MAE 5010 - Future Energy Systems

Spring. 3 credits.

Prerequisite: ENGRD 2210 or equivalent. Recommended prerequisite: MAE 3230, MAE 3240, or equivalents. Enrollment limited to: graduate or senior standing or permission of instructor.

Staff.

Critically examines the technology of energy systems that will be acceptable in a world faced with global climate change, local pollution, and declining supplies of oil. The focus is on renewable energy sources (wind, solar, biomass), but other non-carbon-emitting sources (nuclear) and lowered-carbon sources (co-generative gas turbine plants, fuel cells) also are studied. Both the devices and the overall systems are analyzed.

Outcome 1: Students will be proficient in engineering calculations of the performance and rudimentary design of various energy conversion systems.

Outcome 2: Familiar with the physics of the environmental issues, including the greenhouse effect and global climate change.

Outcome 3: Adept in the comparative analysis of various energy conversion systems. The comparisons will include cost, social acceptability as well as environmental consequences.