Energy: Source, Conversion and Storage with Lab

Goals
Advanced and applied aspects of the exploitation of energy sources, their conversion and storage, with special focus on renewables. Innovative technologies and market trends. Critical evaluation and comparison of the performances of different methods/devices.

Acquired skills
The students will learn how to conjugate the scientific and technical approach for the exploitation of energy sources, and the relevant industrial applications, with the environmental and economic issues. Students will be able to discuss pros and cons of different processes aimed at the same final product (e.g. hydrogen production and storage, electricity production, distribution and storage)


Course content
Lectures
World energy outlook. Renewable energy sources: water (hydroelectric, wave, tidal), wind, sun (thermal, thermodynamic and photovoltaics), biomasses and earth (geothermal). Energy vectors: carbon based fuels, electric energy, and hydrogen.
Energy conversion and storage. Hydrogen production: hydrocarbon and biofuel reforming; gasification and pyrolysis of biomasses; water pyrolysis, electrolysis and photoelectrolysis, biological methods. Hydrogen storage and transportation. Comparison between thermal and electrochemical energy conversion.
Critical aspects in assessing the environmental impact.
Electrochemical generation and storage: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors.
Laboratory
A selected choice of experiments in the fields of: Primary and secondary batteries. Photovoltaic cells and dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC). Heating values of solid and liquid fuels. Water Electrolysis and proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Life Cycle Assessment of selected devices


Suggested prerequisites
none


Reference material
http://www.iea.org/statistics/ International Energy Agency "Key World energy and statistic"
http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat Eurostat European Commission: ―Europe in figures Eurostat yearbook", European Communities.
http://www.enea.it Enea Rapporto energia e ambiente
Slides and supporting material provided by the teachers

Assessment method
Short Study on selected subjects + Oral in depth discussion on other issues treated in the lectures and laboratory (combined with the two teachers)


Language of instruction
English

Attendance Policy
Lectures: strongly recommended
Laboratory Practice: Mandatory


Mode of teaching
Traditional

Website
http://srondininiescs.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v3/home/Default.aspx