Course syllabus for Environmental engineering

Course syllabus adopted 2021-02-26 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameMiljöteknik
  • CodeEEK137
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTKELT
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyElectrical Engineering, Energy and Environmental Systems and Technology
  • ThemeEnvironment 7.5 c
  • DepartmentELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 50119
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0115 Project 5 c
Grading: TH		 5 c
0215 Examination 2.5 c
Grading: TH		 2.5 c
  • 10 Jan 2022 pm J
  • 11 Apr 2022 am J
  • 18 Aug 2022 am J

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

-

Aim

The aim of the course is to give the electrical engineering students knowledge about sustainable development based on current scientific observations and models. The students will treat environmental problems, primarily in electric power engineering. The aim is also to initiate a discussion on sustainable development and assess the measures of society in the area of environment and resources. Another aim is to train the ability to communicate information in an effective way.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • Describe the causation, extent and possible solutions for the most significant current environmental problems, linked to the planetary boundaries.
  • Analyze environmental engineering issues using scientific methods, based on the goals of society for ecologically, socially and economically sustainable development.
  • Based on analysis of an environmental technical issue suggest improvements to the design of the evaluated product/process for reduced environmental impact.
  • Describe how the most common techniques for renewable electricity production works, the opportunities for reducing environmental impact that these technologies provide, as well as the challenges and possible solutions for creating an electric power system in which these technologies represent a large proportion.
  • Perform a project work in a group using the project model LIPS (Linköping Interactive Project Steering).
  • Apply knowledge of group processes, communication and conflict management to achieve more effective work in a group.
  • Analyze and critically discuss environmental questions, focusing on the demands of society on sustainable development, resources and environmental impact.
  • Document the knowledge in a technical report based on modern science.
  • Use the IEEE system for references.
  • Present an environmental problem orally and in a poster.
  • Constructively discuss a technical report and a presentation of an environmental problem.

Content

The main part of the course is performed in projects, where the project groups are given a specific environmental task. The groups shall investigate and suggest improvements of systems in power engineering and other fields of engineering with emphasis on the demands of society on sustainable development, resources and environmental impact. The students are divided into groups based on which projects they find most interesting. The project work is supplemented by lectures that introduce the projects and give support by introduction of analytic tools like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), treat current environmental problems, and provide knowledge of methods to achieve a high proportion of renewable electricity production. The lectures have the following contents:
  1. Introduction to the course and the topic environmental engineering
  2. Group dynamics and project model
  3. Team role model
  4. Introduction of the library's services for literature search
  5. Introduction to Environmental Science
  6. The greenhouse effect and global warming
  7. Environmental work analysis tools
  8. Energy sources with less environmental impact
  9. The changing role of electric power systems, integration of renewable energy sources
  10. A sustainable electric power system for Sweden
  11. Smart solutions for a sustainable electric power system
  12. Effective methods for energy storage
  13. Effective structure for technical reports
  14. How to make effective conference presentations

Organisation

The course will be given in project form, where the main part will be done in groups. Each group will investigate and provide suggested solutions for a specific environmental technical problem. The work is presented in a written report as well as orally and in a poster at a conference. The group shall oppose to another group's presentation. The work of the group will be graded. 
As a supplement to the project work a number of lectures will be given. The lectures are examined separately.

Literature

All literature is made available on the course website or is available free to students from Chalmers library as eBook. Among other sources, the following literature will be used:
  • Björn Sandén (editor). Systems Perspectives on Renewable Power. Chalmers University of Technology, 2014.
  • Kristin Bruhn, Sofia Lorensson and Jennie Svensson. Development of Learning Material to Wind Power Courses. Master's Thesis, Chalmers University of Technology, 2009.
  • IPCC Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2013.
  • Peter Kristensen. The DPSIR Framework. Paper presented at the 27-29 September 2004 workshop on a comprehensive / detailed assessment of the vulnerability of water resources to environmental change in Africa using river basin approach. UNEP Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • H. Baumann and A.-M. Tillman, 'LCA in a Nutshell' i The Hitchhiker's Guide to LCA, Chalmers, 1999.

Examination including compulsory elements

In order to pass the students shall have:
  • passed the examination on the lecture course,
  • approved active participation in project work and conference,
  • approved project report and presentation at conference.
The exam is graded, the student can obtain grade Not Approved, 3, 4 or 5. The project work is graded on group level based on an overall evaluation taking the written report, presentation, poster and opposition into consideration. The grading of the project work can vary between the project participants, if it is deemed that the students' individual contributions to the project work differ significantly. The individual grade is determined by taking both the grade of the project work and the grade of the exam into account.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.