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AMME4241: Renewable Energy (2013 - Semester 2)

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Unit: AMME4241: Renewable Energy (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Senior Advanced
Faculty/School: School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr Kirkpatrick, Michael
Session options: Semester 2
Versions for this Unit:
Site(s) for this Unit: http://www.aeromech.usyd.edu.au/AMME4241
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: (MECH3260 AND MECH3261) OR (AERO3260 AND AERO3261).
Brief Handbook Description: 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.
Assumed Knowledge: The students will require an understanding of the basic principles of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer, and the application of these principles to energy conversion systems. In particular, students should be able to analyse fluid flow in turbomachinery; perform first and second law thermodynamic analysis of energy conversion systems; and perform calculations of radiative, conductive and convective heat transfer.
Department Permission Department permission is required for enrollment in this session.
Lecturer/s: Dr Kirkpatrick, Michael
Timetable: AMME4241 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture 2.00 2 10
2 Tutorial 2.00 2 12
3 Independent Study 6.00
T&L Activities: Tutorial: Tutorials will provide the students with an opportunity to engage in discussions of the course material and homework assignments with the teaching staff and other students. Students are expected to attend all tutorials.

Independent Study: Approximately 6 hours per week of private study outside lectures and tutorial classes will be required to complete the reading and assignments and to work on the major project.

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
Undertake a significant amount of extra research and inquiry in order to investigate and analyse a problem in sufficient depth. Design (Level 5)
Undertake self-directed research using information resources such as databases, professional and academic journals, books and other literature. The importance of assessing the reliability of an information source in terms of the degree of review and quality assurance to which it has been subjected will be emphasised. Information Seeking (Level 4)
Ability to communicate knowledge both written and orally. Communication (Level 4)
Analyse the environmental, economic and social impacts associated with renewable energy technologies.

Self-discipline and time-management skills to meet project deadlines in a team, as well as the ability to take responsibility for the completion their components of the project.		 Professional Conduct (Level 4)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Design (Level 5)
1. Students will be able to perform technical analysis of different types of renewable energy generation devices using the principles of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer.
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 5)
2. Through the major design project, students will gain an in-depth understanding of the analysis, engineering design and environmental, economic and operational issues associated with at least one renewable energy technology.
Information Seeking (Level 4)
3. Completion of the project will require students to undertake a significant amount of research and assess the reliability of the source.
Communication (Level 4)
4. Students will be required to give one oral presentation and generate a professional quality report for their major project.
Professional Conduct (Level 4)
5. Students will be able to describe the environmental, economic and operational issues associated with these devices.
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Assignment 1 No 0.00 Week 5 (Monday) 1,
2 Quiz 1 No 15.00 Week 5 (Monday) 1,
3 Assignment 2 No 0.00 Week 7 (Monday) 1,
4 Quiz 2 No 15.00 Week 7 (Monday) 1,
5 Assignment 3 No 0.00 Week 9 (Monday) 1,
6 Quiz 3 No 15.00 Week 9 (Monday) 1,
7 Quiz 4 No 15.00 Week 11 (Monday) 5,
8 Project Yes 35.00 Week 12 (Tuesday) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
9 Peer Assessment No 5.00 Multiple Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
Assessment Description: Assignment 1 & Quiz 1: Heat transfer in renewable energy applications – analysis of a solar thermal power plant.

Assignment 2 & Quiz 2: Thermodynamics in renewable energy applications – analysis of a fuel cell for a hydrogen fuel cell car.

Assignment 3 & Quiz 3: Fluid mechanics in renewable energy applications – analysis of a wind farm

Each of Assignments 1 - 3 has an associated quiz which is done on the day the assignment is submitted. The quizzes assess skills, knowledge and analysis methods developed during completion of the corresponding assignment. Students who do not submit a completed assignment will receive zero for the quiz.

Quiz 4: Short answer questions and short calculations based primarily on the general topics lectures.

Project: The course will involve a major group project that will be undertaken over the course of the semester. The class will be divided into self-managed project teams. The project will involve giving a presentation and the generation of a report.

Peer Assessment: Students will assess and critique the Major Project presentations given by other groups and the Research Presentations given by the MECH5275 students.
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Policies & Procedures: See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.
Recommended Reference/s: Note: References are provided for guidance purposes only. Students are advised to consult these books in the university library. Purchase is not required.
Online Course Content: http://www.aeromech.usyd.edu.au/AMME4241

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Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Mechanical Engineering / Arts 2011, 2012, 2013
Mechanical Engineering / Commerce 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Mechanical Engineering / Medical Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Mechanical Engineering / Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Mechanical Engineering / Law 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Mechanical Engineering (Space) / Arts 2011, 2012, 2013
Mechanical Engineering (Space) / Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Mechanical Engineering (Space) / Medical Science 2012, 2013, 2014

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Project and Team Skills (Level 5) No 0%
Design (Level 5) Yes 53%
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 5) No 8%
Information Seeking (Level 4) Yes 8%
Communication (Level 4) Yes 8%
Professional Conduct (Level 4) Yes 23%

These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.