MSc Energy Systems Innovation

What is the module about?

The module gives an introduction to the field of petroleum engineering.

The oil and gas industry is often divided into two broad areas so called ‘‘upstream petroleum engineering’’ and ‘‘downstream petroleum engineering’’. ‘‘Upstream’’ is generally about getting oil and gas out of the ground (i.e. extracting it), whereas ‘‘downstream’’ is about what processing is done to the oil and gas after it already out of the ground.

Traditionally, a large number of chemical engineers work in ‘‘downstream’’ oil and gas, e.g. in areas such as petroleum refining. One of the main operations in petroleum refining, namely distillation, is very familiar to chemical engineers. Likewise, a cracking unit is used in petroleum refining is essentially a catalytic reactor, again an operation very familiar to chemical engineers.

This module focusses on the ‘‘upstream’’ end of petroleum engineering which historically is less familiar to chemical engineers than ‘‘downstream’’.

‘‘Upstream’’ is usually considered to be the province of petroleum engineers, rather than chemical engineers.

Chemical engineers do however possess the skill set needed to understand ‘‘upstream’’ oil and gas.

In order to extract oil and gas from the ground it is essential to understand what its phase behaviour is when still inside the ground and likewise what its phase behaviour will be once removed from the ground. Those are questions of thermodynamics, a subject that chemical engineers understand well.

Likewise, in order to extract oil and gas from the ground it is essential to understand what its flow behaviour is when still inside the ground as well as what its flow behaviour will be in a well taking material from inside the ground up to ground level. Those are questions of fluid flow, again a subject that chemical engineers understand well.

So the module is basically about applying knowledge of thermodynamics and fluid flow to understand upstream oil and gas.

How will the module operate?

Because the module is applying underpinning chemical engineering knowledge that students taking the module should already have, it will be delivered by problem based learning methods, rather than by lectures.

As a result of this the module being delivered in this fashion, students need to have good problem solving skills in order to undertake the module.

As the module progresses, students will be presented with a set of tutorial problems and by working through the tutorial problems and applying their existing knowledge, they will build up their understanding of petroleum engineering.

This module provides an overview of electrochemical energy conversion devices, including batteries, fuel cells and electrolysers for energy storage and generation.

The course will cover the fundamentals of galvanic cells, with an introduction to equilibrium thermodynamics and transport phenomena, as well as introducing the most important aspects of commercialisation of emerging technologies.

The main topics will include:

• thermodynamics - equilibrium electrochemistry and galvanic cells
• kinetics - Faraday’s Law and current-voltage relationships
• energy devices - overview of different battery, fuel cell and electrolysis technologies, including commercial/industrial applications and their place in the energy landscape
• device design, diagnostic methods and modelling
• techno-economic aspects of the hydrogen economy and grid-scale energy storage

This module aims to introduce the fundamentals of combustion engineering, and the concepts and applications of clean combustion technologies.

The module will teach the following:

• combustion chemistry and calculation of the adiabatic flame temperature
• laminar & turbulent flames. The concepts of ignition, flame extinction and instabilities
• getting started with solid fuel combustion, theoretical analysis of carbon particle combustion at the surface and intraparticle driven by mass and heat transfers
• theory of gasification & pyrolysis
• learn to build pyrolysis/gasification model of a single particle at various boundary conditions
• key factors that affect gasification process, and syngas upgrading technologies
• combustion associated pollutant emissions, and their formation mechanisms and prediction
• boiler designs, including CFB boiler and PC boiler & their performances
• theory of the high temperature air combustion technology & its application

You'll also get chances to conduct self-leaning on three combustion-relevant advanced technologies: Integrate Gasification Combined Cycle process, Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR)/Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), and Chemical Looping Combustion.

At the end, you'll be able to:

• describe and analyse combustion processes
• calculate key parameters concerning gas and solid combustion
• solve quantitative problems concerning mechanisms of pollutant formation in combustion processes
• explain and evaluate emissions control methods for combustion, including carbon capture
• apply the principles of clean combustion technologies in solving engineering problems

This module will cover the following items and item selected according to the project in question:

• Safety, risk assessment and COSHH
• Scientific document preparation using software and information technologies relevant to the project: document preparation software, imaging and statistical software, data presentation with relevant error analysis, use of computational/simulation tools
• Library skills
• Databases such as e.g. web of science, web of knowledge, Scopus
• Referencing using reference management software
• Proposal writing
• Gantt charts and how to prepare them via suitable software
• Project costing
• Ethical issues such as academic good practice and academic malpractice – ethics, plagiarism and sustainability

This module aims to impart an understanding of the underpinning theoretical principles and practical calculation methods for analysis of energy systems and an appreciation of how these systems are integrated in practical applications. Emphasis is on heat transfer and thermodynamic cycles. The underlying principles and analysis methods are appropriate for both renewable and non-renewable energy systems.

