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Calendar / Schedule



Calendar

The calendar below provides information on the course's lecture (L), toolbox lecture (TBL), and recitation (R) sessions. Each calendar session lasts one hour, or half of each two-hour class meeting.


SES #TOPICSKEY DATES
Part I: Energy in Context
L1Introduction: Subject Overview and Administration - Prof. Michael Golay

Historical Context
Energy Sources for a More Sustainable Future
Sustainable Energy
Text
Distribution of Student Information System (SIS) forms
L2Overview of Energy Use and Related Issues - Prof. Michael Golay

Major Energy Options
Issues of Supply and Demand
Overview of Units and Dimensions for Global Energy Flows (Quads, MMBOE, MW, EJ, etc.)
Energy Conversions (Chemical to Thermal, Chemical to Electric, etc.)
Economic Considerations
TBL1Energy Resource Assessment - Prof. Michael Golay

Major Energy Options (Solar, Geologic, Ocean)
Resource Base - Uncertainties, Grade/Quality Issues, Resource vs. Reserve Estimates, Economic Evaluation Frameworks
Energy Transmission and Distribution (Pipelines, Tankers, Rail, Power Lines)
L3Sustainability, Energy, and Clean Technologies in Context - Dr. Elisabeth Drake

Issues: Frameworks for Evaluation
Sustainability Attributes
Time an Space Scales
Population and Consumption Growth, Tradeoffs and Choices
Uncertainty
TBL2Energy Supply, Demand, and Storage Planning Methods - Prof. Michael Golay

Matching Energy Density of Supply and Demand
Temporal and Geographical Distributions
Role of Energy Storage
Intermittency
Influences of Pricing During Demand Peaks and Valleys
Return SIS forms
L4Resource Evaluation and Depletion Analysis - Prof. Michael Golay
R1Discussion of Sustainability Issues - Dr. Elisabeth Drake

Technical Feasibility
Opportunities and Barriers
Timing Issues
Drivers of Change?
Distribution of term paper information and forms

Assignment 1 due
TBL3Economic Feasibility Assessment Methods - Prof. Michael Golay

Engineering, Capital, and Investment Costs
Fuel Costs
Life Cycle Costs
Environmental Externalities (Emissions, Wastes, etc.)
Uncertainties
L5Global Change Issues and Responses - Prof. Peter Stone

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Potential Effects
Modeling of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Terrestrial Effects
Effects on Ecology and Biodiversity (Local-Regional-Global)
Responses to CO2 Build-up
Mitigation?
L6International Efforts to Abate Global Change - Prof. Henry Jacoby
R2Further Discussion on Term Paper Requirements and Topic Assignments - Dr. Elisabeth Drake Assignment 2 due
L7Regional Air Pollution - Prof. Greg McRae
TBL4Systems Analysis Methodologies - Dr. Elisabeth Drake

Scoping Analysis
Simulation Models
Economic Models
Life Cycle Analysis
Systems Dynamic Models
Decision Models
Selecting System Boundaries
Term paper topic selection forms due
R3Discussion on Energy Resources and Depletion - Dr. Elisabeth Drake
L8Overview of Energy Supply Portfolio - Prof. Jefferson Tester

Criteria for Evaluating Energy Technologies
Solar Based: Thermal; PV; Wind; Biomass; etc.
Earth Based: Fossil; Nuclear; Hydro; Geothermal; etc.
Ocean Based and Others
TBL5Energy Transfer and Conversion Methods - Prof. Jefferson Tester

Physical Properties (Density, Heat Capacity, Latent Heat, ...)
Chemical Reactions and Kinetics - Fossil and Biomass Fuel Time-scales
Transport Phenomena and Rates
Energy Storage Modes
Electrochemical Conversions
L9Energy Conversion, Transmission, and Storage - Prof. Jefferson Tester

Matching Supply and Demand to Minimize Losses
Energy Storage and Transmission Issues
Energy Chains and Connected Efficiencies
Storage Modes
Ragone Plot
Transmission of Fossil Fuels and Electricity
Term paper selection forms returned with comments

Assignment 3 due
TBL6Thermodynamics and Efficiency Analysis Methods - Prof. Jefferson Tester

