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

AC 2010-555: AN APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY PROJECT: A SOLARPOWERED VACCINE REFRIGERATORCraig Somerton, Michigan State University Craig W. Somerton is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Michigan State University. He teaches in the area of thermal engineering including thermodynamics, heat transfer, and thermal design. 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 engineering from UCLA

Conference Session

Project-based Education in Energy Courses

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Patrick Tebbe, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

AC 2010-1130: STUDENT PROJECT TO DESIGN A SMALL-SCALE SOLARCHIMNEY FOR SUSTAINABLE POWERPatrick Tebbe, Minnesota State University, Mankato Page 15.1121.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010 Student Project to Design a Small-Scale Solar Chimney for Sustainable Power ABSTRACTAccess to energy sources is a major limitation in many areas of the world. This is particularlytrue for developing economies which have limited resources to devote to traditional powergeneration. This student project proposed to design and test a small-scale solar chimney for useas a renewable energy source. The

Conference Session

Project-based Education in Energy Courses

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Faruk Yildiz, Sam Houston State University; Keith Coogler, Sam Houston State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

Page 15.1131.2energy training unit becomes a smart idea for exposing students to alternative energy fields. Thetraining units need to be designed for use in hands-on activities, which provide studentsopportunities to engage in experiments that will reinforce the material covered. The cost of thetraining unit should be kept low in order to make the project cost-efficient. In this project, theoutcomes enable the participant to understand and work with the developed systems. The aim isto design and implement interactive educational training units that include solar and windtechnologies, human power, passive solar air/water heating, and hydrogen fuel cell energyharvesting systems for any level of Alternative Energy Systems courses. This

Conference Session

Project-based Education in Energy Courses

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Adrian Ieta, State University of New York, Oswego

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

’ perception of energy concepts, which actually confirms theneed for a more thorough understanding of energy concepts and of their importance. Throughout thecourse, energy concepts are gradually better defined and used for analysis of everyday life activities.Starting with mechanical energy, heat, electrical energy, Faraday induction law and energy conversion,photonic energy, and nuclear energy, physics offers a wide range for defining energy principles anddemonstrating their applications and significance. Home projects meant to develop and clarify the use ofenergy are also assigned. An evaluation of the students’ perception of the energy concepts is finallyperformed in a separate survey. Questions about energy conservation issues and the factors

Conference Session

Project-based Education in Energy Courses

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Carl Spezia, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; Jason Buchanan, Southern Illinois Universaity, Carbondale

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

Page 15.296.2of these devices on the grid.5,6,7,8,9Examining the harmonic content of CFL’s provided an undergraduate research opportunity andenhanced the educational experience of the student. The undergraduate research assistant’s workon the project augmented his current educational experiences and provided an application ofpreviously acquired classroom knowledge. During the course of the project, the student engagedin literature reviews, fabricated test circuits, conducted experiments, analyzed data, and preparedresults.Undergraduate research offers several benefits to the student and university community. Previouswork shows that student-faculty partnerships positively affect student retention especially inminority populations.10 Other

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

AC 2010-2282: A PRACTICAL BLADE MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUE FOR AWIND TURBINE DESIGN PROJECT IN A RENEWABLE ENERGYENGINEERING COURSEMario Gomes, Rochester Institute of Technology (COE) Page 15.74.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010 A practical blade manufacturing technique for a wind-turbine design project in a renewable energy engineering course1 AbstractA blade design project for a horizontal-axis wind-turbine was developed for a renewableenergy course. The objective of the project was to design a set of blades for a turbine rotorto extract the maximum amount of power from a given 12 m/s wind speed while beingconstrained to a

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

Society for Engineering Education, 2010 Upgrade of a Successful Undergraduate Energy Project in a Remote Wilderness AreaAbstractIn 1998, senior undergraduates designed and installed a hydroelectric generating system tosupport a remote natural resources research facility in the mountains of Idaho. Performance ofthat system is described, including its role in saving the facility from a massive forest fire and itseventual aging and decline. In 2009, through a senior undergraduate design project, studentsdesigned a replacement for the aging system. Students wrote the proposal to the NationalScience Foundation and won the competition for funding. Students developed specifications fora replacement system as an

Conference Session

Energy Education and Industry Needs

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Faruk Yildiz, Sam Houston State University; Recayi 'Reg' Pecen; Soner Tarim

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

19campuses and more than 7000 students all over the Texas took an initiative tour toward globalawareness. The Cosmos foundation organizes an annual transformative International ScienceFair Olympiad called I-SWEEEP (International Sustainable World Energy Engineering &Environment Project Olympiad) since 2008. The Cosmos Foundation brings the best andbrightest students from all over the world to Houston, Texas to demonstrate their selectedresearch findings. This paper describes how this Olympiad engages young minds in a search forsolutions to the environmental and energy related challenges of today in hopes of achieving asustainable world for tomorrow. The I-SWEEEP stimulates students’ interest in practicalsolutions and cultivates the future of the

