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