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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
E S D051A
Course Title (CB02)
Sustainable Energy Systems
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
Examines Energy Management Technology and the importance and applications of building performance, controls and monitoring using the Kirsch Center for Environmental Studies and other campus-wide buildings in a lab setting. An understanding of electric power, the electric power industry and the economics of distributed energy resources is provided in the course. The essential characteristics of traditional and renewable energy systems such as wind, solar and fuel cells will also be examined.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is CSU transferable and is part of the Energy Management and Building Science Certificate and Degree program. This course develops the skills to assess the building concepts and related energy and conservation issues associated with energy efficient buildings, building facilities management and sustainable building practices and procedures.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to CSU only

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours3.06.0
Laboratory Hours3.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
36.0
Laboratory
36.0
Total
72.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
72.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
72.0

Prerequisite(s)

E S D070. (may be taken concurrently) and E S D079. (may be taken concurrently)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

ESL D272. and ESL D273., or ESL D472. and ESL D473., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Assigned Reading Discussions

Problem Solving Examples and Worksheets

Exploration of Relevant Internet Websites

Quiz and examination review

Homework and extended assignments and projects

Field observation and field trips

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises and projects

Laboratory exercises

Final Assessment

Assignments

  1. Reading Assignments From Text and Other Relevant Readings
  2. Writing Assignments Involving Calculations, Analysis and Synthesis of Data and Other Information
  3. Team Project Including Presentation on an Assigned Topic
  4. Final Class Assessment Covering the Theories and Principles Covered in This Course
  5. Lab Reports and Presentations Summarizing the Results of In Class Laboratory Exercises

Methods of Evaluation

  1. In-Class homework assignments to demonstrate student comprehension of principles and theories
  2. Presentations to exhibit the ability to research, synthesize and organize information concisely on an assigned topic
  3. Quizzes and a Final Assessment to demonstrate student comprehension of course content
  4. Laboratory exercises and report writing to verify the proper use of technical instruments, measuring technique, and the correct extraction, measurements and collection of key data and results

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • Kirsch Center for Environmental Studies (Special purpose facilities: sustainable building with sustainable materials, design, Energy management lab (KC239), PV (Photovoltaic/outdoor lab KC West), rooftop/building systems: solar thermal system, PV system, controls room & other equipment

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Masters, G.M, "Renewable and Efficient Electric Power Systems",2nd Edition, Wiley-Blackwell. 2013
Meier, A., "Electric Power Systems: A Conceptual Introduction",IEEE, 2006
Manwell, J.F., McGowan, J.G, & Rogers, A.L, "Wind Energy Explained: Theory, Design and Application", 2nd Edition John Wiley & Sons. 2010
Goswami, D.Y, "Principles of Solar Engineering" 3rd Edition, CRC Press. 2015

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Jenkins, N, Ekanayake, J.B.. & Strbac, G., "Distributed Generation" London Institute of Engineering and Technology, 2010
Tester, J.W. , "Sustainable Energy: Choosing Among Options", 2nd Edition MIT Press. 2012
Da Rosa, A.V., "Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Processes", 3rd Edition, UK Academic Press. 2013
MacKay, D.J.C, "Sustainable Energy- Without the Hot Air", UIT Cambridge. 2009

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Examine the basics of electric and magnetic circuits, the fundamentals of electric power and the workings of the electric power industry
  • Examine Distributed Energy Generation and the Economics of Distributed Energy Resources
  • Examine Wind Energy and Assess the Annual Wind Energy Production of Turbines
  • Assess the Background of Solar Energy and Photovoltaic Materials to Size PV Systems

CSLOs

  • Assess basic electromagnetic and electric power concepts and the function of the electric utility industry.

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the theories and principles of energy conversion.

  • Examine and demonstrate an ability to calculate and analyze the output of sustainable energy systems.

  • Analyze, evaluate and report on data obtained from various laboratory related activities.

Outline

  1. Examine the basics of electric and magnetic circuits, the fundamentals of electric power and the workings of the electric power industry
    1. Basic Electric and Magnetic Circuits
      1. Introduction to Electric Circuits
      2. Definition of Key Electric Quantities
      3. Idealized Voltage and Current Sources
      4. Electrical Resistence
      5. Capacitance
      6. Magnetic Circuits
      7. Inductance
      8. Transformers
    2. Fundamentals of Electric Power
      1. Effective Values of Voltage and Current
      2. Idealized Components Subjected to Sinusoidal Voltages
      3. Power Factor
      4. The Power Triangle and Power Factor Correction
      5. Three-wire, Single Phase Residential Wiring
      6. Three-Phase Systems
      7. Power Supplies
      8. Power Quality
    3. The Electric Power Industry
      1. The Early Pioneers
      2. The Electric Utility Industry Today
      3. Baseload, Intermediate, and Peaking Power Plants
      4. Transmission and Distribution
      5. The Regulatory Side of Electric Utilities
  2. Examine Distributed Energy Generation and the Economics of Distributed Energy Resources
    1. Distributed Generation
      1. Electricity Generation in Transition
      2. Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Technoogy
      3. Biomass as a Source of Electricity
      4. Fuel Cells
    2. The Economics of Distributed Energy Resources
      1. Distributed Resources (DR)
      2. Electric Utility Rate Structures
      3. Energy Ecomonics
      4. Energy Conservation Supply Curves
  3. Examine Wind Energy and Assess the Annual Wind Energy Production of Turbines
    1. The Historical Development of Wind Power
    2. Types of Wind Turbines and Their Energy Output
    3. Power in Wind Resources
    4. Maximum Rotor Efficiency
    5. Average Power in the Wind
    6. Simple Estimates of Wind Turbine Energy
  4. Assess the Background of Solar Energy and Photovoltaic Materials to Size PV Systems
    1. The Solar Resource
      1. The Solar Spectrum
      2. The Earth's Orbit
      3. Altitude, Angle and Sun
      4. Solar Position and the Path of the Sun at All Times of the Year
      5. Sun Path Diagrams and Shading Analysis
      6. Solar Time and Civil (Clock) Time
      7. Sunrise and Sunset
      8. Clear Sky and Direct-Beam Radiation
      9. Total Clear Sky Insolation on a Collecting Surface
      10. Monthly Clear Sky Insolation
      11. Solar Radiation Measurements
      12. Average Monthly Insolation
    2. Photovoltaic Materials and their Electrical Characteristics
      1. Basic Semiconductor Physics
      2. General Photovoltaic Cell
      3. From Cells to Modules to Arrays
      4. The PV I-V Curve Under Standard Test Conditions (STC)
      5. The Impacts of Temperature and Insolation on I-V Curves
      6. Shading Impacts on I-V Curves
    3. Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
      1. Major Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
      2. Current-Voltage Curves for Loads
      3. Grid Connected PV Systems
      4. Stand Alone/ Off Grid PV Systems

Lab Topics

  1. Basic Electrical Power Measurements (Several Parts)
  2. Electrical Characteristics of PV(Several Parts)
  3. Wind Energy Estimation
  4. Performance of Fuel Cells
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