NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

AY2014-15 Semester 1
MA9001 INTRODUCTION TO ENERGY (3 AU)


Learning Objective

This course aims to provide student an overview on the energy technology and present energy scenario.
The student will be introduced to various energy sources that will form the basis to pursue, in greater
details in other energy courses offered in the Minor.

Content

Overview of energy scenario with respect to demand, availability, environmental concerns, and followed
by description of the electricity system. Then each energy source is introduced briefly, covering both
conventional and renewable sources. The challenges in energy storage and conversion are discussed.
Lastly, efficient energy utilization and energy conservation are discussed.


Course Outline (Lecture hours)

1.OverviewofEnergyScenario(2hrs)

Units for measurement of energy and power. Historical energy demand. World energy use by
source type. Estimated world energy reserves by type. Detrimental effects of energy utilization to
the environment. Carbon emission and global warming.
2.ElectricitySysteminSociety(3hrs)

Overview of electrical energy systems. Generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.

Environmental impact of transmission lines. The Singapore scenario.
3.FossilFuelEnergy(6hrs)

Chemical energy stored in coal, crude oil and natural gas. Similar technology in combustion,
boiler, turbine, and electricity generator. Direct use for heat. Combustion products and the
environment. The condenser. Thermodynamic limitation and thermal pollution.
4.NuclearEnergy(6hrs)

Nuclear fuel. Physics of the nuclear fission reaction. The nuclear reactor as a boiler. Main nuclear
reactor types. Environmental and social concerns. Potential for nuclear fusion energy.
5.GeothermalandOceanEnergy(2hrs)

Harnessing energy from geothermal resources. Requirements and existing technology.

Harnessing energy from the ocean. Tidal energy. Ocean thermal energy conversion.
6.HydroelectricEnergy(2hrs)

Hydroelectric energy as indirect energy from the sun. Conversion from potential to kinetic energy
at dams. Water turbine types. Environmental concerns.
7.WindEnergy(2hrs)
Extraction of energy from wind. Wind turbines and wind farms. Wind turbine types. Siting.
8.Biofuels(2hrs)

Conversion of biomaterials into fuels. Direct combustion. Biogas from wastes. Biomass production
from farms. Vegetable oils. Bioethanol. Biodiesel. Pros and cons.
9.SolarEnergyPart1(2hrs);Part2(2hrs)
Part 1. Photovoltaic electricity generation.
Part 2. Direct energy from the sun - Applications
10.EnergyStorage,TransmissionandConservation(4hrs)

The challenge in energy storage. Mechanical storage. Thermal storage. Charge storage. Fuel
cells and the hydrogen economy. Efficient utilization of energy. Energy conservation.
MA9001 INTRODUCTION TO ENERGY
Course Schedule (all 36 classes, 33 lectures & 3 CAs, are to be held in LT1)

