Course overview
The course covers the basics of thermal energy technologies with an emphasis on those that will become increasingly relevant in a decarbonised world. This course provides knowledge and skills necessary to understand, analyse and design modern thermal energy systems to account for fuel types, fuel properties, maximise output and minimise air pollution, especially for low-carbon fuels such as biomass, waste fuels and hydrogen, including hybridising combustion with concentrated solar thermal energy and fuel upgrading using solar thermal energy. This course aligns with the program’s intent to demonstrate a chemical engineering body of knowledge and apply this knowledge along with critical thinking, creativity, and innovation for industrial and real-life complex problems.
- Combustion Fundamentals
- Biomass Utilisation
- High Temperature Processes
Course learning outcomes
- Explain the changing role of combustion in society as we transition to a decarbonised energy system.
- Assess, using combustion principles, the performance of combustion and thermal energy systems for a range of different low-carbon fuels, including bio-derived solid fuels.
- Evaluate the utilisation potential of conventional, biomass, waste, and hydrogen fuels, addressing factors such as availability and cost.
- Critically appraise the design and operation of high-temperature reactors and thermal energy systems, considering safety, efficiency, and environmental emissions.
- Analyse the integration of combustion with solar thermal processes for hybrid power generation and fuel upgrading.
- Solve complex chemical engineering problems in thermal energy technologies and communicate outcomes effectively to diverse audiences.