Courses

ME 599 — Sustainable Energy: Fundamentals and Kinetics of Conversion

This class is a journey on energy. The goal is to provide information and analysis tools on the development of energy technology, energy resources and energy technologies available today.After an overview of the broader aspects of energy use from viewpoints of sustainability, resource availability, environmental effects and economics, a review of the fundamentals of the main energy sources that are likely to be part of a future energy portfolio (fossil fuels, solar, ocean waves, tide, wind and biomass) will be presented. A major module of the class is on Fossil Fuels (about 85% of all commercial energy is derived from them) including the engineering fundamentals of thermodynamics and chemical kinetics as applied to combustion and fuel cells.The issues surrounding the future role of energy extend beyond technology since energy use is integral to many activities, including quality of life, commerce, and stability of our social institutions. Thus sustainable energy must be concerned not only with energy and environmental technologies, but also with the social and political factors that impact human lifestyles. These themes will also be discussed in class.Guest lectures are brought in to cover environmental and societal issues.

Fall 2006 [Download Syllabus] [See Group Photo]

This course is an introduction to engineering thermodynamics. First law, second law, system and control volume analyses; properties and behavior of pure substances; application to thermodynamic systems operating in a steady state and transient processes. Heat transfer mechanisms. Typical power producing cycles and refrigerators. Ideal gas mixtures and moist air applications.

Winter 2006 [Download Syllabus]

Winter 2007 [See Group Photo]

Winter 2008 [See Group Photo]

In This Page:

• Sustainable Energy
• Thermodynamics