AUB/FEA/ECE

Environmental Impacts of Energy Systems

EECE671
Graduate Course for graduate and senior undergraduate ECE students.
Course Description
World energy resources and classifications. Sources and effects of air pollution. Air
quality modeling, Gaussian dispersion models. Motor vehicles emissions and noise
pollution, mitigation strategies. Environmental impacts of electricity generation,
pollution control systems, electromagnetic radiations.
Course Objectives

This environment- related engineering course covers the general energy

production and consumption trends, and the impact of main energy systems such
as power plants and motor vehicles on the environment.
Students will have the opportunity to understand experimentation, critical analysis
and technically sound solutions to environmental problems encountered in energy
conversion processes, mainly in the electric power and transportation sectors.
Students will be introduced to current methodologies for cleaner energy
conversion technologies
Supplemented by projects, chosen from various related topics, students should be
able to anticipate the impact that energy systems have on the environment and the
solutions implemented to minimize their effects.

BLENDED COURSE
The course will be offered, for the 3rd time, in a blended- learning format. This is a
teaching approach which combines regular classroom teaching (face to face, F2F) with
online teaching. According to this newly introduced teaching method approximately 1/4
of the course learning will take place through online interactions. As such around 7
classroom sessions will be replaced by out-of-class activities including online
assignments, discussion and tests.
Online postings will be graded with the help of a rubric. The rubrics for individual
postings will be made available for students beforehand so they can aim for a high grade.
The course outline and schedule for the Spring 14 term are set as follows:
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Course Outline and Schedule

Week
Date
Module
1
1

2
3

3
4

5
6
6
7
7

Delive Online Activity

ry
Jan.27
Introduction
Course structure and blended F2F
format
Jan.29
World Energy Energy: resources, utilization F2F
process,
types
and
classifications
Feb. 3
World Energy Energy
utilization,
and F2F
consumption trends,
Topics for term projects to be listed on Moodle, for students to
select from.
Feb. 5
World Energy Energy storage, growth F2F
forecasts
Feb. 10 World Energy Engineering and sustainable online To
read
the
development, readings and
posted article and
forums
respond to the
forum
instructions.
Feb.12 Air Pollution Sources, earth atmosphere, F2F
particulate matter
Feb. 17 Air Pollution Oxides of sulphur, oxides of F2F
nitrogen, carbon monoxide,
carbon dioxide, VOC, lead
Feb. 19 Air Pollution Ozone layer depletion
online To read about
ozone
layer
depletion
and
answer the selfassessment
questions.
Feb. 24 Air Pollution Secondary
pollutants, F2F
thermal pollution, global
impacts, monitoring and
sampling
Feb. 26
Quiz 1
Online Air
pollution
section
March
Modelling
Lapse rate, atmospheric F2F
3
conditions,
March
Modelling
Gaussian dispersion model- F2F
5
point source
March
Modelling
Maximum ground level F2F
10
concentration, examples
March
Modelling
Stack height optimization, F2F
12
line source,

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Topics to be Covered

March
17
March
19

Modelling

area source, standards

F2F

Modelling

Discussion and examples

online

Transport

IC
engines,
classifications

10
11

March
24
March
26
March
31
April 2
April 7

11

April 9

Transport

12

April
14

Power sector

12

April
16
April
23
April
28

Power sector

Power sector

Introduction, energy model,

particulates
collection
devices;
fabric
filters,
gravitational collectors,
ESP, wet collectors, SO2
emissions control
Examples,
fuel
desulfurization, CHP
Mitigation measures, forum

April
30

Magnetic
fields

EM spectrum, E. M. fields, F2F

Power lines, Amperes law

9
9
10

13
14

15

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fuel F2F

Midterm
Transport
Transport
Transport

Power sector

Preparing
and
solving problems
on air quality
modelling.
Submission of the
first phase of the
term project, and
posting it, to be
followed
by
discussion
and
comments
by
each student.

F2F
Air pollution impacts, diesel
engines
Noise pollution, examples
Sound
propagation,
examples
Quiz(2), and forum on
mitigation measures

F2F
F2F
F2F
online

To read an article
on
transport
mitigation
measures, and sit
for a quiz.

F2F

F2F
F2F
online

To read an article
on
mitigation
measures in the
power sector, and
respond to the
forum
instructions.

15

April
30

Magnetic
fields

Mobile phones: Effects on online

humans

Submission of Term projects

Presentation of Term projects

To read and
summarize
effects of mobile
phones on
humans.
INTERPHONE
study, and
respond to the
forum
instructions.

