Chemical Energy Technology

Catalog description

This course provides an overview of current and prospective chemical energy storage and conversion technologies. CHE 423 Chemical Energy Technology (3) This course provides an overview of chemical energy storage and conversion technologies. Current fossil fuel based conversion processes in power plants and transportation applications will be surveyed. The course will emphasize critical evaluation of alternative conversion technologies, with the goal of providing the skills for quantitative assessment of the potential of various storage and conversion technologies. Current conversion technologies surveyed will include coal power plants, petroleum refineries, and internal combustion engines. Alternative technologies will consider unconventional fossil fuel processing, electrochemical energy conversion, solar energy conversion, and agricultural/biological fuel conversion. A semester long student project will involve generation of a future energy scenario 25-50 years in the future. The class structure is interactive, with readings motivating class period discussions.