The Evolution Of An Energy Conversion Course At The United States Military Academy

Abstract

Over the past several years, an energy conversion course offered by the Mechanical Engineering Program at West Point has evolved into a cohesive series of lessons addressing three general topical areas: advanced thermodynamics, advanced mechanical system analysis, and direct energy conversion systems. Mechanical engineering majors enroll in Energy Conversion Systems (ME 472) during the fall semester of their senior year as an advanced elective. ME 472 builds directly on the material covered in Thermodynamics (EM 301) taken during the student's junior year. In the first segment of ME 472, the students study advanced thermodynamic topics including exergy and combustion analyses. The students then analyze various mechanical systems including refrigeration systems, internal combustion engines, boilers, and fossil fuel-fired steam and gas turbine combined power plants. Exergetic efficiencies of various equipment and systems are determined. The final portion of the course covers direct energy conversion technology, including fuel cells, photovoltaics, thermoelectricity, thermionics, and magnetohydrodynamics. Supplemental lessons on energy storage, semiconductors , and nonreactive energy sources (such as solar collectors, wind turbines, and hydroelectric plants) are included here. This paper discusses the evolution of ME 472 over the past several years and explains the motivations for the course's progress.

A Unique Thermodynamics Course with Laboratories

“…Some of the more notable omissions include exergy analyses, transient systems, thermodynamic property relations, chemical reactions, chemical and phase equilibrium, and thermodynamics of high-speed gas flow. An advanced thermodynamics course, ME472, energy conversion systems, provides instruction in several of these and many other topical areas [4]. Enrollment in this course is generally limited to senior year ME majors.…”

Studying the Impact on Mechanical Engineering Students who participate in Distinctive Projects in Thermodynamics

“…The projects of interest are assigned within ME413 and ME680 and have been described in detail in a past publication by Bailey, 2008 [15]. A paper presented at the ASEE 2002 National Conference includes information regarding both projects in their earliest forms [16]. To provide sufficient context for the discussion of developing a revised assessment strategy, the Course Project Overview section of this paper offers a brief overview of the technical book review and team-based presentation projects assigned during Thermodynamics (ME 413) and Advanced Thermodynamics (ME 680), respectively.…”