Course in English for the MoS in Industrial Chemistry
Goals
Advanced and applied aspects of the exploitation of energy sources, their conversion and storage, with special attention to renewables. Innovative technologies and market trends. Critical evaluation and comparison of the performances of different methods/devices.
Course content
Lectures
World energy outlook. Renewable energy sources: water (hydroelectric, wave, tidal), wind, sun (thermal, thermodynamic and photovoltaics), biomasses and earth (geothermal). Energy vectors: carbon based fuels, electric energy, and hydrogen.
Energy conversion and storage. Hydrogen production: hydrocarbon and biofuel reforming; gasification and pyrolysis of biomasses; water pyrolysis, electrolysis and photoelectrolysis, biological methods. Hydrogen storage and transportation. Comparison between thermal and electrochemical energy conversion.
Critical aspects in assessing the environmental impact.
Electrochemical generation and storage: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors.
Laboratory
Primary and secondary batteries. Photovoltaic cells and dye sensitized solar cells. Heating values of solid and liquid fuels. Life Cycle Assessment of selected devices
Reference material
http://www.iea.org/statistics/ International Energy Agency “Key World energy and statistic”
http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat Eurostat European Commission: ―Europe in figures Eurostat yearbook”, European Communities.
http://www.enea.it Enea Rapporto energia e ambiente
Slides and supporting material provided by the teachers
Assessment method
Short Study on selected subjects + Oral in depth discussion (combined with the two teachers)
Language of instruction English
Attendance Policy: attendance to the Lectures is strongly recommended
attendance to the Laboratory is mandatory