ENME489X: Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering; Energy Conversion Systems for Sustainability

Credits: 3

Semesters Offered

Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022
Testudo

Learning Objectives

To provide an understanding of the concept of sustainable energy future, provide critical and thorough introduction to the subject of energy use, fate of fossil fuels, efficiency, costs and the environmental effects, global warming, understanding of the role of thermodynamic principles in energy conversion, energy transport and storage, and automotive fuel economy.

Topics Covered

Part 1. Sustainability

  • Sustainable energy, supply, use, costs, efficiency, pollution and climate change
  • Energy sustainability issues/discussion on sustainability issues
  • Energy systems storage and transmission
  • Energy analysis and life cycle assessment

Part II. Efficiency

  • Thermodynamics and efficiency calculations
  • Energy conversion methods, types of energy sources, conversion, power cycles and efficiency

Part II. Policy and Public Perception

  • National energy policy discussion, carbon emission, energy security and economics
  • Automotive technologies and fuel economy policy

Part III. Emissions, global warming and carbon management

  • Global warming and carbon management
  • Regulations, penalties and emissions burden

Part IV. Fossil fuels and biomass for sustainable energy

  • Fossil fuels- why discuss fossil fuels in sustainable energy
  • Biomass- resources, uses and production of biofuels
  • Sustainable Technologies

 

Additional Course Information

Instructor 

Gupta, Ashwani K.

Textbook 

None required.

Class/Laboratory Schedule 

  • One 160 lecture per week
Last Updated By 
Ashwani. K. Gupta, June 2017