Alternative Energy Technology Courses (AET)


The following courses, numbered 5000-9999, are offered for graduate credit. Courses numbered 5000-6999 which are offered for undergraduate credit only may be found in the undergraduate bulletin, as well as all other undergraduate courses (numbered 0900-4999). Courses in the following list numbered 5000-6999 may be taken for undergraduate credit unless specifically restricted to graduate students as indicated by individual course limitations. For interpretation of numbering system, signs and abbreviations, see University Courses.

5110 (CHE 5110) Fundamental Fuel Cell Systems. Cr. 4

Prereq: senior standing in science or engineering discipline. Various types of fuel cells, materials properties of electrodes and polymeric membranes, and electrochemical mechanisms. Reforming of various types of hydrocarbon fuel to hydrogen, and reforming technology. (F)

5120 (M E 5120) Fundamentals of Alternative Energy
Technology. Cr. 4

Prereq: senior standing in science or engineering discipline. Input-output analysis, thermodynamic efficiency and availability, energy balances, economics and environmental considerations. Fuel cell examined from energy efficiency perspective. Photovoltaics, wind power, biomass conversion technologies. (W)

5250 (M E 5250) Alternative Energy Technology System and Design. Cr. 4

Prereq: senior standing in science or engineering discipline. Topics such as: batteries, flywheels, capacitors, motors, controllers, power management, heat dissipation, systems containment, manufacturing processes, systems dynamics. Lectures and design projects. (F)

5325 (ECE 5325) Smart Sensors and Fuel Cells. Cr. 4

Prereq: senior standing in science or engineering discipline. Signal conditioning circuits, AD/DA conversions, and decision-making circuits suitable for custom integrated circuit solutions to create a smart fuel cell. Introduction of smart sensors for monitoring hydrogen, oxygen, and other gases in a fuel cell system. (W)

5330 (ECE 5330) Dynamics and Control of Fuel Cell
Systems. Cr. 4

Prereq: senior standing in science or engineering discipline. Basic methodologies for dynamic analysis, control system design, system coordination, and optimization for fuel cell systems. Design project required. (B)

5410 (C E 5410) Hydrogen Infrastructure and Alternative Fuel Transportation. Cr. 4

Prereq: senior standing in science or engineering discipline. Design, maintenance and operation of fuel-cell power generating facilities; handling of waste materials and waste disposal system design; design, construction, and operation of the infrastructure needed to transport hydrogen. (F)

5420 (C E 5420) Alternative Energy Technologies for Various Transportation Modes. Cr. 4

Prereq: senior standing in science or engineering discipline. Discussion of current alternative energy technology applications, emerging developments, national programs and priorities, future prospects, tax incentive programs, economics of scale issues, interrelationship between fixed costs and variable costs. (W)

5600 (I E 5600) Fuel Cell Product Realization System:
Business and Technical Integration. Cr. 4

Prereq: senior standing in science or engineering discipline. Identification of a strategy for application of technology in the marketplace; application development, integration into vehicle production, concurrent engineering manufacturing issues, quality and testing in manufacturing. (F)

5700 (CHE 5700) Process and Materials Safety for Alternative Energy Technology. Cr. 4

Prereq: senior standing in science or engineering discipline. Fundamentals concerning fires and explosions, control strategies to prevent accidents, fault tree analysis to optimize control strategies, and risk analysis. Regulations and standards relevant to the design, manufacture, and operation of fuel cell and reforming processes. (W)

7990 Directed Study. Cr. 1-4

Prereq: written consent of instructor. Independent projects on subjects of interest in advanced energy technology. (T)

7991 Internship in Industry. Cr. 1-4

Prereq: written consent of adviser and AET program director. Offered for S and U grades only. Industrial internship in alternative energy technology. (T)

8996 Directed Research. Cr. 1-4

Prereq: written consent of instructor. Independent research projects.
(T)

8999 Master's Thesis Research and Direction. Cr. 1-8 (8 req.)

Prereq: written consent of adviser. (T)