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Unit outline_

MECH5275: Renewable Energy

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit aims to develop understanding of the engineering design and analysis of different devices and technologies for generating power from renewable sources including: solar, wind, wave, tidal, ocean thermal, geothermal, hydro-electric, and biofuels; to understand the environmental, operational and economic issues associated with each of these technologies. At the end of this unit students will be able to perform in depth technical analysis of different types of renewable energy generation devices using the principles of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer. Students will be able to describe the environmental, economic and operational issues associated with these devices.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
(MECH3260 and MECH3261) or (AMME2262 and CHNG2803 and MECH3261) or (MECH8260 and MECH8261) or (MECH9260 and MECH9261) or (AERO3260 and AERO3261) or (AERO8260 and AERO8261) or (AERO9260 and AERO9261) or equivalent study at another institution.
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

The student will need a sound background in advanced level fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer. In particular, students should be able to analyse fluid flow in turbomachinery; perform first and second law thermodynamic analysis of energy conversion systems, including chemically reacting systems; and perform advanced level calculations of conductive and convective and radiative heat transfer, including radiative spectral analysis

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Michael Kirkpatrick, michael.kirkpatrick@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Michael Kirkpatrick, michael.kirkpatrick@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment group assignment Major Project
Major design project
40% Multiple weeks
Due date: 02 Nov 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 02 Nov 2024
13 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Tutorial quiz Quiz 1
Paper quiz done in class on material covered in weeks 1 - 3
10% Week 04 ~ 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Heat Transfer Assignment
Technical assignment
10% Week 04
Due date: 21 Aug 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 31 Aug 2024
~ 3 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO1
Tutorial quiz Quiz 2
Paper quiz done in class on material covered in weeks 4 - 6
10% Week 07 ~ 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Fluid Mechanics Assignment
Technical assignment
10% Week 07
Due date: 11 Sep 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 21 Sep 2024
~ 3 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO1
Tutorial quiz Quiz 3
Paper quiz done in class on material covered in weeks 7 - 9
10% Week 10 ~ 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Thermodynamics Assignment
Technical assignment
10% Week 10
Due date: 09 Oct 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 19 Oct 2024
~ 3 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO1
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Heat Transfer Assignment: Heat transfer in renewable energy applications – analysis of a solar thermal power plant. 
  • Fluid Mechanics Assignment: Fluid mechanics in renewable energy applications – analysis of a wind farm.
  • Thermodynamics Assignment: Thermodynamics in renewable energy applications – analysis of a fuel cell for a hydrogen fuel cell car.
  • Major Project: Students will complete major group project over the course of the semester. The class will be divided into self-managed project teams. The project assessment will involve a presentation and final report. Sparkplus will be used to monitor team performance and determine the final mark for each team member.
  • Quizzes: The quizzes will involve short answer questions and calculations.

A successful special consideration application for a quiz will result in a mark adjustment involving reweighting of other assessments.

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 sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Written assignments submitted late without permission (see Special Considerations: http://sydney.edu.au/students/special-consideration-and-arrangements.html) will incur a late penalty equal to 5% of the maximum awardable mark per day. These deductions will continue for 10 calendar days. At that point the mark awarded will be zero.

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Ongoing Study pre-recorded lecture material and reference material cited in lectures each week in preparation for classes. ~2 hours per week. Independent study (24 hr) LO1 LO2
Complete 3 technical assignments and study for associated quizzes. Each takes ~10-12 hours Independent study (36 hr) LO1 LO2
Work with group on major project. ~3 hours per week. Independent study (40 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 01 Introduction Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 02 Heat transfer assignment / Major project Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 03 Heat transfer assignment / Major project Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 In class quiz / Major project Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 Fluid mechanics assignment / Major project Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Fluid mechanics assignment / Major project Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 In class quiz / Major project Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Thermodynamics assignment / Major project Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Thermodynamics assignment / Major project Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 In class quiz / Major project Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 11 No class - Thesis / Capstone Seminar Day Workshop (2 hr) LO3
Week 12 Guest presentation / Major project Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 13 Major project Presentations Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

Classes are in-person workshops in which students will be guided in their work on the technical assignments and major projects. Given that all classes involve group work on the major project it is important that students attend the class every week.

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.

Required readings

  • Aldo V. Da Rosa – Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Processes. Elsevier, 2012
  • B. K. Hodge – Alternative Energy Systems and Applications
  • Myer Kutz – Environmentally Conscious Alternative Energy Production. Wiley, 2007
  • Bergman, Lavine, Incropera, De Witt, – Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer. Wiley, 6th edition or later
  • Cengel and Boles – Thermodynamics – An Engineering Approach. McGraw-Hill, 5th edition or later

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. perform technical analysis of different types of renewable energy generation devices using the principles of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer
  • LO2. present balanced and logical arguments with regard to the environmental, economic and operational issues associated with the generation of power using renewable energy devices
  • LO3. in collaboration with a small team of peers, design a renewable energy solution using multiple renewable energy sources and storage to supply power to a town or city in Australia.
  • LO4. in collaboration with a small group of peers, develop a computational model of a renewable energy solution involving multiple power stations and energy storage hubs, using real weather data as inputs

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.

Using Sparkplus to ensure a fair distribution of marks amongst team members for group work component.

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.