ME 311 Introduction to Energy and Energy Systems
This is a required, 3-credit course, primarily for Mechanical Engineering juniors. It is the first course for energies, and energy systems and technologies, including electric utility, power, propulsion, HVAC, refrigeration, and cryogenic systems. It is a course in applied thermal sciences, and discusses internal and external combustion heat engine cycles, heat pump cycles, mixtures and psychrometrics, fuels and combustion, and their associated engineering components and subsystems. An overview of form/type of energy, energy consumption, production, and reserves in the USA and the world, and modern direct energy converters are also discussed. Emphasis is placed on the quantitative analysis of performance of various energy systems and processes, and on the tradeoffs necessary for improved efficiency, operational characteristics, and environmental acceptability.