Conference Session

Sustainable-energy Education: Lessons Learned

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert Bass, Oregon Institute of Technology; Thomas White, Oregon Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

AC 2009-689: CURRICULUM CHANGES RESULTING IN A NEW B.S. INRENEWABLE ENERGY ENGINEERINGRobert Bass, Oregon Institute of Technology Dr. Robert Bass is an assistant professor at the Oregon Institute of Technology, where he directs the Renewable Energy Engineering bachelors degree program (BSREE), the first engineering program of its kind in North America. He is also a member of the Oregon Renewable Energy Center, OREC, where he participates in undergraduate research projects concerning microhydro power generation, solar thermal absorption chillers and electrochemical production of hydrogen. In addition to running the BSREE program, Dr. Bass also specializes in teaching courses in

Conference Session

Sustainable-energy Education: Lessons Learned

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Linfeng Zhang, University of Bridgeport; Xingguo Xiong, University of Bridgeport; Junling Hu, University of Bridgeport

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

AC 2009-129: INTEGRATING ALTERNATIVE-ENERGY TECHNOLOGY INTOENGINEERING EDUCATIONLinfeng Zhang, University of Bridgeport Linfeng Zhang is an assistant professor of Electrical Engineering at University of Bridgeport. His research interests are in sensors and actuators, fuel cells, and phtovoltaic cells.Xingguo Xiong, University of Bridgeport Xingguo Xiong is an assistant professor of Electrical Engineering at University of Bridgeport. His research interests are in MEMS, nanotechnology, VLSI.Junling Hu, University of Bridgeport Junling Hu is an assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering at University of Bridgeport. Her research interests are in computational fluid dynamics

Conference Session

Investigating Alternative-energy Concepts

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Peter Mark Jansson, Rowan University; Ulrich Schwabe, Rowan University; Kevin Bellomo - Whitten, Rowan University; Jonathan Bucca, Rowan University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

, students were to determine (if existent) the efficiency gains of the newamorphous type modules in contrast to the mono-crystalline modules on the same roof.BackgroundThe New Jersey state school Rowan University’s College of Engineering (CoE) has made aname for itself in large part due to working hand in hand with industrial affiliates from aroundthe world. When the CoE was created thanks to a healthy endowment by an industry magnate,one of the most important aspects that the university wanted to integrate into its curriculum was alarge amount of practical experience for its students. Not only would this keep things interestingbut would also prepare them well for their future. The most important way this was done was byintroducing what is now

Conference Session

Learning about Power Systems and Power Consumption

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kala Meah, York College of Pennsylvania; Wayne Blanding, York College of Pennsylvania

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

over 100 projects worldwide, more than 25,000 MWHVDC is under construction in 10 projects, and an additional 125,000 MW HVDC transmissioncapacity has been planned in 50 projects5. To account for the rapid growth of DC transmissionand its technology it is necessary to include the HVDC transmission into the undergraduatepower systems curriculum. Most undergraduate curricula have only one course on powersystems which is typically devoted to AC transmission systems. The Electrical and ComputerEngineering program at York College of Pennsylvania has four concentration areas: powersystems/energy conversion, embedded systems, signal processing/communication, and controlsystems. Every student is required to complete two of these four concentration

Conference Session

Curricular Developments in Energy Education

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Max Rabiee, University of Cincinnati

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

alternative energy sources energy conservationinitiatives, sustainability and most importantly maintaining a reliable, efficient andenvironmentally sound energy infrastructure underline the imperative nature of this need.The College of Applied Science (CAS) at the University of Cincinnati (UC) has maintained afocused mission of serving the needs of utility industry and the community at large as needs arisefor technical education in alternative energy. Within the College of Applied Science today wehave an Associate Degree program in Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) with option fordevelopment of power plant operations and maintenance personnel. The College is also investingresources in development of additional curriculum and funding for Energy

Conference Session

Curricular Developments in Energy Education

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Craig Somerton, Michigan State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

AC 2009-306: A SOLAR-HEATED WORM COMPOST BINCraig Somerton, Michigan State University Craig W. Somerton is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair of the Undergraduate Program for Mechanical Engineering at Michigan State University. He teaches in the area of thermal engineering including thermodynamics, heat transfer, and thermal design. He also teaches the capstone design course for the department. Dr. Somerton has research interests in computer design of thermal systems, transport phenomena in porous media, and application of continuous quality improvement principles to engineering education. He received his B.S. in 1976, his M.S. in 1979, and his Ph.D. in 1982, all in

