Role of Materials in Energy and Sustainability

3 Units

This course has two parts: engineered materials as consumers of resources (raw materials, energy); and as key contributors to energy efficiency and sustainable energy technologies. Topics covered include: Energy usage in the U.S. and the world. Availability of raw materials, including strategic materials; factors affecting global reserves and annual world production. Resource demand of materials production, fabrication, and recycling. Design strategies, and how the inclusion of environmental impacts in design criteria can affect design outcomes and material selection. Roles of engineered materials in energy technologies: photovoltaics, solar thermal, fuel cells, wind, batteries, capacitors. Materials in energy-efficient lighting. Energy return on energy invested. Semester projects will allow students to explore related topics (e.g. geothermal; biomass; energy-efficient manufacturing and transportation). Offered as EMSE 349 and EMSE 449 . Prereq: ENGR 225 and ( ENGR 145 or EMSE 146) and ( PHYS 122 or PHYS 124 ) or requisites not met permission.