Duration
50h Th
Number of credits
| Master of Science (MSc) in Chemical and Materials Engineering | 5 crédits | |||
| Master of Science (MSc) in Electromechanical Engineering | 5 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course addresses two main aspects associated with sustainable fuel management, the production and properties of fuels on the one hand and the management of their combustion on the other, with a focus on ways to reduce air pollution.
The course begins with an introduction to energy sources and vectors, both fossil and renewable. The different techniques for converting chemical and nuclear energy into thermal energy are discussed. The different forms of renewable energy and associated technologies are described. The course also aims to stimulate reflection on how to ensure a sustainable energy supply, given the depletion of fossil resources and the consequences of air pollution, particularly the intensification of the greenhouse effect. One part will be devoted to the use of CO2 in this context ("power to fuel' ").
Atmospheric pollution will be dealt with in a broad manner by addressing both aspects related to the production of pollutants and their environmental impact (acid rain, global warming, production of tropospheric ozone, etc.) and aspects related to the prevention (primary methods) or treatment of pollution (secondary methods). Flue gas cleaning techniques are presented for large combustion plants as well as for vehicles.
Main pollutants studied: carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, oxidised organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, soot and ash.
Primary methods: modification of the energy mix, reduction in the quantity of primary energy consumed, fuel purification, optimisation of operating conditions, etc.
Secondary methods: flue gas purification (desulphurisation, denitrification, dust removal, CO2 capture and use, 2-way and 3-way catalytic converter, ...).
The course is divided into fourteen chapters.
- Introduction
- Geopolitical, economic, industrial and environmental aspects of energy.
- Conventional fossil fuels
- Nuclear energy
- Conventional' renewable energy sources
- New generation' fuels: synthetic gas, e-fuels
- Combustion
- Air pollution and the role played by combustion
- Inventory of combustion pollutants: emission mechanisms and quantities emitted
- Regulatory standards relating to air pollution
- Techniques for reducing emissions of pollutants from combustion
- The special case of reducting CO2 emissions
- Environmental impact according to a life cycle approach
- Research challenges for the coming years
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
At the end of the course, the student will be able
1) to show his understanding of the theoretical concepts seen in the course;
2) to explain the relations between energy consumption, demography and economic development and on this base to discuss the evolution of the world energy consumption
3) to define the notions of reserves and resources in fossil fuels and to supply some order of magnitudes
4) to explain in a simplified way the formation of fossil fuels as well as means to extract and convert them into fuels
5) to explain the contribution of the use of the fossil fuels to diverse phenomena of atmospheric pollution
6) to explain in a simplified way the functioning of a nuclear power plant, the phenomenon of fission, ...
7) to describe the technologies implemented to exploit the renewable sources of energy
8) to discuss the place of the fossil fuels and renewable energies to assure the energy supply, at the Belgian and European scale, now and at the horizon 2020.
9) to discuss the expected options in the future to decrease the energy consumption and assure the energy supply;
10) to explain the main environmental phenomena connected to atmospheric pollution (acid rains, ozone layer depletion, production of tropospheric ozone, the intensification of the greenhouse effect);
11) to realize the inventory of main pollutants of combustion, to explain their mechanisms of production, to describe their impact on the environment and to explain the allowing means either to prevent their emission, or to eliminate them from flue gases
12) to realize a calculation of flow and composition of flue gases during the combustion of a fossil fuel realized in excess of air including the determination of the required quantity of air as well as the check of the contents in sulphur and nitrogen oxides in comparison with the current regulation.
The first eleven points are the object of a detailed list of questions which will be communicated at the beginning of course.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
The course relies on basic knowledge in chemistry, as taught in the courses of the bachelor in civil engineering or chemical sciences.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course is based on 'ex-cathedra' lectures, one of them being devoted to the calculation of flue gas composition during combustion of fossil fuels.
The visit of an industrial site will be also organized.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face lectures + available remotely and via podcasts depending on technical options.
Organisational adjustments related to the current health context
The course will be organised remotely from 21/10, via collaborate.
Recommended or required readings
Slides used during the lectures may be downloaded from eCampus.
Assessment methods and criteria
Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.
The examination contains two oral and one written part.
For the oral part with Mr. G. Léonard, the question(s) quill cover the topics of following sections:gasification, synthetic fuels, CO2 capture and use, advanced techniques for electricity production from coal. For the oral part with Mrs. A. Léonard, every student receives three opened questions from a list communicated beforehand. In both cases, the student has to show at the same time its knowledge and its understanding of the concepts, the technologies seen during the theoretical course.
The written part consists in an exercise aiming at determining the composition of flue gas during fossil fuel combustion. The use of a calculator is allowed.
In orange or red code, the written part will be organised via e-campus and the oral parts via lifesize or collaborate.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
The course is given during the first quadrimester, on Wednesday morning (8h30-12h30). The first course will start at 8h30 on 16/09/2020.
Room: S39 (B37) (Sart Tilman)
Contacts
Prof. Angélique LEONARD
Dpt of Chemical Engineering
PEPs - Products, Environment, Processes
Quartier Agora
Institut de Physique, B5a, Bureau 1/51
Tél. 04/366.44.36
A.Leonard@uliege.be
Prof. Grégoire LEONARD
Dpt of Chemical Engineering
PEPs - Products, Environment, Processes
Quartier Agora
Institut de Physique, B6a, Bureau 0/68
Tél. 04/366.35.13
G.Leonard@uliege.be