Course Overview

MAE 455: Design of Thermal Systems

Outline

• Introduction
• Course Logistics
• Some syllabus Key Points
• Objectives
• Deliverables and Grading
• Schedule
• Group Work
• The Energy Landscape
Introduction
• Instructor
• Dr. George Nelson
• Associate Professor, MAE
• Research
• Electrochemical Energy
• X-ray and Neutron Imaging
• Transport Phenomena
• Undergraduate Teaching
• Thermo I
• Heat Transfer
• Design of Thermal Systems
• Office: Technology Hall N262
• Phone: 256-824-5082
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Office Hours: W 1:30-3:30 pm,
R 10:30 am-12:30 pm, & by appointment
Course Logistics
• This class will be delivered through in person lectures with
accompanying online content.
– Zoom/Panopto will be used for synchronous and
asynchronous delivery of lectures.
– Canvas will host lectures, notes, assignments and other course
materials.
• Course content
• Textbook: Penoncello, Thermal Energy Systems: Design and Analysis,
2nd Ed.: CRC Press, 2019.
• Recorded lectures and class meetings
• Supporting notes slides from lectures posted after meetings
• Supporting materials for course and projects
• Software
• This offering of MAE 455 will not prioritize a specific software.
• Students are responsible for clearly explaining methods and
software implementation in reports.
Course Objectives

• Analyze and design piping systems in basic and network

configurations.

• Analyze and design heat exchangers including parallel flow,

counterflow, shell and tube, and cross flow configurations.

• Analyze and specify prime movers (pumps and fans) for use
with piping systems and heat exchangers.

• Introduction to contemporary technologies for energy

conversion and storage.

• Complete a semester long project applying knowledge gained

in thermal fluids coursework toward analysis of a problem
relevant to contemporary energy systems.
Deliverables and Grading

• Grading Structure
• Module Projects (Group) 20%
• Module Quizzes (Individual) 10%
• Discussion Posts (Individual) 10%
• Semester Project (Group)
• Proposal 20%
• Presentation 10%
• Report 20%
• Peer Assessment (Individual) 10%
• Final Grading Scale
• A = 90%–100%
• B = 80%–89%
• C = 70%–79%
• D = 60%–69%
• F = 0%–59%
Deliverables and Grading
• Module Projects
• Each course module will have a set of analysis and design problems assigned.
• These problem sets will be completed by as group projects.
• Module Quizzes
• Each course module will have a quiz administered through Canvas, either
remotely or during class time.
• These quizzes are individual assignments. No collaboration is permitted.
• Discussion Posts
• Students are required to submit comments and questions to discussion
threads for each module.
• Semester Project:
• Each student group will complete a semester project consisting of a Proposal,
Status Update, Presentation, and Report.
• A set of topics and other project requirements will be provided to the
students
• Due dates for each deliverable will be defined during the second week of
classes.
• Peer Assessment
• At the end of the course each student will complete an assessment of their
fellow group members’ contributions to group projects and overall
performance as a colleague.
Group Work

• This is a design course.

• Group project work is emphasized.
• There will be no major exams.

• Groups will be set with 4-5 members.

• Groups will be assigned by the instructor.

• Some consideration will be given to your

Semester Project interests.
Attendance

• This is a design class involving significant group

project work.

• Lecture sessions often have buffer time built in for

brief group meetings.

• Attendance strongly suggested so you can take

advantage of group meeting opportunities and
discussion of course materials.
Date Day Module Topic Text Chapter and Sections
1/9 M Introduction Course Overview Penoncello: 1.1-1.6
1/11 W Project Discussion; Career and Ethics
1/16 M MLK Holiday
1/18 W Analysis of Energy Systems Review of Mass & Energy Balances Penoncello: 3.1-3.7.2
1/23 M Exergy Analysis Penoncello: 3.8, 3.10.3
1/25 W Steam and Gas Power Cycles
1/30 M Combined Cycles and Cogeneration
2/1 W Internal Combustion Cycles
2/6 M Internal Combustion Cycles
2/8 W Piping Systems and Pumps Fluids and Head Loss Penoncello: 4.1-4.4
2/13 M Piping Networks Penoncello: 4.5
2/15 W The Hardy Cross Method
2/20 M Pump Types and Performance Curves Penoncello: 4.7-4.8
2/22 W System Curves and Pump Selection Penoncello: 4.7-4.8
2/27 M NPSH and Cavitation Penoncello: 4.7-4.8
3/1 W Heat Exchangers Heat Exchanger Analysis Penoncello: 3.7.3, 5.1-5.6
3/6 M Double Pipe Heat Exchangers Penoncello: 5.8
3/8 W Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers Penoncello: 5.9
3/13 M
Spring Break
3/15 W
3/20 M Cross Flow Heat Exchangers Penoncello: 5.11
3/22 W Energy Conversion and Storage Mechanical Energy Conversion
3/27 M An Overview of Solar Power
3/29 W An Overview of Nuclear Power
4/3 M Combustion Reactions
4/5 W Electrochemical Reactions
4/10 M Fuel Cells
4/12 W Mechanical and Thermal Energy Storage
4/17 M Electrochemical Energy Storage
4/19 W Project Presentations
4/28 F Project Presentations (Section 1 11:30 am-2:00 pm, Section 2 3:00-5:30 pm)
Questions?
Now’s the time to ask.
The Energy Landscape
Motivation for adding material to this class
U.S. Energy Use
The Sankey Diagram