Wk.
No.
Wk.Date
Teaching
Week
Class
No.
ClassHour Prof.(School) Notes
1 0408Aug.
Monday
1 Wed.1:30pm
2 Wed.2:30pm
3 Mon12:30pm
4 Wed.1:30pm
5 Wed.2:30pm
6 Mon12:30pm
7 Wed.1:30pm
8 Wed.2:30pm
9 Mon12:30pm
10 Wed.1:30pm
11 Wed.2:30pm
12 Mon12:30pm SeriLEE+ CA1(30%)
13 Wed.1:30pm
14 Wed.2:30pm
15 Mon12:30pm
16 Wed.1:30pm
17 Wed.2:30pm
18 Mon12:30pm
19 Wed.1:30pm
20 Wed.2:30pm
9 29/0903/10
21 Mon12:30pm
22 Wed.1:30pm
23 Wed.2:30pm
24 Mon12:30pm
25 Wed.1:30pm
26 Wed.2:30pm
27 Mon12:30pm WANGJingYuan+ CA2(40%)
28 Mon12:30pm
29 Wed.1:30pm
30 Wed.2:30pm
31 Monday
32 Wed.1:30pm
33 Wed.2:30pm
34 Mon12:30pm ChristianKLOC+ CA3(30%)
35 Wed.1:30pm
36 Wed.2:30pm
16 1721Nov.
17 2428Nov.
18 01/1105/12
*TeachingWeek8iseLearningWeek.
Wednesday Deepavali
SeriLEE(MAE) 9.2SolarEnergyApplications(2hrs)
9.1SolarEnergyPhotovoltaics(2hrs)
10.EnergyStorage,Transmissionand
ConservationPartA(2hrs)
1.OverviewofEnergyScenario(2hrs)
NationalDayObserved
8.Biofuels(2hrs)
JorgSCHLUTER(MAE) 7.WindEnergy(2hrs)
QINXiaosheng(CEE) 6.HydroelectricEnergy(2hrs)
WONGNgaiYuen(CEE) 5.GeothermalandOceanEnergy(2hrs)
RecessWeek
StuartSPRINGHAM(NIE) 4.NuclearEnergy(6hrs)
GOOIhoayBeng(EEE) 2.ElectricitySysteminSociety(3hrs)
YANGYanhui(CBE) 3.FossilFuelEnergy(6hrs)
RevisionandExamination
10 0610Oct. 8*
10
11 1317Oct. 9
12 2024Oct.
15 1014Nov. 13
13 2731Oct.
ChristianKLOC(MSE)
1115Aug.
ChristianKLOC(MSE)
1
3 1822Aug. 2
4 2529Aug. 3
7
5 0105Sep. 4
6
SeriLEE(MAE)
ChristianKLOC(MSE)
10.EnergyStorage,Transmissionand
ConservationPartB(2hrs)
OrientationWeek
11
14 0307Nov. 12
WANGJingYuan(CEE)
0812Sep. 5
7 1519Sep. 6
8 2226Sep.
2

Learning Outcome

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
a) be aware of the energy scenario in the world,
b) be aware of the energy scenario in Singapore,
c) understand the electricity system in a society,
d) understand the concepts and limitations of each energy source,
e) be able to critically discuss and compare different energy sources,
f) be aware of the importance in energy storage,
g) understand the fuel cell and the hydrogen economy, and
h) appreciate the importance in efficient energy utilization and energy conservation.


Student Assessment

Students will be assessed by:
Three In-Class Continuous Assessments (CA1: 30% +CA2: 40% +CA3: 30% =100%)
No reports, no exams, no final examination


Textbook / References

1. Twidell J., and Weir, A., Renewable Energy Resources, 2nd Edition, Taylor & Francis,
New York, 2006.
2. Godfrey, B., Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future, 2nd Edition, Oxford university
Press, 2004.
3. Gevorkian, P., Sustainable Energy System Engineering, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2007
4. Tucker, W., Terrestrial Energy, Bartleby Press, 2008.
5. Nicholls, T. (Editor), How the Energy Industry Works, Silverstone Communications Ltd, London,
2009.

Instructors

1 SeriLEECoordinator MAE N3.20244 67906940 serilee@ntu.edu.sg

2 GOOIhoayBeng EEE S1B1c82 67904941 ehbgooi@ntu.edu.sg
3 YANGYanhui CBE N1.2B118 63168940 YHYANG@ntu.edu.sg
4 StuartVictorSPRINGHAM NIE NIE70377 67903838 stuart.springham@nie.edu.sg
5 WONGNgaiYuen CEE N101c84 67905290 lnywong@ntu.edu.sg
6 QINXiaosheng CEE N101c82 67905288 xsqin@ntu.edu.sg
7 JorgUweSCHLUTER MAE N3.20123 67905519 schluter@ntu.edu.sg
8 WANGJingYuan CEE N101b45 67904100/6102 jywang@ntu.edu.sg
9 ChristianLeoKLOC MSE N4.10117 67904716 ckloc@ntu.edu.sg