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Unit outline_

AMME8101: Energy and the Environment

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit is suitable for any engineering discipline student who is interested in developing an understanding of analysis and design in energy, power generation, environment and relevant economic issues. The aim is to acquaint students with the methods engineers use to design and evaluate the processes used for the conversion of energy into useful work. This course concentrates on thermal energy conversion. It also assesses and deals with the environmental consequences of energy conversion. At the end of this unit students will be able to critically analyse technical, economic and societal impacts of energy conversion systems. A series of topics, each containing a series of lectures, will be covered in relation to energy. The course content will include: The Status of Energy Today; Energy for Electricity Generation; Nuclear Energy; Energy for Transportation; Future Energy Usage.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
AMME5101
Assumed knowledge
? 

Students are expected to be familiar with the basic laws of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Matthew Cleary, m.cleary@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Matthew Cleary, m.cleary@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Sebastian Galindo Lopez, sebastian.galindolopez@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Tutorial quiz Quiz 1
Written quiz. Onlline submission through Canvas.
15% Week 06 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO7 LO4 LO2
Assignment Essay
Written essay
30% Week 10
Due date: 14 May 2021 at 23:59
Over the first 10 weeks of semester
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Assignment group assignment Major project
Weekly contribution to online tutorials and final report
40% Week 12
Due date: 28 May 2021 at 23:59
Over first 12 weeks of semester
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO4 LO3
Tutorial quiz Quiz 2
Written quiz. Onlline submission through Canvas.
15% Week 13 1 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO7 LO4 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Quiz 1 and 2: Tests students knowledge of the topics covered in lectures. Students are expected to read more widely than the lecture notes and marks will be awarded for demonstration of this.
  • Essay: Students will write a persuasive essay supporting a proposition on an energy-related public issue (e.g. coal seam gas or nuclear power).
  • Major project: Design and assessment of a thermal energy system.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Ongoing For a typical student, successful completion of this UoS requires about 8 hours of independent study per week. Independent study (104 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 01 Introduction; Energy status Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 02 An introduction to climate change Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 03 Electricity: conventional technologies and pollutants Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 04 Electricity: emerging technologies Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Major project consultation session Project (4 hr) LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 06 Transportation: conventional technologies and pollutants Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Transportation: alternative fuels Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Transportation: energy for aviation Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Nuclear energy: introduction to nuclear energy Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Future energy usage: energy and conservation; CO2 emission reduction Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Future energy usage: renewable energy management Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Course review Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Lectures & Tutorials: Students are expected to attend all lectures and tutorials. Tutorials will provide the students with an opportunity to engage in discussions of the course material and homework assignments with the teaching staff and other students. The tutorials are broken into two halves. In the first hour students will work on quiz sample problems and this will involve participation in class discussions. In the second hour students will work on their major assignment in groups and individual student marks are awarded for demonstrated progress through semester.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. work as an independent engineer through creative and analytical design, use of state-of-the-art engineering literature
  • LO2. communicate complex engineering ideas orally through in class discussions and in written form through report and essay writing
  • LO3. interact with peers to perform complementary work in teams
  • LO4. describe and quantify the environmental, economic and operational parameters related to thermal energy conversion systems
  • LO5. influence decision making through persuasive written reports that are evidence based
  • LO6. complete open-ended conceptual and preliminary design of energy conversion systems
  • LO7. analyse real-world energy systems through application of the theory of thermodynamics, heat transfer and energy conversion
  • LO8. perform required calculations to analyse open-ended engineering problems.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

More emphasis to be placed on individual contributions to the major project. This is explained in the assignment instruction sheet.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.