Conference Session

Alternative Energy Source Projects

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mark Henderson, Arizona State University; Bradley Rogers, Arizona State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

other rural villages in Ghana as wellas the major cities of Kumasi and Accra to study the economic and business environment, aswell as the technical infrastructure, in the area. This paper describes the GlobalResolve programand this biodiesel project that has the goals of providing students global experience in problem Page 13.1216.2solving and plans to help the village develop a plan for a sustainable biofuels venture.Global Resolve at ASUThe biodiesel project described in this paper grew out of an interdisciplinary interculturalinitiative at ASU called GlobalResolve. GlobalResolve was established at ASU in 2006 as asocial entrepreneurship

Conference Session

Solar Power, Wind Power, and Energy System Initiatives

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Swedish, Milwaukee School of Engineering

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

adjacent to the downtown area of Milwaukee. In the last century, it was at the heart of the manufacturing base of the city. The central shops for the Milwaukee Road railroad were located here. With the loss of manufacturing from the city’s economy over the last 20 years, much of the Valley reverted to brownfields. Planning for redevelopment of the area began in earnest about 12 years ago. The city promoted a comprehensive planning process, with involvement by the widest possible group of stakeholders. Menomonee Valley Partners was organized as a result. Menomonee Valley Partners continues to be closely involved in the ongoing redevelopment efforts in the Valley.Trolling for Projects: the

Conference Session

Curricular Developments in Energy Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kenneth Van Treuren, Baylor University; Ian Gravagne, Baylor University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

Baylor University’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) presented to theSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Faculty were given the opportunity todevelop residential learning communities for incoming freshmen that revolve around a theme.The topic of energy, and its associated societal, political, environmental and economic threads,was submitted by the authors and eventually selected for development into a course that is beingoffered for the first time last fall. A total of 28 freshmen from a wide diversity of disciplinesvoluntarily signed up for the course and will remain in it for up to four consecutive semesters.The paper examines the structure of this course and our assessment goals.The Case for Energy EducationPeople often assume

Conference Session

Sustainable Energy Issues in Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Cindy Orndoff, Florida Gulf Coast University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

AC 2008-2731: DEVELOPING A PRACTICAL APPLICABLE COURSE INSUSTAINABILITY – AN ENGINEERING CHALLENGECindy Orndoff, Florida Gulf Coast University Dr. CYNTHIA (CINDY) ORNDOFF is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering. She received a B.S. in 1984, an M.S. in 1997 and a Ph.D. in 2001, all in Civil Engineering from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Prior to her coming to FGCU she was an Assistant Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Missouri, Columbia. She has taught courses in infrastructure management, planning, introduction to transportation and construction management. She has a passionate interest in

Conference Session

Curricular Developments in Energy Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ray Miller, University of Cincinnati; Max Rabiee, University of Cincinnati; Elvin Stepp, University of Cincinnati

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

power, certificate programs,conferences and workshops will be offered.Introduction:Over the past three decades the utility industry has gone through the toughest times in the historyof large scale centralized power production. The 1973 Clean Air Act required power companiesto provide remedies for thermal pollution, air pollution, ground water contamination and soilcontamination. This added significantly to the costs of traditional fossil fueled power plants andhelped stimulate the growth in interest in building a large number of nuclear power plants.In 1979 the accident at Three Mile Island halted the construction of every nuclear plant beingbuilt in the US as well as forcing utilities to scrap any plans to seek licensing to start buildingnew

Conference Session

Investigating Fuel Cells and Alternative Fuels in the Classroom and Lab

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Cortney Martin, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Brandy Bratton, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; David Dillard, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Michael Ellis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Maggie Bump, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

collaborative student activities provided a good start in thetransition to a learning community model. More activities can be adapted as described in thefollowing section.Plans for 2008For the 2008 Fuel Cell REU program, we plan to implement several changes and additionalprograms to continue to build collegiality and to attract students to research in alternative energysources. The brown bag lunches will continue in some form agreed upon by the students. Thisyear, we will add a “book club” element. We plan to provide the book, Hydrogen - Hot StuffCool Science: Discover the Future of Energy 4 by Rex Ewing. We’ll read and discuss the role offuel cells in the future through this fun and imaginative yet scientifically grounded book thatpaints a picture of

