Energy and Power: Production, Distribution, and Society

This course is an introduction to energy and power within a societal context.

Useful Prerequisites edit

A general knowledge base in these topics will facilitate learning.

References edit

Topics edit

Energy Consumption: Utility and Inequality edit

  1. World Portfolio
  2. United States Energy Policy

Basic Ideas: Exercises and Review edit

  1. The Conservation of Energy
  2. Work and Heat in Thermodynamic Analysis
  3. Circuits: Resistors, Capacitors, and Inductors
  4. Transformers, Motors, and Turbines
  5. Distribution of Electric Energy

Energy Sources: Technology, Cost, and Potential edit

  1. Special Topic: Non-Renewable, Renewable, Sustainable
  2. Fossil
  3. Nuclear
  4. Solar
  5. Water
  6. Biomass
  7. Wind
  8. Geothermal

Energy Storage and Conversion edit

  1. Gasification
  2. Waste to Energy
  3. Fuel Cells
  4. Hydrogen
  5. Micro-Turbines
  6. Flywheels
  7. Batteries
  8. Electricity
  9. Distributed Generation
  10. Diesel Generators
  11. Turbines

Building Energy Use edit

  1. Green Building Design
  2. Time-Dependent Demand
  3. Commercial and Residential

Transportation edit

  1. Spark Ignition, Diesel, and Hybrid Vehicles
  2. Freight and Shipping
  3. Air Travel

Energy-Intensive Industrial Processes edit

The Path of Emerging Technologies edit

Power Cycles and Car Engine Design

  1. Otto Cycle
  2. Diesel Cycle

Power Cycles and Power Plant Design edit

  1. Rankine Cycle
  2. Brayton
  3. Issues in Efficiency and Cost

Combustion and Pollution edit

  1. Combustion and Chemical Energy
  2. Kinetics
  3. Common Pollutants and Concerns
  4. Regulation

Economics and Energy Markets edit

  1. Limited Natural Resource Economics
  2. Pollution Caps and Trading
  3. Electricity
  4. Developmental Economics and Energy
  5. Econometrics and Energy Forecasting

Sustainability and Energy edit

  1. Global Warming
  2. Energy Sources and Magnitudes
  3. Special Topic: Consumption, Capitalism, and Unsustainable Growth

The Future: Scenarios of Disaster and Opportunity edit

  1. Economic and Environmental Forces for Change
  2. The Role of the Engineer: Ideas with Potential

Further reading edit