UEN004: ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

 

L

T

P

Cr

 

3

0

0

3.0

Course Objectives: The exposure to this course would facilitate the students in understanding the terms, definitions and scope of environmental and energy issues pertaining to current global scenario; understanding the value of regional and global natural and energy resources; and emphasize on need for conservation of energy and environment.

Natural Resources: Human settlements and resource consumption; Biological, mineral and energy resources; Land, water and air; Natural resources vis-ŕ-vis human resources and technological resources; Concept of sustainability; Sustainable use of natural resources

Ecology, Structure and Functioning of Natural Ecosystems: Ecology, ecosystems and their structure, functioning and dynamics; Energy flow in ecosystems; Biogeochemical cycles and climate; Population and communities

Agricultural, Industrial Systems and Environment: Agricultural and industrial systems vis-ŕ-vis natural ecosystems; Agricultural systems, and environment and natural resources; Industrial systems and environment

Environment Pollution, Global Warming and Climate Change: Air pollution (local, regional and global); Water pollution problems; Land pollution and food chain contaminations; Carbon cycle, greenhouse gases and global warming; Climate change – causes and consequences; Carbon footprint; Management of greenhouse gases at the source and at the sinks

Energy Technologies and Environment: Electrical energy and steam energy; Fossil fuels, hydropower and nuclear energy; Solar energy, wind energy and biofuels; Wave, ocean thermal, tidal energy and ocean currents; Geothermal energy; Future energy sources; Hydrogen fuels; Sustainable energy

Group Assignments: Assignments related to Sanitary landfill systems; e-waste management; Municipal solid waste management; Biodiversity and biopiracy; Air pollution control systems; Water treatment systems; Wastewater treatment plants; Solar heating systems; Solar power plants; Thermal power plants; Hydroelectric power plants; Biofuels; Environmental status assessments; Energy status assessments, etc.

 

Course Learning Outcomes (CLO):

After the completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  1. outline the scenario of natural resources and their status
  2. calculate the flow of energy and mass balance in ecosystems
  3. analyse environmental status of human settlements
  4. monitor the energy performance of systems

 

 

 

Text Books:

  1. Bharucha, E., Textbook of Environmental Studies, Universities Press (2005).
  2. Chapman, J.L. and Reiss, M.J., Ecology- Principles and Application, Cambridge University Press (LPE) (1999).
  3. Joseph, B., Environmental Studies, Tata McGraw-Hill (2006).
  4. Eastop, T.P. and Croft, D.R. Energy Efficiency for Engineers and Technologists, Longman and Harow (2006).

 

Reference Books:

  1. Miller, G.T., Environmental Science- Working with Earth, Thomson (2006).
  2. Wright, R.T., Environmental Science-Towards a sustainable Future, Prentice Hall (2008).
  3. O’Callagan, P.W., Energy Management, McGraw Hill Book Co. Ltd. (1993).