Download Module Specification (draft)

ASTON UNIVERSITY
REG/03/53(2)
QUALITY AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE
Module Specification
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Please complete all sections of the form, referring to the guidance notes where necessary.
School and Subject Group
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Mechanical Engineering and Design
Module Code
ME4504
Module Title
Renewable Energy
Module Type
Taught
Module Replaces (where appropriate)
N/A
Date of introduction of new module
October 2009
Level
7
Programme(s) in which module is available
MSc Product Design Innovation
MSc Product Design Enterprise
MSc Mechanical Engineering (Modelling)
None
Involvement of Other Schools
Credit Value
10
Resource Split
N/A
Name of Module Co-ordinator
Dr Philip A Davies
Related Modules
Pre-requisites
None
Co-requisites
None
Prohibited Combinations
None
Minimum and Maximum
Intake Sizes
Minimum 8
Maximum 20
Aims of the Module
The module aims to impart a quantitative understanding of the origins and nature of renewable energy flows and their capture and conversion into
useful energy services. Focussing on solar, wind and wave energy, it offers the student a theoretical basis on which to develop practical designs
and combine them as reliable systems.
Summary of Content
1.
2.
3.
4.
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6.
7.
Renewables overview: origins and scale of renewable energy flows
Nature of solar radiation
Efficiency limits of solar energy conversion
Renewable energy system design
Renewable heat
Wind energy: the nature of the wind, Betz limit, blade element momentum theory, the modern wind turbine
Wave energy: wave motion and capture, emerging wave technologies
Summary of Methods and Frequency of Teaching
10 x 2 hours sessions.
Key lectures, numerical exercises, group activities, wikis, reading and internet research, software tutorial and design activities.
Summary of Methods of Assessment
Exam 75%
Coursework 25%
Module Outcomes – what the student should gain from successful completion of the
module.
On completion they should be able to:
Knowledge and Understanding
Differentiate among the main types of renewable energy, identifying their origins,
magnitudes and the fundamental limits constraining their conversion to electricity or
other useful forms.
Describe specific technologies of conversion and recognise the main steps needed to
design and optimise devices based on them.
Learning and Teaching and Assessment Strategies to
enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated
Learning and Teaching
Assessment Methods
Methods
Presentations by module
leader.
Reading and internet research.
Numerical exercises in and out
of class
Examination
As above
Examination
As above; software tutorial
Design exercise (poster)
Group and design activities
Design exercise (poster)
Intellectual Skills
Develop simple models to approximate renewable energy devices, describing the
outputs with the help of numbers, words and graphics.
Professional/Subject Specific Skills
Design renewable energy systems using appropriate software
Transferable Skills
Communicate an appropriate design solution
Demonstrate resourcefulness and ingenuity in solving theoretical and practical problems.
Please provide either or both of:
(i)
Introductory Learning
Resources
(ii)
Core Texts
Reading Lists
B. Sørensen: Renewable Energy, 3rd Edition, Elsevier 2004
Refer to Handbook
Philip Davies
Specification completed by:
Date
1 September 2009
Date module approved by Teaching
Committee(s)
Date module approved by School
Board(s)
RPS/SJD/DLL/Module Specification/24 March 2003(f)
SJD/LAP/Module Programmes