Conference Session

Computer Applications in Energy Conversion

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Faruk Yildiz, Sam Houston State University; Ayhan Zora, Deere and Company

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

thus the students are given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with theoperation of software packages that most likely they will use after they join the workforce. Asubstantial portion of the classroom projects in engineering technology curriculum that requirethe use of advanced software tools has been increased in many higher institutions for bothundergraduate and graduate levels.Emerging virtual applications may enhance understanding both theoretical and appliedexperiences of engineering technology students by supporting laboratory experiments. Easy5,AMESim are some of the well known system modeling, analyzing, and simulation software toolsthat offer solutions to many problems in mechanical, hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical

Conference Session

Solar, Wind, and Novel Energy-System Initiatives

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Recayi 'Reg' Pecen; Jill Humston, University of Northern Iowa

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

received her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Northern Iowa. Page 14.889.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009 MSETI-AREA: Math-Science-Engineering Technology in Iowa on Applied Renewable Energy AreasAbstractThe Math-Science-Engineering Technology in Iowa on Applied Renewable Energy Areas(MSETI - AREA) project aimed to provide area middle school teachers with an appliedmathematics and science curriculum package based on Photo-Voltaic (PV), wind power, andhydrogen fuel-cell fundamentals. The

Conference Session

Sustainable Education and the Environment

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Elaine Scott, Seattle Pacific University; John Lindberg, Seattle Pacific University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

. manufacturability, and sustainability (e) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problemsIntegrates liberal arts and disciplinary (h) the broad education necessary toknowledge. I.B. Integrates the liberal arts with engineering understand the impact of engineering knowledge to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic

Conference Session

Investigating Alternative-energy Concepts

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Narayanan Komerath, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

Cross-Disciplinary Learning”. Computer Support forCollaborative Learning. Article No. 19, Proceedings of the 1999 conference on Computer support for collaborativelearning, Palo Alto, California, 1999.18 Bell, D., Scott, B., Kahrhoff, J., Seymour, S., Tamashiro, R., “Innovative Cross-Disciplinary Learning-CenteredStrategies in WebCT. http://webct.confex.com/webct/2005/preliminaryprogram/session_2385.htm19 Fazzolari, R., “Renewable Energy Systems”. AME445/545, Department of Aerospace and MechanicalEngineering, University of Arizona.20 Russel, I., Georgiopoulos, M., Castro, J., Neller, T., McCracken, D., Bouvier, D., "Condensing the CC-2001 corein an Integrated Curriculum," CCSCNE (Consortium for Computing in Small Colleges in the Northeast

Conference Session

Sustainable-energy Education: Lessons Learned

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sharon deMonsabert, George Mason University; Jeremy Jessup, George Mason University; Lenna Storm, George Mason University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

contacts and organizing all interactions between all included parties.This responsibility is very similar to the responsibility experienced in a professional setting. Byproviding the student with control over the project, it required the student to take a leadershiprole and integrate many different people into the project. The project also offered an avenue forthe application of educational principles in a professional setting. The student was responsiblefor identifying the problem, selecting possible alternatives to correct the problem, andrecommending the best solution. The student was able to incorporate environmental systemsanalysis techniques covered in the academic program’s curriculum, in addition to otherengineering principles, to arrive

Conference Session

Learning about Power Systems and Power Consumption

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Carl Spezia, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

deliverchallenging and technically relevant capstone design courses.Finding relevant industrial power systems design and energy management projects is particularlyimportant for two reasons. In the past fifteen years, the electric power industry underwent aneconomic restructuring that reduced the number of employed engineers. Engineering schools de-emphasized or eliminated power systems curriculum in response to reduced industrial demand.The electric power industry now faces an aging engineering workforce with a large number ofindividuals near retirement.5 The current electric power engineering workforce must transferpractical knowledge to students and novice engineers before leaving the workforce so that thepower grid can grow reliably.Volatile electricity

Conference Session

Solar, Wind, and Novel Energy-System Initiatives

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Faruk Yildiz, Sam Houston State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

rectifier circuit wasessential to convert noisy AC output voltage from the generator to DC voltage because almost allelectronic components operate at DC voltages. The AC voltage signal from the generator unitwas converted to DC voltage signal using full-wave bridge rectifier.[23]After full-wave rectification, where the alternating current (AC) was converted to direct current(DC), the voltage was increased by a DC-DC boost converter.[24] Consideration of energyharvesting components resulted in a decision to integrate an LTC3429 integrated circuit regulatorchip which only needed 0.8V threshold inputvoltage to start running its internal circuitry.The actual energy harvesting circuit design isshown in Figure 7. Since the generator unit inthis