Energy Engineering and Environmental Engineering: "Carbon neutral" Optimal Design of Environmental Energy Facilities

Course 3: Energy Engineering and Environmental Engineering: “Carbon neutral” Optimal Design of Environmental Energy Facilities

I. Course Description

Growing increasing energy demand and growing environmental problems such as climate change and air pollution have forced people to seek innovative solutions to achieve sustainable energy supply and environmental protection. In this context, “carbon neutrality” has become an urgent goal to achieve net zero emissions by reducing carbon dioxide emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy sources. Therefore, the intersection of energy engineering and environmental engineering arises to solve the complex relationship between energy and the environment.

At present, the world is facing various environmental challenges, such as increasing global warming, environmental pollution and resource depletion. To address these challenges, mankind needs to develop science and technology in many fields, and take a systematic and effective approach to face the current challenges and propose reasonable solutions. This course will discuss the major environmental and energy challenges currently facing humans and introduce systems engineering approaches that can be used to evaluate and develop effective solutions. These methods are based on mathematical modeling, and include numerical (computer programming) simulation and optimization. In the research project, students will have the opportunity to learn and study key energy and environmental technologies, including chemical, biochemical (e. g. bioreactor) and electrochemical (e. g. electrolysis, fuel cell) systems. The course covers a wide range of energy and environmental science and engineering, systems engineering, and chemical engineering.

II. Professor introduction

Aidong Yang – Tentenured Professor at Oxford University

Professor Aidong Yang joined the University of Oxford in 2014 as a tenured Professor in the Department of Engineering Sciences at Green Templeton College, and also as head of the Systems Engineering Group Research at the University of Oxford. The professor studied in chemical Engineering at Dalian University of Technology and received his doctorate in 1997. Prior to joining Oxford, Professor Yang was a senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and Process Engineering at the University of Surrey.

Professor Yangs research interest lies in the development of modeling methods and tools for chemical / biochemical processes and related systems, as well as application models and other systems engineering methods to support the development of sustainable energy, engineering and manufacturing systems. In particular, his research group is currently active in three areas: biological systems engineering, food-energy-water relationships, and negative emission technology. The professors academic achievements, publishing more than 175 papers in top academic journals, such as Physical Sciences and Engineering, are known for their rigorous peer review process and contributions to knowledge progress in their respective fields. Professor Yang also organized and led an international conference on “Greenhouse Gas Removal by Improving Climate Conditions” as a conference leader for five consecutive years.

III. syllabus

1. Introduction to low-carbon economy; principle of energy system
2. Energy conversion and storage technology
3. Electrochemical systems and green hydrogen energy
4. Technical and economic analysis: energy cost and efficiency
5. life cycle assessment and carbon footprint
6. Bioenergy and biofuels
7. Carbon capture, storage, and utilization
8. Future energy systems: Computer modeling optimization
9. Future energy systems: computer modeling and simulation
10. Technology to system: the relationship between circular economy and resources