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Apply the laws of thermodynamics to the analysis of some simple energetic systems
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Criteria
Identify the difference between energy and power
Use mathematical equations to calculate energy and power
Convert between various units of energy and power (both English and metric)
Identify the difference between kinetic and potential energy
Use mathematical equations to calculate kinetic and potential energy
Describe the first and second laws of thermodynamics
Construct an energy balance using the first law of thermodynamics
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Perform simple cost calculations for energy from fossil fuels
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Identify the origins of various fossil fuels
Identify the chemical composition of coal, oil, and natural gas
Identify the processes used to extract coal, oil, and natural gas
Describe the geographic distribution of coal, oil, and natural gas
Determine the environmental impacts of combustion of fossil fuels
Calculate the energy content of various fossil fuels
Convert between various units of energy and power for fossil fuels
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Perform simple cost calculations for energy from biomass and biogas
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Describe the processes used to create biomass and biogas
Identify the chemical composition and properties of woody biomass
Identify the chemical composition and properties of biogas
Determine the environmental impacts of combustion of biomass and biogas
Calculate the energy content of biomass and biogas
Convert between various units of energy and power for biomass and biogas
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Perform simple cost calculations for energy from ethanol and biodiesel fuels
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Describe the processes used to create ethanol and biodiesel fuels
Identify the chemical composition and properties of ethanol fuel
Describe the difference between conventional and cellulosic ethanol production
Identify the chemical composition and properties of biodiesel fuel
Identify the environmental impacts of combustion of ethanol and biodiesel fuels
Calculate the energy content of ethanol and biodiesel fuels
Convert between various units of energy and power for ethanol and biodiesel
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Perform an economic analysis and find the simple payback period for a solar thermal system
Assessment Strategies
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Criteria
Describe the processes used to gather, store and use solar thermal energy
Apply the principles of day lighting and passive solar home design
Identify the components of solar water heating and space heating systems
Apply the principles of solar thermal collection systems
Differentiate between closed loop and drain back solar thermal systems
Identify the factors that affect the variable nature of solar energy
Differentiate between flat plate and evacuated tube solar thermal collectors
Identify the principles of solar thermal site selection
Calculate the energy collected and the efficiency of a solar thermal system
Convert between various units of energy for a solar thermal system
Perform simple cost calculations for energy from a solar thermal system
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Perform simple cost calculations for consumption of electrical energy
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Describe how electricity is generated
Identify the quantities of electric potential, current, resistance and Ohm’s law
Differentiate between electrical energy and electric power
Differentiate between AC and DC current
Identify the principles of operation of electric circuits
Identify the components of a typical electric utility bill
Convert between various units of electrical measurements
Use Ohm’s law to solve simple electrical problems
Calculate the energy and power consumption of an electrical device
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Perform an economic analysis and find the simple payback period for a hydropower system
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Criteria
Describe the processes used to gather and use hydropower
Identify the components of a hydropower system
Differentiate between various types of hydropower turbines
Identify the factors that affect the variable nature of hydropower energy
Identify the principles of hydropower site selection
Determine the environmental impacts of hydropower
Calculate the energy, power, and the efficiency of a hydropower turbine
Convert between various units of energy for a hydropower turbine
Perform simple cost calculations for energy from a hydropower turbine
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Perform an economic analysis and find the simple payback period for a wind turbine system
Assessment Strategies
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Criteria
Describe the processes used to gather and use wind energy
Identify the components of a wind turbine system
Differentiate between a wind mill and a wind turbine
Identify the principles of wind turbine design
Differentiate between vertical and horizontal axis wind turbines
Identify the factors that affect the variable nature of wind energy
Identify the principles of wind turbine site selection
Determine the environmental impacts of wind power
Calculate the power of the wind
Calculate the energy, power, and the efficiency of a wind turbine
Convert between various units of energy for a wind turbine
Perform simple cost calculations for energy from a wind turbine
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Perform an economic analysis and find the simple payback period for a PV system
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Describe the processes used to gather sunlight and convert it to electricity
Differentiate between various types of photovoltaic materials
Identify the principles of solar photovoltaic cell construction
Identify the components of a solar photovoltaic system
Identify the factors that affect the variable nature of solar energy
Identify the principles of PV site selection
Determine the environmental impacts of PV systems
Calculate the energy of a single photon
Calculate the energy, power, and the efficiency of a solar PV cell
Convert between various units of energy for a PV system
Perform simple cost calculations for energy from a PV system
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Perform simple cost calculations for energy from a CSP system
Assessment Strategies
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Criteria
Describe the processes used to concentrate sunlight and convert it to electricity
Differentiate between various types concentrated solar power (CSP) systems
Identify the components of a CSP system
Identify the principles of CSP site selection
Determine the environmental impacts of concentrating solar power
Calculate the energy, power, and the efficiency of a CSP system
Convert between various units of energy for a CSP system
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Perform an economic analysis and find the payback period for a ground source heat pump
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Describe the processes used to extract and use geothermal energy
Identify the components of a geothermal electrical generation plants
Identify the components of a ground source heat pump system
Differentiate between open and closed loop geothermal heat pump systems
Differentiate between vertical and horizontal loop geothermal heat pump systems
Identify the principles of geothermal heat pump site selection
Determine the environmental impacts of geothermal energy
Calculate the energy, power, and the efficiency of a geothermal system
Convert between various units of energy for a geothermal system
Perform simple cost calculations for energy from a geothermal system
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Perform an economic analysis and find the payback period for energy storage systems
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Criteria
Analyze the variable nature of electrical supply and demand and the role for storage
Identify the principles of pumped hydro energy storage
Identify the principles of compressed air energy storage
Identify the principles of flywheel energy storage
Identify the principles of electrochemical oxidation and reduction
Identify the principles of battery energy storage
Differentiate between various types of batteries
Calculate the energy, power, and the efficiency for energy storage systems
Convert between various units of energy for energy storage systems Perform simple cost calculations for energy storage systems
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Perform calculations to determine the cost of water required for electrical production and the cost of energy required for water treatment
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Analyze the interaction between energy and water
Describe the necessity of water for thermal electric power production
Analyze the need for energy for provision of clean drinking water
Calculate the volumes of water necessary for thermal electric power production
Calculate the energy and power needed to treat and transport water
Convert between various units of energy required for water treatment and transport
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Perform simple cost calculations to determine the impact of various energy policies
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Differentiate between regulated and unregulated energy markets
Describe the concept of a natural monopoly
Analyze the regulatory role of the Public Service Commission
Differentiate between electrical generation, transmission, and distribution service
Describe the geographic nature of service territories within the electrical grid
Explain technical policies that affect interconnection of electrical generation to the grid
Differentiate between centralized and distributed electrical generation
Differentiate between electrical generation “in front of” and “behind the meter”
Explain financial policies that have been applied to various energy sources, including taxes, credits, incentives, mandates, sanctions, net-metering, and feed-in tarrifs