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ENSC 160 Introduction to Solar Energy ---- Fall 1999

- Course Information

• Instructor / office hours
• course syllabus and information
• textbook
• grading standards

• Mondays: course meets in traditional classroom for lecture
• Wednesdays: course meets in computer lab for interactive exercises

 

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Instructor

Daryl Prigmore

• office: Engr 245
• phone: 262-3560
• email: dprigmor@mail.uccs.edu
• office hours:
  •  M 3:00 - 4:00
  •  W 12:00 - 1:00
  • or by appointment

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Course Syllabus and Information

This introductory science course deals with many aspects of the sun, including its fundamental operation and the many ways it has been used historically and continues to be utilized terrestrially as a benign, renewable energy source. Active, passive, and high tech approaches will be examined in detail. A major portion of the course will be devoted to the use of sophisticated simulation software to design high efficiency, energy conservative buildings using the sun to satisfy their energy requirements. The course employs technology (CD-ROM's, DVD's, and Web-based resources) to enhance student understanding and achievement by the very interactive nature of the technology.

Tentative outline (subject to revision)

• The history of solar energy utilization by humans
• Basic concepts of energy in general
  • fundamental dimensions (length, area, volume, time, energy, power)
  • buzz words (BTU's, kWh, joule, cal)
    • Here is an interactive lesson to review and learn about energy and power
• Fundamentals of solar operation
  • fusion of hydrogen into helium
    • Here is a lesson on the structure and operation of the sun
  • transport via photons to earth (basic electromagnetic theory)
    • Here is a quick review lesson on light
• Fundamentals of thermal energy transfer and storage
  • conduction, convection, and radiation heat transfer
  • thermal conductivity (R-values), specific heat and heat capacity
• Passive design approaches for heating and cooling
• Active design approaches for heating and cooling
• Energy conservation and the design of "smart" buildings
  • orientation, high performance glazing, vegetation, infiltration, daylighting
  • direct gain, shading devices, energy storage (thermal mass)
• High tech solar energy
  • photovoltaics, air conditioning, Stirling cycles, Rankine cycles, power tower

Class lecture notes 

Study hints: Read the assigned text pages before coming to class. This will help familiarize you with the basic ideas and terms to be discussed in the lecture. If you do not understand something after reading and the lecture, ask questions. Questions are welcome during the lecture or during my office hours.

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Books

Text: The Sun's Joules CD - limited Web demo version: http://solstice.crest.org/renewables/SJ/index.html  

optional text: Energy-10 CD

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Grading

The course grade will be determined approximately as follows:

Test #1	100 pts
Test #2	100 pts
quizzes	up to 50 pts
homework	up to 100 pts
project	100 pts
participation	50 pts
Test # 3	100 pts

note: Quizzes may be unannounced !!

Make-up exams: Make-up exams will be given only under extremely extenuating circumstances and only if prior arrangements have been made. If you must miss an exam, please inform me prior to the exam day.

Class Grades to date

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last updated: January 11, 2000