First and Second Laws
Availability
Power Cycles and Heat Pumps
Topping and Bottoming Cycles
Part II: Specific Energy Technologies
L10Geothermal Energy - Prof. Jefferson Tester

Resources, Types, Magnitudes
Technical, Environmental, Societal, and Economic Issues
Drilling Technologies
Subsurface Reservoir Systems
Heat and Power Conversion Technologies
Future Opportunities
L11Hydropower - Prof. Jefferson Tester

Technical Issues (Hydraulic Head, Turbines, etc.)
Reliability and Growth Potential
Water Management (Inundation, Leaching, Fish Impacts, Irrigation, Waste Management, etc.)
Life Cycle Aspects and Economics
L12-L13Joint Video-link Class with Cambridge University - U.S. and British Energy Policies and Issues - Prof. Nuttall and Prof. Michael Golay Term papers outline due

Assignment 4 due
L14Nuclear Waste Disposal - Prof. Andrew Kadak
R4Problem Session: Economics, Energy Conversion, Systems Analysis - Prof. Michael Golay
Midterm Exam - 2 Hour Exam (Open Book, Class Notes and Calculator Permitted)
L15Electrochemical Energy Storage: Batteries and Fuel Cells - Prof. Donald Sadoway
L16Fuel Cell and Distributed Energy Programs in Industry - Dr. Javit Drake, Gillette Technical Center
R5Review of Mid-Term Exam Assignment 5 due
L17Biomass Energy - Prof. Jefferson Tester

Resource Types and Requirements
Technical and Environmental Issues
Land use (Ecological Stress, Competition with Food, Water use, Topsoil Erosion, Occupational Hazards)
Utilization Options
Economic Projections
L18Biomass Conversion to Liquid Fuels - Prof. Jefferson Tester
R6Biomass Conversion Discussion - Prof. Jefferson Tester with input from Michael Rabb, Jeremy Johnson, and Dr. Morgan Fröling

LCA and New Genetic Engineering Approaches
L19Nuclear Energy I: Present Technologies - Prof. Michael GolayAssignment 6 due
L20Nuclear Energy II: Future Technologies and the Fuel Cycle - Prof. Michael Golay
L21Fossil Energy I - Prof. Ahmed Ghoniem

Types and Characteristics
Technologies
Associated Economics and Impacts
Fossil Fuel Switching (Syn Fuels, LNG, Carbon Sequestration)
L22Fossil Energy II - Prof. Ahmed Ghoniem

Fuel Conversion, Power Cycles, Combined Cycles
Advanced Technologies
L23Fusion Energy Technologies - Prof. Jeff FriedbergAssignment 7 due
R7Problem Session on Energy System Analysis - Prof. Michael Golay
L24Wind Power - Dr. Robert W. Thresher, NREL
L25Cape Wind Energy and Offshore Wind Projects - Mr. Jim Gordon, President of Cape Wind, Inc.
L26Solar Thermal Energy - Prof. Jefferson Tester

Resource Grade and Distributions
Performance Issues (Intermittency and Storage Needs)
Environmental, Technical, and Land use Issues
Economic Projections
L27Solar Photovoltaics - Prof. Eli Sachs

Conversion Devices
PV Systems
Environmental, Performance, Economic Attributes
Part III: Energy End Use, Option Assessment, and Tradeoff Analysis
L28Eco-Buildings - Prof. Leon Glicksman

U.S. and World-wide
Indoor Air Quality
Smart Buildings
Infrastructure Integration
L29Domestic Energy Efficiency Improvement Potential - Dr. E. C. Guyer
L30Electric Industry Restructuring - Prof. Paul JoskowTerm papers due
L31Future Road Transportation Options - Prof. John Heywood
L32Energy Supply and Use in China and Morocco - Prof. Michael Golay
R8Recitation: A Case Study - Prof. Jefferson Tester

Energy Development in Low Income Rural Settings
L33Sustainable Development Issues and Decision-Making Techniques - Dr. Elisabeth Drake
L34U.S. Energy Policy and Options - Prof. Ernie Moniz
L35Course Summary and Wrap-up - Prof. Michael Golay, Prof. Jefferson Tester, and Dr. Elisabeth Drake

Student Feedback


Final exam week - Scheduled individual oral presentations (20 minutes + 10 minute question period) on individual term paper topic.


 








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