MECE 3260U – Introduction to Energy Systems

Energy systems, resources and use; energy classifications and terminology; energy sources and currencies; energy supply and demand; energy conversion and utilization technologies; energy storage and distribution; energy use in countries and sectors of economies; energy intensity; global energy flows and utilization patterns; principal fuels; fuel science and technology: origins of fuels, classifications and physical and chemical properties of fuels, fuel handling and fire hazards, non-conventional fuels; sustainability, sustainable development and energy; clean energy systems. Environmental impact of energy systems such as power generation, industrial processes and transportation; air, soil and water pollution and their effects on the environment; generation mechanisms of chemical pollutants, photochemical pollutants and smog. Introduction to renewable energy resources (solar, wind, geothermal, biomass), photovoltaics, microturbines. Introduction to energy storage systems. Introduction to hydrogen and fuel cells. Introduction to life cycle assessment, industrial ecology, and key environmental tools. Application of energy and exergy analysis to energy systems.
Credit hours: 3
Lecture hours: 3
Prerequisite(s): ENGR 2010U or MECE 2320U, or MECE 2640U, ENVS 1000U or ENGR 1015U