RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS
Currently, Drexel University is offering EET 320 (Renewable Energy Systems) to introduce students to various renewable energy technologies and their applications. The objective of this course is to present and introduce the students to various renewable energy systems and their characteristics and performances over a spectrum of applications, including the hybrid issues of renewable energy sources. The main focus of this course will be renewable energy systems and energy efficiency on wind, solar-photovoltaic energy systems, thermoelectric, and lighting. Upon successful completion of the course in this discipline, the students will be able to:
- Understand the main sources of energy, energy efficiency, and their primary applications in the US and the world
- Describe the challenges and problems associated with the use of various energy sources, including fossil fuels, with regard to future supply and the industry
- Evaluate economic efficiency and compare small scale energy projects using major economic measures of the pay-back period, simple rate of return, net present value, internal rate of return
- Evaluate manufacturing energy consumption and determine methods to increase energy efficiency
- Relate properly to their hands-on laboratory experiences to solving real-world clean energy and energy efficiency engineering problems
An important role of undergraduate education is stimulating critical thinking and enabling engineering students to be creative while developing analytical skills. Virtual Reality is becoming a powerful tool for multisensory teaching which enhances learning by using imagery and haptics to represent and study concepts and notions. Project-based interdisciplinary learning offers students a broader perspective over systems integration while exploring fundamental notions of the topics studied.
Below are a few demos of the progress made with the virtual reality module
The major tasks described are the description of the developmental platform and the modeling of the VR framework as applied to the above-described scenario. The learning objectives of the project are aligned with Student Learning Outcomes for each course as students explore concepts as parametric characterization of the thermal system as well as fluid flow characterization for both compressible and incompressible flow.
The VR learning module will be assessed both formative and summative regarding demonstrated knowledge of the concepts studied when compared with the assessment of the similar course in-class lectured of the subject studied. Also, VR technology will enable students to explore new ways to implement their knowledge in a practical manner, enhancing information retention, and promoting critical thinking.