Course Description
This course teaches physical and design concepts in energy related products and systems, such as lighting, mobile phones, and photovoltaic systems. Students will apply reverse engineering, redesigning, data analysis, modelling and simulations to these systems. In this course, students will be required to synthesize innovative solutions to real world problems.
Delivery Format
5-0-7*
Learning Objectives
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
- Use physical laws and quantitative analysis to evaluate limitations and performance of heat management and energy transformation systems
- Execute experimentation, reverse engineering, redesigning, and data analysis on energy-related products and energy systems
- Modify and design energy-related products and photovoltaics systems using design principles, simulations and data-driven approaches
Grading
Coursework | Percentage (%) |
---|---|
Midterm 1 | 20 |
Midterm 2 | 20 |
Problem Sets | 10 |
Hands on Activities (3) | 15 |
In-class participation | 5 |
Design Project (Designette: 1D and 2D) | 30 |
Total | 100 |
*The first number represents the number of hours per week assigned for lectures, recitations and cohort classroom study. The second number represents the number of hours per week assigned for labs, design, or field work. The third number represents the number of hours per week assigned for independent study.
Weekly Topics
Week | Topics/ Activity/Project |
---|---|
1 | Topic: Energy in Design – general overall energy equation and Heat Transfer Introduction on how heat transfer affects form and functionality of devices. Energy system in device (closed system) |
2 | Topic: Energy – general overall energy equation and Heat Transfer Energy system in device (open system) Activity: HOA 1 – Reverse Engineering/deconstruction of thermal analysis of subsystems (e.g. heat sink) in LED/Laptop/ Nespresso machine/mobile phone |
3 | Topic: Reintroduce entropy
Activity: HOA 2 – Building of device to analyze open system (energy and entropy) and data collected will be used for exergy |
4 | Topic: Introduction to concepts of exergy
Activity: LED example |
5 | Topic: Analysis using exergy to optimize energy utilization of a system
Activity: 1D in-class |
6 | Topic: Energy Storage – Different types of batteries and non-batteries storage (e.g. supercapacitor, fossil fuel, hydrogen), and their unique applications
Activity: 1 hour guest lecture on state of the art of battery and 1 hour review |
7 | Recess |
8 | Topic: Energy Storage – focusing on power density, energy density, lifespan, charging and discharging cycle, charging time and safety, product life cycle
Activity: I-V characteristics of lead battery and solar cell |
9 | Topic: Principles of photovoltaics systems
Activity: Solar cell simulation |
10 | Topic: Applications of photovoltaics systems
Activity: HOA 3 – FACT trip analysis; PV system simulation |
11 | Topic: Guest lecture on energy systems (large vs nano scale)
Activity: 1D due, 2D introduction |
12 | 1D presentation and 2D discussion Mid-term 2 Friday on week 6 – 11 |
13 | 2D discussion and 2D due |
14 | Final Project wrap-up: Feedback on projects |
The weekly topics may be subjected to changes
Prior to AY2020, it was 10.008 Engineering in the Physical World