https://flowcharts.llnl.gov/
 Resources are finite.

14
- https://ourworldindata.org/fossil-fuels/. (Accessed: 20th June 2020).
 And technology changes.

ASME
 A look at the U.S. energy mix

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/28/climate/how-electricity-generation-changed-in-your-state-election.html?searchResultPosition=1
 Primary source by state

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/28/climate/how-electricity-generation-changed-in-your-state-election.html?searchResultPosition=1
 Focus on Alabama

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/28/climate/how-electricity-generation-changed-in-your-state-election.html?searchResultPosition=1
Energy Conversion

http://www.memagazinedigital.org/memagazine/october_2014#pg38
 Energy Conversion

US EIA Annual Energy Outlook 2019 www.eia.gov/aeo

Energy Conversion

• Fuel cells convert chemical

energy to electrical energy.
e- e-
• H2 + ½ O2 → H2O

• Anode: Oxidation -/+

Ions
Fuel Oxygen
• Cathode: Reduction

• Electrolyte: Enables transfer of

ions to complete reaction. Anode Cathode
Electrolyte
 Energy Storage
Compressed Air Energy Storage
The Duck Curve

https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/confronting-duck-curve-how-address-over-
generation-solar-energy

Pumped Hydroelectric

http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/09/17/349223674/tiny-spanish-island-nears-its-goal-100-percent-renewable-energy http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=6350
 Energy Storage

fluenceenergy.com
Energy Storage

• Regenerative Fuel Cells

• Cycle between fuel and Intermittent Fuel Cell/ O2 H2
Electrolysis Storage Storage
electrolysis cell manages PV Array
Power Source
Cell
intermittent sources.
• Applications: H2O
Storage
Unitized RFC
• Renewable/intermittent To Load
Current Flow
Reactant Flow
source management
• Peak shaving/Load following
• CO2 as a storage medium Intermittent
PV Array
Power Source
Electrolysis
Cell
O2
Storage
H2
Storage

H2O Fuel Cell

Storage

To Load
Discrete
CurrentRFC
Flow
Reactant Flow
Transportation
Space Conditioning

http://energy.gov/energysaver/solar-water-heaters
http://web.ornl.gov/sci/buildings/

http://www.hotspotenergy.com/pool-heater/
Data Center Power
• Data center challenges
• Need high reliability, dynamic power
• Currently use “dirty” back-up power
• Natural gas fuel cell power “at the rack”
• Removes need for back up diesel generators
• Significantly increases energy efficiency (~50%)
• Reduces cost and improves reliability

https://www.solidpower.com/en/news/all-news/details/news/solidpower-
https://www.netl.doe.gov/sites/default/files/2018-10/FE0031671-Kickoff.pdf fuel-cell-generators-commissioned-at-microsoft-datacenter-in-seattle/
We need advanced materials.
 Well, materials come from
somewhere.
Choices made at atomic scales
impact supply chains and lives.
We need: The cobalt (Co) supply chain
• Humane
• Equitable
• Sustainable

A cobalt (Co) mine in DRC

Amnesty International
 Materials have a destination.

https://www.csiro.au/

Choices made at atomic scales

impact supply chains and lives.
We need:
• Humane
• Equitable
• Sustainable
https://recellcenter.org/
This applies to every technology.

Nature Energy, 2020

 And don’t forget about carbon.

- https://www.visualcapitalist.com/worlds-safest-source-energy/. (Accessed: 15th June 2020). 36

- https://www.visualcapitalist.com/all-the-worlds-carbon-emissions-in-one-chart/ (Accessed: 20th June 2020).
But maybe we can use these
byproducts?

Power to Gas Concept

Gotz et al., Renewable Energy 85 (2016) 1371-1390.

• CO tolerance of solid oxide cells permits co-electrolysis of

H2O and CO2 to support Power to Gas applications. 37