Advanced Machinery and Plant Engineering in Viticulture and Enology

A.Y. 2021/2022
5
Max ECTS
40
Overall hours
SSD
AGR/09
Language
English
Learning objectives
Increase of the knowledge of the operator's safety and ergonomics principles relevant to the mechanization in viticulture;

- assessment of the "winery system" in terms of inputs and wastes energy;

- acquisition of the theoretical and operational methods for the analysis of simple and complex systems of machinery and plants.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course,the student will be able to:

- assess the safety and the ergonomic levels of agricultural machinery used in viticulture;

- organize an efficient chain regarding the machines devoted to carry out the chemical distribution in vineyards;

- characterize the automation and innovation levels of machinery for the grape harvest;

- describe a winery in a systemic approach;

- assess the renewable energy impact for the wine industry;

- organize an automated winery by applying innovative technologies.
Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Section 1 - Safety and ergonomics of agricultural machinery: advanced and experimental solutions and strategies to overcome the unsolved problems
Safety in agriculture. A general overview and analysis of critical points: machinery stability on slope operations; PTO shaft and its guard; protection against hot, moving and under pressure parts; access to and exit from the driver's place on self-propelled machinery
Tractor roll-over. Accidents actual situation in Italy, EU and worldwide: technical and operator's behaviour critical points and actions and guidelines devoted to their solution
Noise emissions. Analysis of the actual situation on self-propelled agricultural machinery and main active and passive devices and guidelines to reduce the operators' exposure
Vibrations generation. Analysis of the actual situation on self-propelled agricultural machinery and main active and passive devices and guidelines to reduce the operators' exposure
Section 2 - Pesticide distribution: advanced, experimental solutions and strategies to overcome the unsolved problems
Pesticide machinery commonly used nowadays
Environmental impact: Concentrated and diffused pollution of air and terrain
Strategies for the reduction of diffused pollution
Strategies for the reduction of concentrated pollution
Advanced and innovative machinery and components to improve the pesticide distribution
Section 3 - Winemaking and oenology automation: advanced, experimental solutions and strategies to overcome the unsolved problems
Heat transfer in winemaking: principles of thermodynamics, heat exchangers, sizing, selection criteria
The heat production: plants (components), load losses, heat losses. Numerical examples
Automation in oenology: principles of automatic, the control ring (the feed-back); the On / Off systems, the proportional, integrative and derivative system (PID)
The concept of sustainability: from the definition to the calculation (LCA). Solar energy (photovoltaic and solar panels), geothermal energy, the absorption systems. Example of virtuous chain based on the use of biomass from the vineyard.
Prerequisites for admission
Students must have previously acquired solid knowledge:
- on viticultural mechanization, and in particular on pesticide treatments in the vineyard;
- on the modern winemaking techniques adopted in the cellar.
A good preparation concerning the basic principles of work safety is welcome.
Teaching methods
The course includes a total of 5 ECTS, all of lectures.
Teaching Resources
Lecture notes made available by the teachers.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is divided into 3 parts, exclusively oral, to be taken also separately at different times, in which questions are asked on broad topics covered in the entire program. The final grade is the average of the evaluations of the 3 individual parts.
AGR/09 - AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY AND MECHANIZATION - University credits: 5
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
appointment
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape and Agroenergy
Reception:
by appointment only (preferably defined via e-mail)
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - via Celoria, 2 - 20133 Milano