration. Using a
powder drilling fluid mixed with water , the water based drilling fluid was prepared
based on the standard procedure and specification. The evaluation of the initial
properties (plastic viscosity, yield point, gel strength and pH) of the prepared drilling
fluid was done in the Industrial Technology Development Institute at the Department
of Science and Technology. The powder form of water-based drilling fluid named
CR-650 was from Gxd Company in San Pedro, Laguna with an incorporated
 corresponding Safety Data Sheet. The concentration used were 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6
grams per 800 mL of water.
Preliminary testing was conducted to establish the parameters such as operating
time and operating speed. Performance evaluation was also conducted in terms of
plastic viscosity, yield point, gel strength and pH. The said properties were then
compared to the results obtained by the Department of Science and Technology.
Statistical treatments such as t-test and percent error are performed to determine if
there is a significant difference in terms of rheological properties between the results
obtained by the developed prototype and the laboratory testing method.
Operation manual is provided for the benefit of the future researchers.
The study is limited only on the selected properties that can be measured by
rheometer. However, this application will only be used for laboratory and not for
industrial purposes. (Source: Silvestre N. et al, 2015)

Prepared by: Checked and Verified by:

Engr. John Kevin M. de Castro Engr. Rocel D. Gualberto

Instructor, PetE 411 Department Chair, ME/PetE

Approved by:

Dr. Elisa D. Gutierrez

Dean, CEAFA