MECH ENG 7164 - Renewable Power Technologies

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2024

This course introduces students to the mechanical aspects (primarily fluid mechanics and thermodynamics) of renewable power technology and generation. The course focuses on the fundamental and applied sciences related to wind power, hydropower, ocean (wave and tidal) power, solar-thermal and geo-thermal heating, solar thermal powered cooling, heat storage and solar PV systems, as well as broader issues related to technology implementation. At the end of the course students are expected to have the knowledge to be able to help design, assess and compare different sustainable power generation systems, factoring in economic and environmental impacts.

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Course Details

Course Code	MECH ENG 7164
Course	Renewable Power Technologies
Coordinating Unit	Mechanical Engineering
Term	Semester 1
Level	Postgraduate Coursework
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	up to 4 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Incompatible	MECH ENG 7075, MECH ENG 7076
Assumed Knowledge	MECH ENG 2021 or equivalent

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Eric Hu

Course Timetable

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

Course Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course students are expected to have the knowledge to be able to help design, assess and compare different sustainable power generation systems, factoring in economic and environmental impacts. On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1	Understand the basic principles, processes, and applications of each of relevant technologies.
2	Calculate potential power in wind, hydro, ocean, solar thermal, geothermal and PV systems.
3	Design the mechanics aspects of power generation systems that utilise wind, hydro, ocean, solar thermal, geothermal and PV systems.
4	Develop a simple economic and environmental assessment of the technology.
5	Assess the feasibility of renewable energy design systems in terms of demand and environmental impact.

The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Entry to Practice Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer. The course develops the following EA Elements of Competency to levels of introductory (A), intermediate (B), advanced (C):

1.1	1.2	1.3	1.4	1.5	1.6	2.1	2.2	2.3	2.4	3.1	3.2	3.3	3.4	3.5	3.6
A	A	B	B	C	C	C	C	C	B	C	C	C	C	C	—

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)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1-5
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	1-5
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	2-5
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	1-5
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	4-5
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	2-4

Learning Resources

Required Resources

There is no text book as such for this course. Instead, lecture notes are essential and required for both parts of the course. In addition, the following reference books are recommended:
Part I (Renewable Thermal and Solar PV Technologies):
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.
4. Geothermal Power Plants, by Ronald DiPippo, ISBN 978 0 750 68620 4.
5. https://www.pveducation.org/
Part II (Renewable Fluid Power Tech):
There are numerous textbooks used for this section of the course. However, specific textbooks are recommended.

Recommended Resources

The Barr Smith Library has many textbooks, which are
concerned with energy and renewable energy and their applications. Students are
encouraged to consult these books to enrich their knowledge with these books.
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

Lectures supported by problem-solving tutorials developing material covered in lectures.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

The required time commitment is 24 hours attendance at lectures, 24 hours tutorials, 6 hours practicals, 24 hours of revising course material and 48 hours completing assignments, reports and preparing for exam and/or quizzes.

Learning Activities Summary

Part I:
Week 1: Topic 1: Sun & earth, and Solar Energy
Week 2: Topic 2: Solar water heaters
Week 3: Topic 3: Solar cooling/refrigeration
Week 4: Topic 4: Solar thermal power generation-SAPG
Week 5: Topic 5: Geothermal heat storage and Guest lecture
Week 6: Topic 6: Solar PV
Part II:
Week 7: Topic 7: Introduction to wind, hydro, wave, and tidal
Week 8: Topic 8: Wind
Week 9: Topic 9: Hydro
Week 10: Topic 10: Wave
Week 11: Topic 11: Tidal
Week 12: Topic 12: Summary

Specific Course Requirements

This is an honours-level engineering course. It is assumed
students will have completed all courses in 1st, 2nd, and
3rd year engineering prior to commencing this course.

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

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

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	Due (week)*	Weighting	Learning Outcome
Part 1 - Assignments x 4	Summative	TBD	40%
Part 1 - Quizzes x 2	Summative	TBD	10%
Part 2 - Quizzes x 2	Summative	TBD	10%
Part 2 - Reports x 2	Summative	TBD	40%

* The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.

The course assessment is split 50/50 between Part I and Part II.

Part I (50%):
* 4 Assignments, total 40%:
One on Sun & Earth and SWH;
One on SAPG and Solar Refrigeration; and
One on Solar PV. (8% each).
One Special assignment (16%)

* 2 on-line quizzes, 10% (5% each).

Part II (50%):
* 2 on-line quizzes (5% each)
* 2 Reports (20% each)

There is no exam for this course. This assessment breakdown complies with the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy.

Assessment Related Requirements

None

Assessment Detail

For Part I the quizzes are used to confirm knowledge covered in lectures. The assignments are individual assessments on the technical topics covered.
For Part II the quizzes are used to confirm knowledge. The two reports are individual assessments where students are expected to identify locations and design systems (wind & hydro), as could be expected from graduates working in industry. The reports are assessed equally based on the written component of the report, and the engineering calculations.

Submission

All assignments will be through online submission (uploading a pdf). A proposed assignment and quiz schedule is included under Course Information. This schedule is subject to change.

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
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
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.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator