FRES 1010 - FALL 2001

 

                                                The End of Cheap and Dirty Energy

 

Instructor:                     Dr. Alberto E. Patiņo Douce - klingon@3rdrock.gly.uga.edu - 542-2394

Time and Place:            Fridays 12:20 - 1:10 - 325 GG Building

 

                                                                       Syllabus

 

Day                 Topic

Aug 17             Introduction to energy - what is it and why do we need it?

Aug 24             Overview of energy resources - where does it come from?

Aug 31             Energy use in the U.S. and the world.

Sep 7               A problem with fossil and nuclear fuels: they are non-renewable.

Sep 14             Another problem with fossil fuels: destruction of the global environment.

Sep 21             More on the impending environmental catastrophe.

Sep 28             The nuclear alternative.

Oct 5               Other alternatives, with and without emissions.

Oct 12             What you can do to save the planet: video and discussion

Oct 19             No class - preparation time for student-led discussions

Oct 26             No class - Fall Break

Nov 2              Student-led discussion: Pros- and cons- of hydroelectric power.

Nov 9              Student-led discussion: Solar, wind and geothermal energy

Nov 16            Student-led discussion: Methanol, ethanol, hydrogen and biodiesel.

Nov 23            No class - Thanksgiving

Nov 30            Final discussion.

 

 

                                                                   Class Policies

 

This seminar will be graded on a pass/fail basis. In order to obtain a passing grade you must do all of the following:

(i) Attend class regularly (I will check attendance).

(ii) Participate actively in class (both your body and your mind must be in class).

(iii) Participate in the preparation and delivery of one of the three student-led discussions.

 

                                                           Student-led discussions

 

The class will be split into three teams. Each team will be responsible for preparing one of the three student-led discussions listed in the syllabus. This will entail writing a short research paper (8 - 10 pages) and delivering its contents to the whole class on the assigned date. We will assemble the teams on Friday, August 31. We will then schedule appointments with each of the three teams sometime during September, so that I can give you guidance in preparing your projects.

                                                                                        Detailed Syllabus

 

Aug 17 - Introduction to energy - what is it and why do we need it?

Historical overview of the use of energy. What our world would look like without an abundant supply of energy. Comparison of lifestyles in developed and underdeveloped regions of the world.

But is our energy use sustainable? Why or why not? Two issues to consider: supply and collateral damage.

Concept of renewable and non-renewable resources - human time scales vs. geologic time scales

Aug 24 - Overview of energy resources - where does it come from?

Traditional energy resources (wood and fossil fuels). Definitions and brief description of what they are.

Nuclear fission. How it works. U and Th fuel cycles.

Non-traditional resources (most of them renewable): solar; hydroelectric; wind; tidal; hydrogen (non-nuclear process); geothermal; biogenic fuels: methane, methanol, ethanol and biodiesel; oceanic thermal gradient.

Electric cars: do they make any sense?

Nuclear fission: promise or hype? 

Aug 31 - Energy use in the U.S. and the world.

Comparison of energy use in the U.S. and the rest of the world. How much for transportation? How much for manufacturing? How much for lighting and heating? How do car fuel efficiencies compare? How does availability of mass transit compare? How can we get people in the U.S. to drive less, ride mass transit, and drive smaller cars when they absolutely have to drive? Do we need commuter airlines? Why not good rail systems instead? What went wrong in the U.S. to turn us into the worst kind of energy abusers?

Sep 7 - A problem with fossil and nuclear fuels: they are non-renewable.

The geology of coal, hydrocarbons and uranium. How do they form and accumulate, what does this tell us about the rates at which they form, and how much longer are the Earth's total budgets of these fuels going to last. Do we care about future generations?

Sep 14 - Another problem with fossil fuels: destruction of the global environment.

and

Sep 21 - More on the impending environmental catastrophe.

A closer look at the carbon cycle and the different time scales involved in forming and burning fossil fuels. What is the "greenhouse effect"? What are the data that show beyond any possible doubt that the greenhouse effect is very real? What predictions can be made for the next decades and the next couple of centuries? What will happen when temperatures rise? How will our children and grandchildren feed and house themselves? Do some people really care about them as they say they do? Other problems in addition to global warming: ozone depletion, acid rain.

Sep 28 - The nuclear alternative.

A closer look at nuclear fission and fusion. Safety issues. Storage of radioactive waste. Is there any better alternative that is immediately available?

Oct 5 - Other alternatives, with and without emissions.

The Sun as a source of energy. Directly: photovoltaic cells. Indirectly: hydroelectric power, wind, hydrogen from seawater, the oceanic thermal gradient, biogenic fuels. The Earth as a source of energy: geothermal energy.

Nov 2 - Student-led discussion: Pros- and cons- of hydroelectric power.

Nov 9 - Student-led discussion: Solar, wind and geothermal energy.

Nov 16 - Student-led discussion: Methanol, ethanol, hydrogen and biodiesel.

Nov 30 - Final discussion.

What have each of you learned in this seminar? What have I learned from you?