Skip to main content
Unit of study_

MECH5275: Renewable Energy

2024 unit information

This unit aims to develop understanding of the engineering design and analysis of different devices and technologies for generating power from renewable sources including: solar, wind, wave, tidal, ocean thermal, geothermal, hydro-electric, and biofuels; to understand the environmental, operational and economic issues associated with each of these technologies. At the end of this unit students will be able to perform in depth technical analysis of different types of renewable energy generation devices using the principles of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer. Students will be able to describe the environmental, economic and operational issues associated with these devices.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic

Code MECH5275
Academic unit Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
? 
None
Corequisites:
? 
None
Prohibitions:
? 
None
Assumed knowledge:
? 
The student will need a sound background in advanced level fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer. In particular, students should be able to analyse fluid flow in turbomachinery; perform first and second law thermodynamic analysis of energy conversion systems, including chemically reacting systems; and perform advanced level calculations of conductive and convective and radiative heat transfer, including radiative spectral analysis

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. perform technical analysis of different types of renewable energy generation devices using the principles of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer
  • LO2. present balanced and logical arguments with regard to the environmental, economic and operational issues associated with the generation of power using renewable energy devices
  • LO3. in collaboration with a small team of peers, design a renewable energy solution using multiple renewable energy sources and storage to supply power to a town or city in Australia.
  • LO4. in collaboration with a small group of peers, develop a computational model of a renewable energy solution involving multiple power stations and energy storage hubs, using real weather data as inputs

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 2 2024
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Outline unavailable
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 2 2020
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 2 2021
Normal day Remote
Semester 2 2022
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Modes of attendance (MoA)

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.