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SYLLABUS: ESTS/STV 40401
Week
Socio/Economic/Political
Scientific/Technical/Quantitative
1
 The Future of Energy: Underlying Issues Forms of Energy and Units of Measurement
2

The Age of Hydrocarbon Fuels: Wondrous But Not Eternal

  • Hydrocarbons and their Impact on Human Development
  • The Future of Oil: Hubbert’s Peak
  • The Growing Role of Natural Gas
  • What to Do with Coal
  • Environmental Manifestations




Origins of and Tortuous Path to Clarifying the Nature of Temperature, Thermal Energy and Heat

The First Law of Thermodynamics: Historical Origins and Formulation

Concept of a Heat Engine

Application of the First Law to the IC Engine and Automotive Transportation
3
 Applications of Primary Energy: Electric Power, Transportation, Industrial, and Residential/ Commercial Additional First Law Applications
4
 Applications of Primary Energy: Continued Origins and Nature of the Second Law of Thermodynamics
5
 Global Climate Change: What Are We to Believe? Fundamentals of Environmental Radiation
6
 Global Climate  Change: Continued The Global Energy Balance
7
 The Nuclear Option; Can We Ignore It? Fundamentals of Nuclear Fission/Fusion
8
 Renewable Sources of Energy: Is There Hope? Fundamentals of Wind and Solar Energy
9
 The Hydrogen Economy: Ultimate Salvation or Impossible Dream? Fundamentals of Fuel Cells
10
 The Hydrogen Economy: Continued  
11

Geopolitical Considerations:

  • The Middle East, OPEC and Russia
  • The Emergence of China
  • Energy Security and the Global Players
Thermodynamic (Power and Refrigeration) Cycles
12
 U.S. Energy Policy  
13
 Energy and Ethics Population and Economic Growth Models
14
 Roadmap to a Sustainable Energy Future