F2F

Course Outline
Introduction
1- World Energy (4 lectures, 90 min. each)
Energy resources, types and classifications. Energy utilization, trends overview, growth
rates and forecasts. Storage systems of electric, mechanical, thermal, and chemical
energy.
Engineering and energy sustainability.
2- Sources and Impacts of Air Pollution (4 lectures)
Types of air pollutants and their effects. Primary and secondary air pollutants. Pollutants
of global impacts: Greenhouse phenomenon, ozone layer depletion. Air pollution
monitoring and sampling.
3- Air Quality Modeling (6 lectures)
Stable atmospheric conditions, atmospheric dispersion and plumes shape. Gaussian
dispersion models: point, line, and area sources. Pollutants concentration determination.
Air quality standards.
4- Motor Vehicles Emissions and Noise Pollution (6 lectures)
Internal combustion engines: Petrol and diesel engines, air pollution impacts, emission
analysis, measures to reduce air pollution from transport. Noise pollution: Physical
aspects of sound, noise level prediction, noise control.
5- Environmental Impacts of Electricity Generation (4 lectures)
Energy model of power plants. Particulates collection devices. Gaseous emissions
control: Flue-gas desulfurization systems. Nitrogen oxides removal. Quantification of
emissions from power plants. Mitigation measures.
6- Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (3 lectures)
Electromagnetic spectrum, electromagnetic fields and radiations, their origin and
impacts. Exposure to power lines low frequency fields. Effects on humans. Mobile
phones, exposure to high- frequency fields, specific absorption rate, safety guidelines.
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Grades Distribution
Online Quizzes:
Quiz 1:
5 pts
Quiz 2:
5 pts
Online individual assignments:
Term project, 1st submission and online discussion:
Term project, final submission:
Midterm:
Class participation:
Final:

10 pts
15 pts
5 pts
15 pts
20 pts
5 pts
30 pts

Feedback on Assignments: Feedback and grades for various assignments will be posted
on Moodle or via emails, and, if needed, will be also
discussed in class.
P.S.: Class attendance will be taken regularly.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students should be able to:

Correlation to
Program Outcomes
Low Medium High
1. Describe types and classes of world energy resources
h
f,j
e
2. Identify sources and impacts of air pollution
a,h,j
3. Relate emissions from energy conversion processes to global
f,h
environmental concerns
4. Use mathematical models for predicting pollution
e
a
concentration in the atmosphere
5. Quantify emissions from various sources
h
e
a
6. Describe the impacts of power and transport sectors on the
a
f
environment
7. Understand and apply various mitigation strategies
a,c,e
f
8. Relate emissions to national and international standards
i
f,h
9. Use modern online interface and learning techniques
d
i
k
10. Contribute to team efforts
d,g
Text Book: No specific textbook is assigned, course notes will be made available for
students through the course Moodle page.
References
1. Sources and Control of air pollution. R. J. Heinsohn and R. L. Kabel, Prentice Hall,
1999.
2. Environmental Engineering. P.A. Vesiland, J. J. Pierce, and R. F. Weiner, 3rd Edition,
Butterworth- Heinemann, 1994.
3. Air Pollution, Measurement, Modelling and Mitigation. A. Tiwary, and J. Colls,
Routledge, 2010.
4. Power generation and the environment. L. Roberts, P. Liss, and P. Saunders. Oxford
Un. Press, 1995.

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5. Statistical methods for environmental pollution monitoring. R. O. Gilbert, Van

Nostrand Reinhold, 1987.
6. Air Pollution Control Equipment Calculations. L. Theodore, Wiley and Sons, 2008.
Course Instructor:
Prof. Farid Chaaban

Bechtel, room 332A, Ext: 3541, 3524, e-mail: fbchaban@aub.edu.lb

Office hours: M, W, Th,F: 9:00-10:30, Wednesday: 14:30-15:30.
For Technical Support, or enquiries about Moodle, contact: acc@aub.edu.lb
Details about the technology tools will be given in the introductory session by
ACC staff.
Statements on Plagiarism and Falsification of Documents as stated in the ECE
manuals:
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of appropriating material from sources other than the students own.
Plagiarism in papers, reports, or homework will therefore be penalized as in violations of
examination regulations.

Falsification of Documents
For any willful and clear act of falsification of any document requested or issued by the Faculty,
the student shall be suspended from the Faculty for a specified period, or expelled from the
Faculty. For any willful and clear act of falsification of any document submitted for admission to
the Faculty, the applicant shall be barred from admission to the Faculty at any future date or
may be permitted to reapply after a specified period. In such cases the Admissions Committee
shall decide upon the penalty.
For details about ECE, FEA and University regulations, please refer to the relevant catalogues
and manuals.
In what follows are the link to the ECE undergraduate and graduate manuals:
http://webfea.fea.aub.edu.lb/ece/docs/ECE_UG_Manual_July_2010.pdf
http://webfea.fea.aub.edu.lb/ece/docs/ECE_GR_Manual_Sep_2010.pdf

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