2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Curriculum Development in Renewable Energy and Sustainability

Presented at Energy Conversion, Conservation and Nuclear Engineering Division (ECCNE) Technical Session 3

This paper presents the development and curriculum implementation of a combined alternative energy course for both mechanical engineering and electrical engineering programs at the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). The course contents and hands-on activities are divided into several sections, including PV (photovoltaic engineering), H2PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane hydrogen fuel cells), wind energy technology and solar energy assessment. The impact of these technologies on a future hydrogen economy, the impact on smart grids, and job creation are also introduced. The curriculum draws heavily on the experience and background, both theoretical and field experience, of the instructors including NSF and DOE grants that allowed the design and implementation of a certified hydrogen development laboratory, and development of instructional materials for PEM training. The curriculum integrates key topics such as MATLABR and SIMULINKR modeling and simulation of critical components including PEM Fuel Cells, PV with storage and grid integration.

Aside from lectures, the course relies heavily on project-based learning. The students are divided into teams to propose, design, and implement realistic, hands-on projects. When there is an opportunity for a large-scale project such as Project 1 discussed in this paper, the entire class participates with sub-disciplines organized around a specialty such as structural design or electrical interconnect of solar energy with the local utility. Safety and NEC (National Electrical Code) compliance are also discussed to satisfy course objectives. In summary, the class project is managed to mirror real world project implementation treating the class as design-build entity and sub-groups as sub-contractors. During the implementation phase of the project, the students are also made aware of the need for diversity and inclusion at every level, from the design phase to the assembly and construction phases.

Authors

Dr. Ali Zilouchian Florida Atlantic University [biography]

Dr. Ali Zilouchian is currently the Director of Applied Engineering Program and a Research Center Director at Keiser University. He is also the Emeritus Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Founding Project Director of a HSI Title III project funded by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) at FAU. His distinguished career in academia and industry has many notable accomplishments focused on research and industry partnerships, and national models of excellence in multi-institutional and sustainable STEM Pipeline.

For 13 years, Dr. Zilouchian served as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and the Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies at FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. His sustained contributions and research projects total more than $9M with funding sources from the U.S. DOE, the National Science Foundation (NSF), The Florida Board of Governors (BOG), Florida Power and Light (FPL), Motorola Inc., The School Board of Broward County Florida, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and others.

Dr. Zilouchian’s accomplishments at Motorola Inc. include automation, process control, and computer vision inspection projects. His research accomplishments at FAU include developing national models in STEM education across institutions, algorithm developments related to maximum power point tracking for solar systems, water management of proton exchange membrane fuel cells, computer modeling investigations in battery technology; and, applications of soft computing (neural network, fuzzy logic, and genetic algorithms) methodologies to several industrial processes including desalination, oil refineries, jet engines, and robot manipulators.

Dr. Zilouchian awards include: the distinguished FAU Presidential Leadership Service Award in 2017 for his contribution to research and community engagement, FAU College of Engineering Dean’s Awards twice, and Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching twice. He has published one book and more than 165 book chapters, scholarly journal papers, and refereed conference proceedings. He has supervised more than 20 Ph.D. and MS students to completion during his tenure, and taught more than thirty (30) different courses related to computer and engineering technology. He is active in several professional societies and editorial boards and is a senior member of IEEE and ASME and ASEE and AHSIE.
Prof. Amir Abtahi Florida Atlantic University [biography]

Amir Abtahi (B.M.E., 19'72, University of Minnesota, and M.S., 1975, and Ph.D. 1981, MIT) teaches an array of fundamental and applied engineering courses in the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering at FAU. With a background in thermal and contr
Dr. Nancy Romance http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8449-0187 Florida Atlantic University [biography]

Dr. Romance is Professor of Science Education in the College of Education at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and a graduate faculty member in both the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Science at FAU.Her research interests a

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