Introductory description

The laws of thermodynamics bound what useful work can be extracted from any source. There are also limits to what we can do to mitigate the effects of the resultant heat and waste products. Understanding which processes are under our control involves interesting physics as well environmental science, chemistry and social sciences.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

1. Revision of the Carnot cycle and relation to maximum possible efficiency. Energy resources, estimated reserves and current consumption.
2. Power transmission lines, three phase, transformers
3. Power Stations: fossil fuel, nuclear (thermal and fast breeder, reprocessing), fusion (Lawson criteria, design concepts, inertial and magnetic confinement).
4. Climates of the past and prediction of future climate change.
5. The greenhouse effect, radiative forcing, feedbacks, climate sensitivity, and the carbon cycle.
6. Simple climate change economics.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Describe how electricity is generated in power stations (fossil fuel, nuclear, fusion-based) and by renewable sources and be able to explain what limits the output in all cases
• Estimate transmission line losses and understand the role of transformers in power distribution
• Describe climates of the past and understand how future climate change can be predicted
• Explain the “greenhouse effect”, radiative forcing, feedbacks, and climate sensitivity
• Understand simple climate change economics

Indicative reading list

Sustainable Energy without the Hot Air, David J C Mackay, UIT, 2009
Environmental Physics, Egbert Boeker and Rienk Van Grondelle, Wiley, 2011
Global Warming, John Houghton, CUP, 2015
Introduction to Modern Climate Change, Andrew Dessler, CUP, 2016

Interdisciplinary

The science of energy sourcing and use, and the techniques used to generate and transmit electrical power, are archetypical "inter-disciplines". There are issues arising from physics, engineering, politics, economics and costs to the environment. This module shows how to compare the efficiency, and economic and enivironmental costs, of how energy is used and of how electricity is generated.

Subject specific skills

Knowledge of mathematics and physics. Skills in modelling, reasoning, thinking.

Transferable skills

Analytical, communication, problem-solving, self-study