Conference Session

Sustainable Energy Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Thomas Shepard, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; Camille George, University of St. Thomas

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. She teaches thermodynamics and maintains a strong interest in technology literacy and international service-learning. Dr. George has spearheaded several innovative international projects in collaboration with seven different departments including Geology, Modern and Classical Languages, Sociology, Accounting and Communications. She has also introduced a Peace Engineering track which combines Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Justice and Peace. Page 15.1073.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010 Solar Cooker Design

Conference Session

Curricular Developments in Energy Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Patrick Cunningham, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

fuel cell course has three 1-hour lecture periods per week and one 3-hour lab period perweek to make a 4 credit-hour course. One lecture period per week is devoted to discussion ofrelevant papers, which serves to reinforce the technical content and facilitate discussion of thebroader social, economic, and technical issues. The lab periods are used alternately for additionalclassroom instruction, experiments, recitation time, and modeling or project work. This adds adegree of flexibility to administering the course and provides the students with extra time toengage and reflect on what they are learning.Student learning assessment is based on homework, experimental lab write-ups, a midterm exam,a nonlinear dynamic fuel cell model, and student

Conference Session

Sustainable Energy Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Faruk Yildiz, Sam Houston State University; Keith Coogler, Sam Houston State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

oftheir job requirements. It is essential for engineering and technology students, at a minimum, tobe familiar with renewable energy technologies and their applications and implementations. Thiscourse serves as an introduction to renewable energy with an emphasis on energy harvesting,conversion, and storage systems. It is a combination of lecture, demonstrations, student inquiry,in-class problem solving, and hands-on projects. Students are required to complete a series ofexercises/projects and/or tests that reflect their knowledge of the stated objectives. A short powerelectronics section covers the major electrical equipments required for power transmission andpower conditioning. Topics include photovoltaic systems, solar thermal systems, green

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

opportunities for them. Figure 1. Interaction between Sustainability, Design & Manufacturing, and Agriculture.This project aims to attract underrepresented students to newly developed courses in the area ofbiomaterials engineering manufacturing. At least 100-120 undergraduate students during the next3 years will be mentored with state-of-the-art topics related to this area. One of the term projectsfor the undergraduate students will be the preparation and presentation of a topic regardingsustainability of our environment to high school students of the El Paso area. The Texas StateData Center predicts that by 2025 the Hispanic population of Texas will exceed non-Hispanics inthe state.5 We hope that by exposing minorities early in their academic

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

COMPLICATIONS, THIS IS THE REVIEW VERSION OF THE PAPER. EMAIL THIS AUTHOR FOR THE SIGNIFICANTLY UPDATED FINAL VERSION. Page 15.1161.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010 Systems Design of a Hydro-Kinetic Technology for Rural Areas of Developing Countries  AbstractThis paper presents a case study of a global service-learning project leading towards theimplementation of renewable energy technology for remote electricity generation. A studentteam designed, prototyped, and tested a hydro-kinetic device as part of a project ultimatelyintended to provide 100 continuous watts

Conference Session

Curricular Developments in Energy Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David Blekhman, California State University Los Angeles; Jason Keith, Michigan Technological University; Ahmad Sleiti, University of Central Florida; Eileen Cashman, Humboldt State University; Peter Lehman, Humboldt State University; Richard Engel, Schatz Energy Research Center; Michael Mann, University of North Dakota; Hossein Salehfar, University of North Dakota

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

PhD from the University of Central Florida (UCF), USA. He also holds two MS degrees in mechanical engineering. He has taught at UCF, UNCC and at University of Jordan (UJ). Prior to coming to UNCC, he was an Assistant Professor and Research Associate at UCF. He also worked for several years as a mechanical engineer in various consulting, R&D and contracting firms on industrial, commercial and residential projects. His research interests include energy systems, fuel cells, thermal management and thermal transport phenomena, nanofluids, heat transfer and aerodynamics for gas turbines and other turbomachinery.Eileen Cashman, Humboldt State University Eileen Cashman is a professor of

Conference Session

Energy Education and Industry Needs

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jai Agrawal, Purdue University, Calumet; Omer Farook, Purdue University, Calumet; Chandra Sekhar, Purdue University, Calumet