Conference Session

Sustainable Energy Issues in Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Barbara Utley, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Andrea Ludwig, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; John Cundiff, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Sean McGinnis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

), total suspended solids (TSS), and fecal coliform bacteria to design bothpre-treatment lagoons and wetland cells. Students supply plan and profile design drawings of thelagoons and wetlands, as well as an overall site plan. Students are also required to discusswetland and pond construction, planting, and maintenance. The final requirement for the designteams is to compare the expected cost of treating waste with a constructed wetland verses atraditional mechanical plant, considering the land cost required for the constructed wetlands.Student designs have included two to three pretreatment lagoons in parallel followed by an arrayof wetlands cells in both series and parallel (fig. 2). Multiple designs are valid for this project aslong as removal

Conference Session

Solar Power, Wind Power, and Energy System Initiatives

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Peter Mark Jansson, Rowan University; Ulrich Schwabe, Rowan University; Andrew Hak, Rowan University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

this project and the impact on studentlearning.II. The Clinic Project Begins - [Thursday 20 September 2007 – 2PM]Without having known or understood what this project would entail, six undergraduateengineers from Rowan University found themselves on a field in Tulleytown, PAconversing with engineers from PECO (Philadelphia Electric Co. – the local utility) andSunTechnics. The topics of their discussion involved the interconnection, pole locations,module placement and everything related to the planned, but not yet designed, 3MW PVpower plant to be located at that site. The 15 acre tract adjacent the landfill would soon becovered by more than 17,000 photovoltaic modules. Although the size and complexity ofthe project seemed overwhelming, this

Conference Session

Sustainable Energy Issues in Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

lana El Chaar, Petroleum Institute

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

resource sustainability. Masdar4, Abu Dhabi’s government-ownedrenewable energy development body, has ambitious plans for solar, biomass, wind, and otherrenewable energy projects. So does the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, which haslaunched a pilot project using wind energy to supplement conventional energy sources. Butbecause the UAE public is not charged market rates for energy consumption, policymakers in theUAE will need to make some challenging decisions – involving raised tariffs – if thesealternative energy sources are to be available on a commercially viable basis. Unfortunately, inthis part of the region, there is a lack of coverage of such topics in the engineering andtechnology curriculum. The question which rises then, is how

Conference Session

Investigating Fuel Cells and Alternative Fuels in the Classroom and Lab

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert Pieri, North Dakota State University; Alan Kallmeyer, NDSU; Michael Stewart, North Dakota State University; Leslie Backer, North Dakota State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

sequence is really handled as though it were a singlecourse flowing through 30 weeks of academic time, exemplified by a single student team, oneproject and planning timeline for that entire period. Instructional guidance is provided throughtwo department faculty members. Each faculty member is responsible for unique aspect of thecourse. One, which could be considered the "Instructor" is responsible for the administration ofthe course, assembling design project for the students, entering grades and other systemrequirements. The instructor has primary responsible for educating the students on thetheoretical process of design. The second faculty member serves as a content specialist for the

Conference Session

Novel Energy Applications in Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mark Schumack, University of Detroit Mercy; Mohammad Elahinia, University of Toledo; Christopher Schroeder, University of Toledo; Walter Olson, University of Toledo

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

. Page 13.50.15ConclusionsThe two Simulink exercises described here successfully reinforced key thermodynamics andfluid mechanics concepts. Future exercises are planned to emphasize accumulatorthermodynamics, which is an excellent application of the classical “cylinder/piston” problemseen ubiquitously in thermodynamics courses. Plans are in the works to develop exerciseshighlighting vehicle dynamics in either freshman engineering or energy system courses. Resultsfrom the Simulink model have also been used to develop an Excel Visual Basic macro to teachhigh school students about hybrid vehicles.We wish to thank the Michigan-Ohio University Transportation Center and the MichiganDepartment of Transportation for funding this project.References1

Conference Session

Alternative Energy Source Projects

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Peter Schubert, Packer Engineering

