Course syllabus for Energy systems and sustainability

Course syllabus adopted 2022-02-14 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameEnergisystem och hållbar utveckling
  • CodeMMS125
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTIMEL
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyEnergy and Environmental Systems and Technology
  • ThemeEnvironment 4.5 c
  • DepartmentMECHANICS AND MARITIME SCIENCES
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 67123
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0120 Project 2.5 c
Grading: UG
0 c2.5 c0 c0 c0 c0 c
0220 Examination 5 c
Grading: TH
0 c5 c0 c0 c0 c0 c
  • 10 Jan 2024 am L
  • 05 Apr 2024 pm L
  • 29 Aug 2024 pm L

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

The course EEN030 Introduction to mechatronics, or equivalent knowledge.

Aim

The purpose of the course is to provide the students with sufficient knowledge and tools to be able to work with energy supply, energy storage and energy transfer in mechatronic systems and other engineering applications with a sustainability perspective. Furthermore, the course will give the students general knowledge about sustainable development, and specifically to be able to analyse environmental impact and sustainability for electricity and energy supply, both from a product use and a systems perspective.

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

  • Describe the importance of sustainable development in the three main dimensions, relate to the United Nations goals for sustainable development, and reflect over the role of engineers for sustainable development.
  • Use appropriate tools and methods to evaluate sustainability, environmental impact and ethical questions as an engineer.
  • Define and carry out basic analysis of thermodynamic systems, and apply the first and second laws of thermodynamics.
  • Describe different forms of energy and the transformation between them.
  • Dimension and specify energy storage using various types of batteries.
  • Predict the need for cooling of components or whole devices, and propose methods to meet the cooling needs.
  • Describe primary and secondary energy sources, and energy carriers in the Swedish energy- and electricity supply system.
  • Describe and evaluate the environmental impact and other sustainability aspects of the use of energy, electricity production and energy storage, in particular batteries.
  • Describe the procedure for and interpret life cycle analyses.
  • Present alternatives for (electrical) energy supply of mechatronic units and compare technical and environmental performance for those.
  • Search, process and compile information from various sources as a basis for technical design or sustainability evaluation.

Content

The theme for the course is energy supply for mechatronic units and the course has two red threads, energy and sustainable development, which to a large extent are intertwined.
The following topics are covered in the course:
  • Procedures for energy analysis, with basic thermodynamics including systems definitions, energy transformations, efficiencies, reversible and irreversible processes, and different forms of energy.
  • Technical systems for the generation and storage of electricity.
  • Sustainable development with its three dimensions ecological, economical and social, as well as models for sustainable development.
  • Environmental impact and influence on sustainability goals from energy use, electricity production and energy storage.
  • Methods for analysis of sustainability, including life cycle analysis.
  • Industry’s view on and work with sustainability and environmental issues.

Organisation

The teaching includes lectures, guest lectures, exercises, seminars and a project which will be carried out as a group project, but with individual elements.
The project contains activities with compulsory attendance, e.g. supervision and presentation. Attendance at seminars and guest lectures is compulsory.

Literature

Energilära – grundläggande termodynamik av Olof Beckman, Göran Grimvall, Bengt Kjöllerström,Tage Sundström, ISBN 978-91-47-05218-9
Hållbar Utveckling – nyanser och tolkningar av Fredrik Hedenus, Martin Persson, Frances Sprei, ISBN 978-91-44-12187-1

Examination including compulsory elements

Exam (5,0 credits) and project (2.5 credits).
Project is a compulsory module. The project contains activities with compulsory attendance, e.g. supervision and presentation. Well performed group project task, and performance of extended project task can give bonus points to the exam. The course includes guest lectures and seminars with compulsory attendance.
Final grade is awarded on a scale 3-5, based on exam points and bonus points from the project.

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.