MECH ENG 7075 - Sustainable Thermal Technologies

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2019

This course gives an introduction and in depth overview of the working principles, basic theory and current development of typical sustainable thermal energy systems and technologies; eg. solar radiation and energy calculations; solar water heaters, solar thermal powered cooling, geothermal technologies, heat storage, solar aided power generation, cogeneration, pinch technique etc. Broader issues, eg. energy efficiencies and costings, nuclear is a future (or not), and climate change, are discussed in the course as well.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code MECH ENG 7075
    Course Sustainable Thermal Technologies
    Coordinating Unit School of Mechanical Engineering
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 4 hours per week plus 1-2 practicals
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Assumed Knowledge MECH ENG 2021
    Assessment Assignment, Final Exam
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Eric Hu

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

     
    1 To provide an overview of the present usage and development of various solar, geothermal, and relevant thermal technologies and their future prospects;
    2 To understand the basic principles and process of each of technologies;
    3 To perform calculations to location the sun ‘s position in the sky at any particular time of the day;
    4 To perform simple efficiency calculations of some typical thermal system;
    5 To perform a simple economic and environmental assessment of the sustainable thermal technologies;
    6 To enable team investigations on the feasibility of renewable energy design systems that meet specific energy demands and minimal environmental impact requirements; and
    7 To develop the ability to analyse and compare thermal energy systems and choose the most suitable for given conditions.

     
    The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer.
    The course is designed to develop the following Elements of Competency: 1.2   1.3   1.4   1.6   2.1   2.2   2.3   3.2   3.3   3.4   

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    2-5
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    5
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1, 7
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Course notes – Lecture notes which is to be available on MyUni course web page.
    Recommended Resources

    1. Energy Conversion. Yogi Goswami and Frank Kreith, CRC Press, 2008 (ISBN 1-42004-431-1)

    2. Handbook of Energy and renewable Energy. Frank Kreith and Yogi Goswami, CRC Press, 2007 (ISBN 0-8493-1730-4)

    3. Treatise on Solar Energy, Volume : Fundamentals of solar Energy, H.P Garg, 1982, ISBN 0471 10180X, 1982

    The Barr Smith Library has many textbooks on renewable energy. Students are encouraged to consult these books to enrich their knowledge.

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    No information currently available.

    Workload

    No information currently available.

    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Weighting (%) Individual/ Group Formative/ Summative
    Due (week)*
    Hurdle criteria Learning outcomes
    Assignment 1 15 Individual Formative week 5 1. 2. 3. 4. 7.
    Assignment 2 10 Individual Formative week 8 2. 3. 4. 7.
    Assignment 3 10 Individual Formative Week 10 2. 5. 7.
    Practice 5 Individual Formative week 5 attendance 1. 6.
    Final exam 60 Individual Formative 2. 7.
    Total 100
    * The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.
     
    This assessment breakdown is registered as an exemption to the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy. The exemption is related to the Procedures clause(s): 1. b. 2.   
     
    This course has a hurdle requirement. Meeting the specified hurdle criteria is a requirement for passing the course.
    Assessment Detail

    No information currently available.

    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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