Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

MSS017002A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Determine process loss through mass or energy balancing

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency MSS017002A - Determine process loss through mass or energy balancing
Description This unit of competency covers the analysis of a process to determine loss of resources by the application of the first law of thermodynamics (more commonly known as mass and energy balancing). It includes the selection of mass or energy balancing or both as appropriate to the type of processes being examined and may be applied to an entire process, part of a large process, or part/all of a value chain.
Employability Skills Not applicable.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit is a Vocational Graduate Certificate unit and follows the AQF guidelines for such units in that it assumes an entry qualification, such as:an Advanced Diploma or Diploma in sustainability or relevant technical fielda Bachelor Degree in a relevant technical fieldother relevant higher education qualifications, often with relevant vocational practicerelevant extensive vocational practice, without formal qualifications but which result in appropriate entry level skills.This unit covers the analysis of a mass (material) and energy (usually heat or motive force) flows through a process to determine overall mass and energy efficiency, losses which occur through the process and how much loss occurs in each part of the process. This is achieved by the application of the techniques of mass balancing, energy balancing and combined mass and energy balancing. The application of this unit is especially suitable where high volumes of materials or large amounts of energy are used in a production process. The unit may also apply to other large energy or materials use processes in the value chain, such as logistics and transport.This unit will lead to the identification of parts of the process which have the greatest resource loss/lowest resource use efficiency and so provides the basis for eliminating or reducing this loss and improving this efficiency. It does not include the implementation of that response (see MSS017004A Lead sustainable strategy deployment).This unit would typically be undertaken by a manager or senior technologist who has significant responsibility for sustainability in their work role.Skills covered by this unit may be applied individually or in a team context.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Not applicable.
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities
Slides
PPT
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Acquire required data
  • Identify system to be analysed
  • Define appropriate boundaries for this system
  • Identify relevant data which is available for the system and its subsystems
  • Identify required data which is not currently available
  • Negotiate with relevant stakeholders to obtain data which is not currently available
  • Acquire necessary and appropriate data
       
Element: Calculate resource efficiency/loss
  • Undertake mass/energy balance over system
  • Identify subsystems making greatest contributions to loss by mass/energy balances over selected subsystems
  • Calculate sustainability impact of identified losses
  • Calculate mass/energy efficiencies of system and analysed sub-systems
       
Element: Prepare recommendations
  • Investigate sub-systems responsible for significant loss
  • Determine currently available responses
  • Determine required longer term responses
  • Draft recommended responses in appropriate form
       
Element: Communicate with relevant stakeholders
  • Identify relevant stakeholders
  • Determine stakeholder information needs and wants
  • Analyse data which may be appropriate to communicate with stakeholders
  • Prepare and disseminate information to stakeholders, as appropriate
  • Negotiate solutions with stakeholders, as required
       
Element: Communicate required responses as appropriate
  • Identify what communications are required and to whom
  • Prepare appropriate reports and recommendations
  • Pitch reports and recommendations as appropriate
  • Brief appropriate persons as required by determined responses
  • Finalise appropriate recording
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

Overview of assessment

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to analyse processes or part or all of a value chain using mass and/or energy balancing as appropriate.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:

undertaking a mass and an energy balance (which may be on different systems) or a combined mass/energy balance

identifying appropriate responses

communicating the above as appropriate

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.

This unit of competency may be assessed with other relevant units addressing sustainability at the enterprise level or other units requiring the exercise of the skills and knowledge covered by this unit.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Method of assessment

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work-like environment.

Guidance information for assessment


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

Required skills include:

interpreting specifications, operating procedures, manuals, regulations and other complex documents

consulting and negotiating with internal and external stakeholders

analysing and problem solving, including determination of root cause

data acquisition

interpreting and manipulating data, including the solving of simultaneous equations, the use of tie elements and the conversion of one form of energy into another

drafting formal reports

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

process and changes which occur at each step in selected value chain

principles of sustainability

root cause analysis

relevant legislation, regulation and protocols, government incentives and other initiatives

first law of thermodynamics

defining boundaries for systems subject to mass/energy balancing

required data, sources of data from process, and use of data proxies, where necessary

mass balancing techniques

energy balancing techniques, including the use of tables of thermodynamic properties (steam tables), and the use of specific heat capacity and specific latent heat

combined mass/energy balancing techniques, including the use of heats or reaction/dissolution

methods of reducing resource losses for process and equipment

Sustainability

Sustainability incorporates the three aspects of:

survival of the ecology/physical environment (to manage the impact of the business to ensure the survival of the physical environment)

economic viability (efficiency, cost and waste reduction and competitiveness to support survival of the business)

social sustainability (to manage the impact of the business to ensure its continued survival within the community and the survival of the community)

System

A system is that process, or part of a process, which has been selected for analysis. It includes all the steps in the process which fall within the defined boundary. These steps have been referred to as ‘sub-systems above. The system may be any part of the value chain or the entire value chain

Sub-system

A sub-system is part of the system which may be chosen for separate analysis or study

Portion of the value chain

Value chain is the sequence of activities that a firm undertakes to create value/product (good or service). Portion of the value chain includes:

sections internal or external to the organisation

Mass/energy balancing

Mass balancing is an analysis technique which allows for the calculation of mass flows and consumption through a process and losses of mass from the system/product

Energy balancing is an analysis technique which allows for the calculation of energy flows and consumption through a process and the losses of energy from the system/product

Mass and energy balancing may be undertaken as separate activities or in some circumstances as a combined mass/energy balance

Appropriate response

Appropriate response includes:

application of the hierarchy of hazard control to sustainability hazards

when the impact cannot be prevented application of mitigation and amelioration techniques, such as:

capture and storage (e.g. scrubbing) and similar ‘end of pipe’ solutions

dilution/dispersion and similar techniques which reduce concentration but not amount

other approaches which meet the sustainability requirements

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Identify system to be analysed 
Define appropriate boundaries for this system 
Identify relevant data which is available for the system and its subsystems 
Identify required data which is not currently available 
Negotiate with relevant stakeholders to obtain data which is not currently available 
Acquire necessary and appropriate data 
Undertake mass/energy balance over system 
Identify subsystems making greatest contributions to loss by mass/energy balances over selected subsystems 
Calculate sustainability impact of identified losses 
Calculate mass/energy efficiencies of system and analysed sub-systems 
Investigate sub-systems responsible for significant loss 
Determine currently available responses 
Determine required longer term responses 
Draft recommended responses in appropriate form 
Identify relevant stakeholders 
Determine stakeholder information needs and wants 
Analyse data which may be appropriate to communicate with stakeholders 
Prepare and disseminate information to stakeholders, as appropriate 
Negotiate solutions with stakeholders, as required 
Identify what communications are required and to whom 
Prepare appropriate reports and recommendations 
Pitch reports and recommendations as appropriate 
Brief appropriate persons as required by determined responses 
Finalise appropriate recording 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

MSS017002A - Determine process loss through mass or energy balancing
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

MSS017002A - Determine process loss through mass or energy balancing

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: