Conference Session

Curricular Developments in Energy Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ilya Grinberg, Buffalo State College; Mohammed Safiuddin, State University of New York, Buffalo; Chilukuri Mohan, Syracuse University; Steve Macho, Buffalo State College

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

, includingdecisions and implementations of: 1. Course outcomes 2. Course content 3. Instructional materials 4. Delivery methodology 5. Assessment and evaluation 6. Mentoring of students.Mentoring is the unique cornerstone of the learning process that requires individualizedinteractions between instructors and students. However, the remaining five steps can utilize theservices and expertise of individuals in other locations, thereby increasing the effective use ofresources at multiple educational institutions.Course outcomes and content are often based on the expectations of multiple stakeholders(including instructors of other courses), although sometimes not explicitly stated, or modifiedduring the course delivery, or ignored. Accreditation

Conference Session

Experiences in Teaching Energy Courses

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Paul Chanley, Northern Essex Community College; Michael Pelletier, Northern Essex Community College; Linda Desjardins, Northern Essex Community College; Lori Heymans, Northern Essex Community College

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

they arerelated and interchanged. Terms such as peak voltage, rms voltage (Vrms = 0.707*Vp), period (T)and frequency (f =1/T) are covered. At this point in the AC activity, the relationship betweenvoltage, current, resistance, and power are re-introduced with a discussion about how therelationships relate to AC circuits. The DC battery source can be replaced with an AC source inthe previous series circuits. As a result, parallel resistive circuits and all the calculations wouldbe the same except that the source is a sine wave. Additionally, sinusoidal terminology wouldhave to be used in the calculation and reporting of data. This is a key connection to the previousDC activities

Conference Session

Energy Education and Industry Needs

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David McDonald, Lake Superior State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

addition, Volkswagen expects to be the E-mobility leader and have electric vehicles represent three percent of its product sales by 2018.15The Chevrolet Volt will have a range of 40 miles and the Ford Focus 100 miles. These rangesare consistent with a survey by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics that indicated thatmore than 75% of people commute 40 miles a day or less.1 The onboard battery charger will becapable of plugging into 110 or 220-volt outlets, and charge times will vary from about 6 to 12hours depending on the outlet type used.The electric vehicle will help provide energy storage in the emerging Smart Grid through the useof Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology. The batteries in millions of vehicles could be used tostore excess

Conference Session

Learning about Power Systems and Power Consumption

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joshua Baumgartner, LeTourneau University; Timothy Hewitt, LeTourneau University; Edgar Licea, LeTourneau University; Nolan Willis, LeTourneau University; Matthew Green, LeTourneau University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

aspirations.1 Introduction and BackgroundMany engineering schools are now employing a service-learning approach to globally-basedhumanitarian projects3,4,5. The importance of integrating both globalization and social needs intothe engineering curriculum is acknowledged by the ABET criteria6, and human need is a clearpriority of the engineering profession, as indicated in the NSPE creed*,7. However, the majorityof North American engineering students are not familiar with the contexts in which vast needsexist, such as those among the physically disabled or the estimated 4 billion people living on lessthan $2 a day (PPP)8. These conditions represent a formidable “frontier design environment”, orenvironments outside the experience and expertise of most

Conference Session

Curricular Developments in Energy Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

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

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

candidate needed to think through the impact and cost of theirpolicies. President Obama has described several key issues in energy and the environment thathe has pledged to work towards in his administration. Called the “New Energy for America”plan, it consists of the following2.1) Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future.2) Within 10 years save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined. Page 15.379.23) Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars -- cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon -- on the

Conference Session

Sustainable Energy Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Liping Guo, Northern Illinois University; Andrew Brewer, Northern Illinois University; Brett Speiser, Northern Illinois University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

-scale grid connected system and small remotephotovoltaic plants or stand-alone systems [1]. Recent technological development in thin-filmphotovoltaics (PVs) is leading to new generations of consumer portable solar panels. These newsolar panels are light weight, durable, flexible, and have been reported to achieve power Page 15.349.2efficiencies of up to 10% [2]. The portable solar panels make solar power readily available formobile power needs such as outdoor enthusiast, expeditions and campers. It also providesportable solar power for the military to extend the run time of military devices including satellitecommunications, two-way radios

Conference Session

Curricular Developments in Energy Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Radian Belu, Drexel University; Darko Korain, Desert Research Institute

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

provides the learner with information aboutthe most important functions, principles and operational problems of each of the renewableenergy sources included.1. IntroductionClimate changes, environmental concerns, high fossil fuel price, and limited world fossil fuelsreserves are driving the increasing search for new alternative and green energy resources. Theseenvironmental concerns and the ever-increasing need for electrical power generation and steadyprogress in power deregulation have created increased interest in environmentally consciousdistributed generation. Of particular interest are alternative energy distributed generation(AEDG) systems such as wind, photovoltaic (PV), and fuel cell (FC) power generation deviceswith zero (or near zero

Conference Session

Curricular Developments in Energy Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jaby Mohammed, The Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi; Sana Nawaz, Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne; Reynaldo Pablo, Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

national level. Some academic institutionshave modified their curriculum to promote sustainability, and few others are in the process ofdoing so. It is imperative for the universities to modify their curricula to meet the growingdemands of the industry.If this challenge is not responded our students and our community will be failed. More over itcould make us fall behind our peers in the other parts of the world who are racing forward incommitment, action and innovation (Darwish & Agnello 2009).Methodology:The research was conducted in two parts: 1) Studying the Implementation of LEED in the curriculum of Bachelor’s of Science in Construction Engineering Technology at IPFWThe curriculum of Bachelor’s of Science in Construction

Conference Session

Project-based Education in Energy Courses

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Craig Somerton, Michigan State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

activated carbon. Page 15.140.7 Figure 1. Solar collector designThe team has decided to design the system with a greenhouse over the solarcollector. This will aid the system in collecting solar radiation to heat theactivated carbon and promote desorption. Where glass or Plexiglas is notavailable, the system can be built with a semi-transparent plastic. The designfeatures a simple plywood box with 2-inch foam insulation on every side exceptthe top. The top surface is sealed with a transparent material. Figure 2. Greenhouse designThe structure for the entire refrigerator is shown in Figure 3. While the team usedwood

Conference Session

Sustainability, Diversity, and STEM in Contemporary Energy Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John M. Robertson, Arizona State University, Polytechnic campus; Slobodan Petrovic, Oregon Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

are well established but for a commodity like energy, widespreadadoption depends on delivering lower costs and matching loads both in time and location.These are extremely difficult performance goals for but the rewards for success are highwith a global market waiting eagerly.The rationale for making space to cover the path to technology maturity in an alreadyovercrowded curriculum is that it defines many future engineering jobs. The solar cells,batteries and fuel cells can be manufactured today but can they beat the internationalcompetition to deliver the tough commodity performance metrics? High-level roadmapsfor alternative energies have been formulated 1 but the goals remain stubbornly distant 2.That emphasizes the need to recruit and

Conference Session

Project-Based Education in Energy Curriculum

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hassan Moghbelli, Ph.D., Texas A&M University, Department of Mathematics; Haitham Abu_Rub, Texas A&M University at Qatar, ECE Department

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

and education.The efficiency of the power plant can be improved by using power electronics and electricenergy storage. The power conditioning unit combines the electric energy from both the solarpower plant and the wind power plant. The dc output energy of the hybrid power plant will beconverted to ac and will be synchronized with the electric power grid by the power conditioningunit. The AC output will be generated and controlled by the power conditioning unit which hasmultiple benefits of both generation of electricity with high efficiency and improvement ofelectric power quality.1. IntroductionIn recent years, there have been concerns due to global warming across the world. Therefore,most countries are working on using renewable energy

Conference Session

Alternative Energy Laboratory Experiences

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Erik A. Mayer, Pittsburg State University; Albert Leroy Powell, Bowling Green State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

andTechnology Gateway Ohio (SETGO) Summer Research Program at Bowling Green StateUniversity which facilitated undergraduate research and was sponsored by the National ScienceFoundation.1Solar Cell I-V Characteristic CurvesSolar cells are characterized by their current-voltage (I-V) characteristic curves.2,3 An exampleof one is shown in green in Fig. 1. This curve shows how the voltage generated by the solar cellvaries with the current drawn from it. The I-V curve shows how the solar cell will operate undervarying parameters such as light intensity and temperature. Ironically, the hotter the solar cellgets, the less efficient it becomes. With the solar cell being underneath the sun all day, thisbecomes an issue.Two important points on the I-V

Conference Session

Curricular Developments in Energy Education I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hayrettin B. Karayaka, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi; Mehrube Mehrubeoglu, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi; Faruk Yildiz, Sam Houston State University; Korinne Caruso, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

Protection SystemsAll three on-site courses are senior elective level courses to define “power emphasis” in theprogram, particularly, in Electrical Engineering Technology.The certificate courses also include additional two on-line courses that are offered by NPI. Thesecourses are selected with advising faculty’s guidance from the online course offerings providedby NPI which include: 1. Nuclear Power Plant Fundamentals 2. Nuclear Power Plant Systems – PWR (Pressurized Water Reactors) 3. Nuclear Power Plant Systems – BWR (Boiling Water Reactors) 4. Nuclear Power Plant Operations 5. Human Performance for Nuclear Power Plant EngineersThese certificate courses can be taken as electives by mechanical engineering and engineeringtechnology

Conference Session

Curricular Developments in Energy Education I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert W. Fletcher, Lawrence Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

graduate and undergraduate engineering students. Job and long-termcareer opportunities for recent graduates involved with the energy program are also discussed.Lastly, a discussion is included regarding what changes and additions that are planned for theenergy program at Lawrence Tech to keep the program vibrant and adapting to the ongoingknowledge and understanding needs of today’s engineering graduates.1) BackgroundIn the early spring of 2003 Lawrence Technological University (also known as Lawrence Tech)submitted a proposal to NextEnergy (a nonprofit corporation created by the State of Michiganwith the mission to support and promote alternative energy within the State of Michigan) andwas awarded one of five $100,000 grants in early summer 2003

Conference Session

Digital Simulation Tools in Energy Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert McMasters, Virginia Military Institute

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

. Page 22.105.2IntroductionFinding thermodynamic properties for various substances has traditionally been accomplished byusing thermodynamic tables. Interpolation between established values is normally requiredwhen the desired values of the properties do not exactly match the tabulated values. This can bea time-consuming process, particularly when iterative calculations requiring thermodynamicproperties are involved. A Microsoft Excel add-in that is available per Reference [1] includesthermodynamic properties for air and for flue gasses. To provide the versatility needed for awide variety of fuels and their combustion products, the thermodynamic tables from Reference[2] were written into Visual Basic Applications (VBA) in a Microsoft Excel file

Conference Session

Sustainability, Diversity, and STEM in Contemporary Energy Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lynn Albers, North Carolina State University; Laura Bottomley, North Carolina State University; Amber C. Spolarich, North Carolina State University; Clair Ellen-Ann Wilson, RAMP-UP; Laura Elizabeth Ganson, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

, one of thefounders of pragmatism in education who believed that learning was active and that mathcould be learned through everyday activities such as cooking.[1] Building upon thisconcept, RAMP-UP has created original activities that anyone could recreate in theirhome to help teach math. For example, one of the Program’s most popular activities isthe “Marshmallows and Toothpicks Activity” where students build two-dimensional andthree-dimensional geometric shapes using marshmallows and toothpicks.Following a pragmatist approach, it is believed that active learning is a fun and feasibleteaching style that replaces words with activities as the means of communicating newconcepts. RAMP-UP creates opportunities for active learning through many out

Conference Session

Project-Based Education in Energy Curriculum

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Youakim Kalaani, Georgia Southern University; William Trotter Nichols

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

configurations. PV modules,commonly called panels, are a collection of PV cells that are connected in series and/or parallelcombination and bound together on a common frame. A row of modules connected in series iscalled a series string or simply, a string. The combiner box contains several protection devicessuch as circuit breakers and combines the series strings into a single output. The inverterconverts the DC power from the array into standard AC electricity.Solar Radiation and Local ClimateSolar irradiation is the total amount of solar energy collected on an area over time. Solarirradiation is typically expressed in kWh/m2. At most locations on Earth, solar irradiation willpeak around 1 kW/m2 every day around solar noon. Insolation is the solar

Conference Session

Outreach Projects: Promoting Energy Efficiency and Education in General

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ashley Banaszek, Missouri University of Science & Technology; Richard H Hall, Missouri University of Science & Technology; Mehdi Ferdowsi, Missouri University of Science & Technology

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

level and for community college vocational programs for mechanics. The project also includes a public dissemination component, including partners from the St. Louis Science Center. This program began recently, in the fall of 2010. In order to provide an initial evaluation of a sample of courses in the program a survey was administered to students currently enrolled in undergraduate and graduate courses that are part of the program. One part of the survey focused on the impact of the courses on motivation and engagement, and the other consisted of Felder’s Inventory of Learning Styles (ILS) [1]. Results indicated that motivation and engagement, in this context, could be conceived of as

Conference Session

Curricular Developments in Energy Education II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tyler Grandahl; Gianfranco Biondi; Clark Hochgraf, Rochester Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

RequirementsThe battery cycler is intended to work with individual cells of voltage ranging from 1.0 to 4.2volts. This range covers popular battery types such as NiMH and Li-Ion. It is intended to allowfor high current charge and discharge of cells 2- 5 amp-hours. Ideally, the cycler can beexpanded to test from 1 to 100 cells. The cycler can also heat the cells to an elevated temperatureand keep that temperature regulated with less than 1 degree C error.Commercial Equipment OptionsSeveral life cycle testing commercial solutions are available and offer a good set of features fordata acquisition, selection of charge/discharge profiles, and high or low current dischargecapability. However, the cost of these systems is high. Unfortunately, these systems can

Conference Session

Sustainable Energy Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Faruk Yildiz, Sam Houston State University; Keith L. Coogler, Sam Houston State University; Ayhan Zora, Deere & Company

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

traditional non-renewable energy sources are dwindling and concerns over environmentalpollution are rising everyday due to increased use of fossil fuels, the focus of the automotive andboat industry have shifted to production of hybrid electric vehicles that are more energy efficientand have less green house gas emission rates. In particular, there is an educational and industrialincrease in hybrid and electric boat projects [1-5]. The first electric boat was developed by Moritzvon Jacobi in 1839 in St Petersburg, Russia, a 24-foot boat which carried 14 passengers at3 mph. However, it took more than 30 years of battery and motor development before this craftbegan to be deployed in any numbers. In 1886, an electric boat crossed the English Channel

Conference Session

Investigating Alternative Energy Concepts

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ignacio B. Osorno, California State University, Northridge

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

included.There are several other software vendors that have solar cell simulations which are utilized in industry, such asETAP and PSCAD.Solar cell model-The solar model that is studied and analyzed is shown in fig. 1. It is quite a simple circuit andeasy to model. The modeling results are accurate and therefore they validate the goodness of the model.Semiconductor technology analysis is kept to a minimum since the purpose of this paper is to demonstrate asimple, yet effective way to teach the modeling of solar cells using Pspice and Matlab. IL I RS

Conference Session

Sustainable Energy Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joshua Goldade, University of North Dakota; Tessa Haagenson, University of North Dakota; Hossein Salehfar, University of North Dakota; Mike Mann, University of North Dakota

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

curriculum. Page 15.357.14Bibliography[1] Bacharach, Inc. 2009. [Online]. Available: http://www.bacharach-inc.com/leakator-10.htm.[2] Barbir, Frano. PEM Fuel Cells. Burlington, MA: Elsevier Academic Press. 2005.[3] Chroma Ate Inc. 2010. [Online]. Available: http://www.chromaate.com/product/63200_series_High_Power_DC_Electronic_Load.htm.[4] EG&G Technical Services, Inc., Fuel Cell Handbook (Seventh Edition). Prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy. 2004. [Online] Available: http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/coalpower/fuelcells/seca/refshelf.html.[5] Engineering Accreditation Commission. (Accreditation Board of Engineering Technology

Conference Session

Sustainable Energy Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Connie Gomez, University of Texas at El Paso; Heidi Taboada, University of Texas at El Paso; Jose Espiritu, University of Texas at El Paso; Noe Vargas Hernandez, The University of Texas at El Paso

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

. Moreover,increasing numbers of manufacturers are beginning to evaluate their products and even theirproduct packaging for sustainability, whether to meet mandatory retail initiatives or to reap someof the rewards associated with greater environmental stewardship. This shift in product designmeans that engineering education needs to produce engineers that can provide technologicalinnovation while protecting the environment. These demands also mean that universities acrossthe nation need to build bridges between undergraduate engineering education and sustainabilityengineering in both research and industry.1 This paper describes an approach to includesustainability engineering within an existing engineering program through 1) curriculumdevelopment

Conference Session

Energy Education and Industry Needs

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Darrell Wallace, Youngstown State University; Brian Vuksanovich, Youngstown State University; Michael Costarell, Youngstown State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

were made and the magnitude of theirimpact on overall system performance.A significant cost of operation for this manufacturing facility is related to cooling finishedproduct. Hot jars of pasta sauce pass through a cooling tunnel where they are showered withcool water. Heat from the jars is transferred to the cooling water and subsequently extractedfrom the water through a heat exchanger and mechanical chilling system. A conventional systemconfiguration is shown in Figure 1. Major energy consumers in the process are the pumpingrequired to shower the jars with thousands of gallons of water per minute and the refrigerationsystem required to chill the cooling water

Conference Session

Experiences in Teaching Energy Courses

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Narayanan Komerath, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

AC 2010-2263: MICRO RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AS A VEHICLE FORINTERNATIONAL AWARENESSNarayanan Komerath, Georgia Institute of Technology Page 15.870.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010 MICRO RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AS A VEHICLE FOR INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS 1. ABSTRACT The subject of Micro Renewable Energy Systems is explored as a medium for learning across disciplines, and for global knowledge exchange. Experience from 3 years of course offerings is distilled. Students in these courses came with their own strong motivation to help solve major global problems. Individual assignments

Conference Session

Project-based Education in Energy Courses

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mario Gomes, Rochester Institute of Technology (COE)

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

circular swept area of 1 m diameter or less. The rotors were designedusing the traditional blade-element-momentum method. The performance of the blade waspredicted and then the blades and hub were constructed and tested at the given windspeedfor several loads. These tests provided data which allowed for a comparison between thepredicted turbine design performance to its actual performance. Previous manufacturingtechniques which formed each blade by removing material from a single rough block ofmaterial proved unsatisfactory since they were either too costly, required large amounts ofmachining time, or were too inaccurate due to hand construction. These problems led tothe development a new technique using recyclable molds to quickly and accurately

Conference Session

Learning about Power Systems and Power Consumption

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Herbert Hess, University of Idaho

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

promises to support a greatly expanded effort in natural resource research andmanagement plus a teaching and research effort in renewable energy.Incumbent systemThe site’s first electrical energy system, installed in the 1970s, was a 200-Watt solar panel. Itpowered a short wave radio and a handful of light bulbs, not all at the same time. In 1998, ateam of senior three senior undergraduatesdetermined that about 1kW of hydroelectricgeneration original system would be feasible.They then created and installed the system asdiagrammed in Figure 1. This power systemprovided about 800 Watts continuously and hada four kilowatt peak production. Its storagecapacity is three kilowatthours, enough for an

Conference Session

Electrical Energy Courses - Labs and Projects

Collection

2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yazan Alsmadi, Ohio State University ; Kaichien Tsai, Ohio State University; Mark J. Scott, Ohio State University; Longya Xu, Ohio State University; Aimeng Wang

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

Table 1: Prerequisites for ECE 5027 - Power Electronics and Motor Drives Laboratory Course Students Topics Covered ECE 3040: Undergraduate • Introduction to electrical energy systems: Sustainable Energy & history, current trends Power Systems I • Renewable and non-renewable sources core course • Rotating machines and their operation 3 credit hours • Smart grid initiatives ECE 3047: Undergraduate • Basics of energy conversion processes for Sustainable Energy and

Conference Session

Electrical Energy Courses - Labs and Projects

Collection

2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nattee Cheeweewattanakoon, California State University, Northridge; Gurveen Kaur, California State University, Northridge; Neha Chawla; Nattee Cheeweewattanakoon

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

theeffectiveness of this module.Renewable EnergyRenewable Energy sources are sustainable and naturally replenished such as solar irradiation,wind, tidal waves, biomass, and geothermal heat.According to figures provided by EIA (Energy Information Administration) in 2012consumption from renewable resources in the United States amounts to about 9 quadrillionBTUs. Also about 12% of the total energy generated in the United States was from renewablesources in 2012. New renewables (small hydro, modern biomass, solar, wind, geothermal)account for another 3% share and are rapidly increasing 1. In its new monthly forecast, EIA,reports that solar generation in the electric power sector is expected to grow even more

Conference Session

Miscellaneous Topics in Energy Education

Collection

2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ryan L. Falkenstein-Smith, Syracuse University; Jeongmin Ahn, Syracuse University; Kang Wang

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

Energy SystemsIntroduction The low percentages of students being retained in engineering majors have been welldocumented [1]. Without increasing the numbers in this subset, it is difficult to impact thenumbers of new graduates entering the workforce and pursuing higher degrees. The problemwith the general image of engineering that is known to contribute to low enrollments is the lackof understanding of how engineering can be used to improve society. One way to this image is to engage students in hands-on experiments. The students’ interest inscience and engineering can be increased if they are exposed to more hands-on researchexperiences rather than what is traditionally offered in undergraduate curricula. Those personalstudent experiences