436-467 Resources Applications & Environment

Unit 1, Energy Resources: Upon completion students should comprehend the local and global extent of energy resources including the technical, economic and political limitations; appreciate energy source-to-end-use processes and how these can be improved through technology and societal organisation; understand the concepts of environmental impact studies in thermal, air pollution and waste disposal; and have an appreciation of advanced energy conversion processes.

Topics covered will include a selection from energy resources; conversion; thermal, solar, nuclear, wind and tidal; alternative fuels; conversion efficiencies; utilisation: efficiencies of conversion systems in current use in transportation, manufacturing processes and heating. Hybrid and stored energy systems; and environmental impact: aspects of air and thermal pollution and waste disposal problems.

Unit 2, Pollution Control: Upon completion, students should understand the basic chemistry of pollutant formation and ways in which changes to the reacting components can be used to control air pollutants; comprehend the difficulties of the measurement process as experimental methods for individual and regional sources; have skill in modelling a limited range of combustion processes; and have knowledge of methods which can be employed to minimise community costs of pollution control.

Topics covered include a selection from the nature of flames; liquid and solid fuel combustion; pollutant formation in combustion processes, parametric effects on concentrations; modelling methods; control measures; measurement methods, driving procedures and dynamometer tests for the emission of gaseous pollutants, particulate matter and air toxins from road vehicles and stationary engines; stationary and mobile emission inventories; modelling the urban mobile emission source; and methodology of least cost strategies for urban and global air pollution control.

One 3-hour examination (60%); tests, assignments, practical work and seminars not exceeding 20 pages including computations, diagrams, tables and computer output (40%). Students will be notified of the weighting of the non-examination assessment components at the beginning of semester.