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

/manager/professional who hold baccalaureate in other technology fields. Thecertificate courses introduce the concepts and technology of harvesting energy from sun, windand other alternative sources, thermoelectric, electrochemical, bio-photosynthetic and hydrogenbased energy systems. The certificate consists of 12 credit hours, equivalent of four courses: 1)Solar Engineering Systems, 2) Wind and Alternative Energy Technology, 3) Energy Networkingand 4) Energy Neutral Living.Courses in the certificate can be delivered in traditional classroom/distance learning formats.Each course comprises of three components: a) content, b) critical review of current researchpapers and c) project. The course content consists of study of sources of energy and

Conference Session

Sustainable Energy Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David Blekhman; Jason Keith; Ahmad Sleiti; Eileen Cashman; Peter Lehman; Richard Engel; Michael Mann; Hossein Salehfar

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

Technological University,University of North Carolina Charlotte and University of North Dakota.The participating universities are actively developing a variety of new curricula or modificationsto existing majors. A detailed account of curricular activities is given by the authors in a sisterpublication1. Recognizing the inherent complexity of the topic and a multitude of new concepts,the HFCT programs are integrating laboratory practicum and projects supporting studentlearning.Both equipment available on the market and custom-built laboratory units are discussed. Overthe recent years, several manufacturers have come forward with HFCT equipment offerings.Equipment's performance, integration into courses and variety of adopted applications at

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

become a need to develop solar battery chargers for more portable batteries, such as Nickelmetal hydride (NiMH) and Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries for military and consumer applications.This paper describes the development of a solar battery charger for Li-ion batteries. Twoelectrical engineering technology undergraduate students formed a senior design project team todesign and implement a solar battery charger. A senior design project is an integral part of theundergraduate engineering technology degree program requirements at Northern IllinoisUniversity. All students are required to complete a two-semester long (4 credit hours) seniordesign project.Charging a battery requires a regulated dc voltage. However, the voltage supplied by a

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

areas. Thus for instance we reject the notion that“high intensity solar cells” which are very expensive, have no terrestrial market applications. Page 15.870.2In the longer term we expect to see these added to solar concentrators on urban roofs, at veryPage 15.870.3 3. OUTLINE OF THE COURSEThe course is given a 4xxx designation, but invites students who have earned junior status toregister as well. An 8xxx section is co-taught, in order to facilitate graduate studentparticipation. The expectation is that the graduate students will complete much moresophisticated projects and business plans in the course, and provide

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

to give Baylor University studentsa foundation upon which to build an informed understanding of complex energy issues. Withunderstanding comes the ability to begin answering the questions confronting society.Specifically, the four learning objectives are:1) To develop scientific energy literacy;2) To closely examine the production and consumption of energy in both developed and developing countries;3) To examine the social, political, environmental and ethical problems of an energy-dependent civilization.4) Understand, hypothesize, propose and execute a research project in the theme, “The campus as an energy-efficiency and alternative-energy laboratory.”The four semesters for Energy and Society ELG followed the learning

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

the response of Indiana University-PurdueUniversity students’ and Construction Industry across North East Indiana towards LEEDAccreditation in general and LEED Accredited Professionals in particular.IntroductionThe need of the hour makes it incumbent for buildings to go ‘GREEN’ as there is no other wayto circumscribe the growing energy crises. One of the most authoritative rating system to certifybuildings as ‘GREEN’ is United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED ratingSystem. The number of projects acquiring certification under United States Green BuildingCouncil’s (USGBC) LEED Rating System is increasing at a great rate ensuing in the increaseddemand for the LEED Accredited Professionals.A LEED Accredited Professional is one who has

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

, shown in Figure 1, whichmay operate as a stand-alone or a grid-connected system. The power generation devices areinterfaced with the DC and AC buses through appropriate power conversion devices. This is partof a larger project at our university in renewable energy technology, sustainability, education,and research. The aims of this projects is to develop novel concepts for learning communitiesand inter-site cooperation in which the stake-holders can share resources and use in place ofcostly laboratory equipment and facilities virtual and simulation laboratory experiments via theInternet. A major component of this project is to design, implement and evaluate virtual learningenvironment system. The system will consist of training platforms, e

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

competencies required of the Smart Grid implementation.This project proposes to achieve the following objectives: 1. Develop and deliver innovative smart grid enhanced curriculum beginning September 2010. 2. Develop and deliver a comprehensive, regional Distance Learning offering of associate, undergraduate, certificate, master and doctorate degrees beginning May 2012. 3. Expand Distance Learning curricula to meet national workforce needs by completion of project in April 2013. 4. Establish an innovative and experience-rich distance learning system incorporating best in class courses from all partner institutions and facilities. 5. Create a specialization in Smart Grid cyber-security. 6. Create a specialization in

