Course Title: Sustainable Thermal and Electrical Energy Systems

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Sustainable Thermal and Electrical Energy Systems

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

MIET2496

City Campus

Undergraduate

115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2016,
Sem 2 2016

MIET2496

City Campus

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

Course Coordinator: Sara Vahaji

Course Coordinator Phone: .

Course Coordinator Email: sara.vahaji2@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 57.03.12B

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

MIET2385 Systems Engineering Principles, or equivalent


Course Description

In this course you will study topics include solar energy conversion into thermal and electrical power, utilisation and management for water and space heating systems. You will investigate passive thermal management of buildings, sustainable thermal technologies/systems such as geothermal, solar ponds and heat recovery, cogeneration and tri-generation systems. You will learn to analyse and design thermal and electrical systems within a sustainable engineering framework.

 

Please note that if you take this course for a bachelor honours program, your overall mark in this course will be one of the course marks that will be used to calculate the weighted average mark (WAM) that will determine your award level.

This applies to students who commence enrolment in a bachelor honours program from 1 January 2016 onwards. See the WAM information web page for more information.(https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/my-course/assessment-results/results-grades/wam). 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the development of the following Program Learning Outcomes of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) for students who commenced their program prior to 2023:

1 Knowledge and Skill Base
1.2. In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
1.4. Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline.
1.5. Knowledge of contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline.

2 Engineering Application Ability
2.1. Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving.
2.2. Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes.

3 Professional and Personal Attributes
3.1. Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.
3.2. Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanour.
3.3. Effective team membership and team leadership.

This course contributes to the development of the following Program Learning Outcomes of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) for students who commenced their program in 2023:

  • PLO2: Utilise mathematics and engineering fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to design engineering systems for complex engineering challenges.    
  • PLO3: Apply engineering research principles, methods and contemporary technologies and practices to plan and execute projects taking into account ethical, environmental and global impacts.
  • PLO4: Apply systematic problem solving, design methods and information and project management to propose and implement creative and sustainable solutions with intellectual independence and cultural sensitivity. 
  • PLO5: Communicate respectfully and effectively with diverse audiences, employing a range of communication methods, practising professional and ethical conduct. 


On successful completion of the course you should be able to:

  1. Investigate and analyse sustainable thermal systems and technologies as well as services employing photovoltaic systems.
  2. Model sustainable thermal and photovoltaic systems
  3. Generate a range of innovative solutions to sustainably deploy / utilise thermal and photovoltaic systems 
  4. Design appropriate thermal technologies and system sizing in a range of contexts.
  5. Apply sustainable engineering values, including legal social, economic, ethical and environmental interests / impacts, to design of thermal systems
  6. Provide advice on sustainable thermal and systems designs, proposals and/or R&D activities.


Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in this course are:

  • Pre-recorded lectures: will guide you through important principles and concepts and assist in appropriate problem solving techniques;
  • laboratory sessions: will help you become familiar with hardware systems, to connect theory to practice, and reinforce the principles and concepts learnt in the lectures;
  • project work: will help you learn many useful techniques for engineering project activities, including how to interact with staff and fellow students in a smaller group setting, communication and leadership skills; and
  • Sites visit: will help you to further establish the links between the theory and practice by visiting some real-world applications of what they study in this course.


Overview of Learning Resources

You will be able to access course information and learning materials from Canvas, which is accessed through myRMIT. Lists of relevant reference texts, resources in the library and freely accessible Internet sites will be provided. You will use laboratory equipment and computer software within the School during project and assignment work.


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessments:

Assessment 1: Numerical and short answer assignments 
Weighting: 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, and 5

Assessment 2: Experiment and write-up 
Weighting: 15%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1 and 2

Assessment 3: Building and system simulation
Weighting: 15%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 4, and 5

Assessment 4: Timed and timetabled assessment
Weighting: 30%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, and 4

This assessment is a timed and timetabled assessment that students must attend on campus except for international students who are outside Australia.