*This syllabus is tentative, pending approval by the School of MIME.
This senior/graduate level technical elective examines the basic operating principles, advantages, and challenges of deploying supercritical power systems for electricity generation. The potential of these system will be compared and contrasted with respect to the available renewable and non-renewable resources, energy markets, and distribution challenges in the United States and Brazil.
The course will be offered as a faculty-led study abroad course at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (USFC) in Florianópolis, Brazil. The course will be offered in the Fall Super Term, consisting of a 12 day period in-country and travel during prior to the start of fall term (mid-September), followed by weekly assignments and presentations in Corvallis and/or via Canvas through the standard Fall term.
Course Prerequisites:
Prerequisites: ME, NSE, or ChE 332, or instructor approval.
Measurable Student Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course, students must demonstrate the ability to:
1. Identify the similarity and differences between the availability, production and distribution of energy in the United States and Brazil.
2. Understand the basic operating principles, advantages and challenges of supercritical power systems for producing electricity from various feedstock.
3. Design typical supercritical power cycle subsystems including heat exchangers, turbines, compressors, piping networks, and pressure vessels.
4. Evaluate trade-offs in the design and selection of supercritical cycle configurations and components on the basis of economic, energy costs, and site specific constraints and summarize the results and analysis in a professional technical report and presentation.
Additional learning outcome (ME 599)
5. Critically analyze literature relating to a subcomponent of supercritical power systems.
Learning Resources:
Required textbook: Fundamentals and Applications of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Based Power Cycles, 1st Edition, Eds. Klaus Brun, Peter Friedman, Richard Dennis. Woodhead Publishing.
Additional reference material will be made available via Canvas.
COURSE POLICIES
Evaluation of Student Performance:
A final course grade will be determined using the following breakdown:
· 10% Attendance at all in-country activities
· 25% Homework
· 20% Industry site visit reports and Canvas reflections
· 20% In-class quizzes and examination
· 30% Design and analysis project and presentation (one OSU and one USFC student)
Site Reports and Canvas Reflections: To better understand the energy industry in Brazil there will be organized trips (subject to change) to Embraco (a Brazilian compressor manufacturer), POLO Research Lab for Emerging Technologies in Cooling and Thermophyiscs, and the 14 GW Itaipu hydroelectric dam. All students must attend each excursion and submit a trip summary and reflection report via Canvas. Details will be provided in class.
Prior to during the time in Brazil and upon return to the US, students will be required to submit short self-reflections responding to specific prompts via Canvas.
Quizzes and Exams: In-class quizzes and exams are closed book, closed notes. A formula sheet will be provided by the instructor and posted prior to the exam. Quizzes/exams will be a combination of multiple choice, short answer, and detailed analysis questions.
Individual Homework: Assignments well be posted for the material covered in each module during the intensive in-country portion of the course. These will be due via Canvas through the Fall term as indicated in the syllabus.
Project: Each OSU student will be paired with an USFC student to complete a design and analysis project, assigned in class. The project will be assigned during the in-country portion of the class, and due during at the end of Fall term. Team members will need to work together remotely. Each project will require a thermodynamic analysis, a site analysis (considering a site in US or Brazil), a thermal/fluid component design (heat exchanger, turbine or compressor), and design of a code compliant (US or Brazil) component (piping, pressure vessel, or heat exchanger). Detailed project description will be provided in class.
Discussion of Graded Work:
Discussion of grades received on all graded work will be considered up to 2 days after the online release of grades.
ME 599 Distinction: Students taking ME 599 will have additional analysis and evaluation requirements for each of the assignments, quizzes, and a detailed analysis of the literature for the project. Specific requirements will be identified on the assignment, quiz/exam and project descriptions.
Student Conduct and Academic Dishonesty
Student conduct is governed by the university’s policies. Specific offenses, including offenses for academic or scholarly dishonesty under the student conduct code, are listed at http://studentlife.oregonstate.edu/code.
Please carefully review this information for an understanding of the university’s definition of cheating, fabrication, assisting, tampering, plagiarism, and so forth. In this course academic dishonesty includes (but is not limited too):
1. Turning in identical homework assignments (written or code)
2. Consulting solution manuals/online repositories for homework solutions.
3. Unauthorized material during exams.
4. Talking or use of any electronic device other than a calculator during an exam.
5. Passing material (written or electronic) during an exam
6. Plagiarism (cite all sources in your project).
Statement Regarding Students with Disabilities
Accommodations for students with disabilities are determined and approved by Disability Access Services (DAS). If you, as a student, believe you are eligible for accommodations but have not obtained approval please contact DAS immediately at 541-737-4098 or at http://ds.oregonstate.edu. DAS notifies students and faculty members of approved academic accommodations and coordinates implementation of those accommodations. While not required, students and faculty members are encouraged to discuss details of the implementation of individual accommodations.
Reach Out for Success
University students encounter setbacks from time to time. If you encounter difficulties and need assistance, it’s important to reach out. Consider discussing the situation with an instructor or academic advisor. Learn about resources that assist with wellness and academic success at oregonstate.edu/ReachOut. If you are in immediate crisis, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting OREGON to 741-741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
In-Country Expectations:
Additional expectations are in place for travel abroad. Prior to travel, all students must register in OSU’s international travel registry.
While in-country, students are expected to:
· Understand that they are a guest in another country and demonstrate respect for the customs, beliefs, and values of that country. All behavior should positively represent themselves, their academic programs, and OSU.
· Help the program to run smoothly through the following conduct:
· Follow the instructions of faculty leader(s) at all times. For the duration of the program, avoid visiting unsafe places or engaging in high risk physical activities that are not covered by OSU’s International Accident and Sickness Insurance.
· If choosing to consume alcohol, students must be of the legal age to consume alcohol in the host country and responsible in use.
· Be aware that possessing or using federally (USA) prohibited drugs will mean immediate expulsion from the program and return to the USA at the students’ own expense.
· When exploring the host country separately from the group, inform the program leader(s) of where the student will be going, with whom, and a mechanism for contacting the student (phone, Whatsapp, etc.)