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

syngas, which can then be burned in a generatorset to provide electrical power and heat. In order to achieve this efficiency, a plasma torch isused to rapidly pyrolyze corn stover, producing high BTU content syngas and a dry ash rich insoil nutrients.A multidisciplinary team of four undergraduate researchers converted a commercially-availableplasma cutter into a plasma torch for use in a farm-scale biomass syngas reactor. This hands-onresearch project combined the best available published literature on plasma cutters and torcheswith the accumulated experience of professional engineers from industry to create a workingprototype. Following each major development, the student team reviewed their work, and near-term plans, with a review board

Conference Session

Investigating Fuel Cells and Alternative Fuels in the Classroom and Lab

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert Fletcher, Lawrence Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

graduate programs are growing, thought stillprimarily teaching based. Research work is required at the doctorate degree level.In May of 2006 Lawrence Technological University (LTU), with the author serving as thePrincipal Investigator, received a research contract from the Auxiliary Power Group within theUS Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), inWarren, Michigan, to undertake durability and reliability testing on two Ballard NEXA 1.2 kWproton exchange membrane fuel cells. Contract discussions had been underway for severalmonths prior to the formal contract award. This project involved three components: a literaturesearch to develop a detailed test plan for a NEXA fuel cell system, design and install a

Conference Session

Investigating Fuel Cells and Alternative Fuels in the Classroom and Lab

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Recayi 'Reg' Pecen; Faruk Yildiz; Kenan Baltaci, University of Northern Iowa

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

and demonstrate following tasks in order to achieve testresults and prepare appropriate technical reports. This system is planned to be used and improvedby the electrical engineering technology major students by adding more features and dataacquisition interface at NI LabViewTM. These features included but not limited to measuring andcontrolling fuel pressure from hydrogen tanks, test variety of home appliances to measureefficiency and hydrogen consumption of the system, and possibly enhance the NI LabViewTMuser interface. Students should conduct the following steps described below to learn the overalldesign and implementation.1. Check the appropriate safety rules and regulations of Hydrogen storage tanks and EPAC-500 Hydrogen fuel cell

Conference Session

Computer Applications in Energy Courses

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Peter Idowu, Pennsylvania State University-Harrisburg

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

creativity, implementation,features and ease of use. Student peers found the tools attractive and engaging as well.Since the perspectives of students are directly embedded in the development process thetools reflect varied learning styles that resonate well with the students. Since the toolswere created by the students for their peers there should be no need for significant timeinvestment in learning how to use the courseware, and to take advantage of the benefitthey offer. Another set of quantitative assessment is planned for the next class of 30students this spring that would have no prior exposure to the learning tools before thecourse.VII. CONCLUSIONSFour interactive learning tools presented in this paper were developed by studentsenrolled in an

Conference Session

Curricular Developments in Energy Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sarma Pisupati, Pennsylvania State University; Yaw Yeboah, Pennsylvania State University, University Park

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

colleges at The Pennsylvania State University. Throughcollaboration and cooperative arrangements with other departments and colleges, and flexibilityin the program, science and engineering students at The Pennsylvania State University withspecial interests in energy would be able to obtain dual or concurrent degrees, minors, options orgeneral education in energy engineering. The plans for this program which were initiated in Fall 2005, are consistent with therecently released University Energy Task Force report and the recommendation for theUniversity to “develop an exciting new undergraduate and graduate curriculum in energy”. Theundergraduate program in energy engineering is designed to reflect the growing impact anddemand for energy in

Conference Session

Curricular Developments in Energy Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Gunnar Tamm, United States Military Academy; Ozer Arnas, United States Military Academy; Daisie Boettner, United States Military Academy; Seth Norberg, United States Military Academy

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

future leaders.Energy Use in the United StatesThe United States consumes 100 Quad (1 Quad = 1015 Btu) of energy annually, accounting forroughly one quarter of the world’s total consumption.[1] Figure 1 shows that 85% is derivedfrom fossil fuels. There is ongoing debate over how long fossil fuel reserves will last, a fewdecades to a few centuries, depending on the fuel. But this debate is trivial, because they are allfinite resources that will eventually be exhausted. The only debate is how quickly society mustreact to the inevitable end of unsustainable consumption.The public is reluctant to plan for decades or centuries ahead, because personal financial andsecurity concerns are more immediate. For successful development of energy alternatives