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

electricity.16 Ford anticipates that future plug-in hybrids will “talk” to a Smart Grid.Ford is investing $14 billion in the project, and has worked with 10 different utilities.Significant development efforts are focused on vehicle batteries in an ongoing effort to improvecost and weight. The battery for the Chevrolet Volt is a 16 KWh T-shaped Lithium-ion batterythat is roughly 6 feet long and weighs nearly 400 pounds1 or twice the weight of an averageperson. Current batteries represent about one third of the vehicle weight, and that weight is threeto five times what would be desired. Lithium-iron-sulfide batteries are now being studied undera partly government funded Reduced Cost Li-ion (Red Lion) project.17

Conference Session

Experiences in Teaching Energy Courses

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James Riddell, Baker College Of Flint; Anca Sala, Baker College Of Flint

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

inquiry.1. IntroductionAlternative energy (AE) has continued to be a hot-button topic for a number of years. Manycolleges and universities have consequently introduced courses on this topic, having a variety offormats: with1,2 or without3 experimental laboratories, project based4, or based on amultidisciplinary approach5. One issue when covering such a broad field is that many studentsnever get a complete picture on all that is involved or related to a given technology. To that end,with the support of our institution’s curriculum committee, it was decided to develop and offeran overview or introductory class for Mechanical Engineering students. The course must be insupport of the Program Outcomes adopted by our program (included in the Appendix

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

course is a prime example of taking an idea andproperly supporting its growth with grants, faculty and administrative support, andencouragement from society.The genesis of this course was a 2003 partnership between an NSF grantee, several technicalschools, and several community colleges. The objective of the grant was to create leaders in thecommunity colleges and high schools who would be able to develop technology/engineeringeducation projects in energy and power technologies. During 2004 and 2005, workshops weredeveloped and implemented to increase engineering awareness for the participating high schoolteachers. Several alternative energy lesson modules on wind and solar power were designed,tested and modified

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

. Dr. Salehfar has worked as a consultant for the New York Power Pool, electric utilities and coal industries in the State of North Dakota, and the North Dakota Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC). Dr. Salehfar has very active and externally funded multidisciplinary research projects. He is currently working on a number of projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Some of the projects that he has worked on include alternative and renewable energy systems, fuel cell technologies, power electronics, electric drives, neuro-fuzzy intelligent systems, electric power and energy systems, power systems reliability, engineering

Conference Session

Learning about Power Systems and Power Consumption

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Justin Reed, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Daniel Ludois, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Maria Hamlin, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

power electronics orother power conversion course could improve student engagement throughout the course ascompared to more conventional sample applications. Furthermore, it will be shown that theknowledge base necessary to build an SSTC spans far more technical areas than required in mostconventional power electronics projects, and therefore justifies the SSTC as practical classroomexercise. The hypotheses presented in this paper are investigated and further evaluated with asurvey to gauge student interest in enrolling in a power electronics course based on a variety ofsample applications, including the SSTC. (a) (b) (c

Conference Session

Experiences in Teaching Energy Courses

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert Fletcher, Lawrence Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

cell research used under a wide range of operational conditions for the US Army, as well as battery research, and the implementation of alternative energy power sources in autonomous ground vehicle robots. He is also working with his students supporting DTE Energy in the operation and optimization of their Hydrogen Power Park in Southfield, Michigan, a photovoltaic, biomass, water electrolysis, hydrogen storage, hydrogen vehicle fueling station and fuel cell power demonstration project, funded by the Department of Energy. He has also established an alternative energy laboratory at LTU that contains integrated fuel cell and hydrogen generation systems, as well as equipment

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

production automation in the existing facilitywas minimal and management sought the help of YSU faculty to augment their technicalabilities. As the scope of the project grew, so did the ambitiousness of the project. What beganas a small plant expansion grew into a vision for an environmentally friendly world-classmanufacturing facility. The new plant was to be the first privately owned building in the countyto comply with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign (LEED) certification criteria. The plant was to serve as the centerpiece of the company'senvironmentally responsible public image. To that end, the design team was challenged to pushthe boundaries of what is currently considered state-of-the-art within

Conference Session

Experiences in Teaching Energy Courses

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dale Litwhiler, Pennsylvania State University, Berks; Thomas Gavigan, Penn State Berks; Brittany Farrell, Penn State Berks

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

. One unit was for disassembly with nointentions of it ever being returned to its original state. The essential parts of the disassembledunits were, however, still functional. In this way, the efficiency of the key system elementscould be determined.In parallel with the work being performed by the first-year students, a similar but separateindependent investigation was being performed by a fourth-year engineering technology student.This investigation involved the conversion of mechanical energy stored in a spinning flywheel to Page 15.462.3electrical energy stored on a capacitor. The work on this project also started by disassembling ahuman