Lecturer: Dr Wong
Assessment: coursework (50%) and project (50%)

This module aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge to be able to undertake the following learning outcomes:

• Demonstrate a good understanding of project management practices and practical skills to manage project scope
• Gain intellectual skills to apply various project planning, scheduling and controlling methods with respect to the project triple constraints: time, cost and quality
• Develop a good understanding of the inter-dependency between various project management knowledge areas
• Understand the importance of project stakeholders and their impact on project management

This will be achieved through the following key areas:

• Introduction to project management principles, concepts and processes
• Project management and organisations: organisational influences, project stakeholders, project team, and project life cycle
• Project scoping: project definition, project objectives, project deliverables, and work breakdown structure
• Project planning and scheduling: definition of events, activities and nodes, network diagram, analysis of critical path, PERT method, and use of industry standard software packages
• Project controlling: cost estimate, budget setting, risk identification and assessment, and contingency planning
• Case studies/practical examples in project management

This module aims to provide a series of strategic frameworks for managing high-technology businesses. The main focus is on the acquisition of a set of powerful analytical tools which are critical for the development of a technology strategy as an integral part of business strategy. These tools can provide a guiding framework for deciding which technologies to invest in, how to structure those investments and how to anticipate and respond to the behaviour of competitors, suppliers, and customers. The course should be of particular interest to those interested in managing a business for which technology is likely to play a major role, and to those interested in consulting or venture capital.

At the end of this module students will be able to:

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the role and importance of technology in business strategy formulation process
• Develop the ability to critically assess concepts, tools and techniques of managing technology for both stable and turbulent business environments
• Evaluate complexity and develop appropriate technology strategy models for specific cases

Grades will be determined by class participation assessed through four two-page papers on case studies, which may be written in groups of 4 people (40%), and an individual final technology strategy report based on an in-depth exploration of technology strategy in an assigned industry (60%). There is no final exam.

This module explores financial options and strategies for ensuring the solvency and financial sustainability of business ventures. It covers topics including financial reporting and financial accounting in relation to the wider issues of corporate behaviour and corporate governance. Also covered are:

• financial instruments
• asset valuation
• capital project financing and methods of raising capital
• capital structure and gearing
• financial risk management
• elements of portfolio management
• and corporate business and financial strategies, including mergers, acquisitions and restructuring as aspects of financial engineering and corporate business management

The module will also look into the implications of the occurrence of financial crises at corporate, national and global levels for the financial engineering practice.

Learning objectives:

• understand issues in financial engineering and ability to analyse the significance of financial    engineering in terms of the macro and micro aspects of economic activities
• identify and analyse issues arising from the financial accounts and reports of companies
• identify sources and methods of raising project finance and implications of these for business and financial risk
• analyse the principles underlying operation of financial/capital markets
• identify and evaluate financial strategies and instruments for corporate risk management
• explain business sustainability in terms the imperatives of financial engineering

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) relates to the process of identifying, evaluating, and mitigating the biophysical, social, economic, cultural and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made. This class, run by the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering but open to all MSc and MEng students across the University, introduces the methods used to predict environmental impacts, and evaluates how these may be used to integrate environmental factors into decisions.

The class draws principally on the UK planning context of environmental impact assessment of individual projects (project EIA), but also takes account of EIA experience in other countries and international organisations. Participants evaluate the quality of Environmental Statements (or EIA Reports) and of the EIA process using the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) methodology.

The class discusses how EIA can be used a pro-active design tool for projects and how it can contribute to the enhancement of environmental, social and health issues. Students are also introduced to key principles of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and biodiversity net gain (BNG). Class has the contribution of key practitioners in the field and includes different case studies, such as proposed onshore and offshore windfarms.

Lecturer: Dr Megiddo & Prof Walls

Module introduces fundamental techniques of risk management and risk-informed decision making.

Under health and safety legislation, and under the wider European Post-Seveso Directives, it's mandatory for many industries to carry out risk assessments with the aim of showing that risk is “as low as reasonably practicable”. Students will have the opportunity to learn the general principles of methods and their place in risk management, as well as the chance to develop skills in applying these methods to a variety of engineering examples.

Module is split into two distinct sections.

1. focus will be on learning the modelling approaches and methods used by industry currently to manage risk
2. we shall consider tools and techniques that are gaining popularity in industry but are not yet widespread

The module considers the basic principles of uncertainty and consequence modelling, together with the tools and techniques required to apply these principles. Industry standard processes and software tools are discussed and illustrated by relevant case studies.

Euan Fenelon, Director of Asset Management for Natural Power will present his experiences on applying risk analysis methods during his time with Scottish Power and Natural Power.

Assessment

• group assignment to test ability to develop a full risk analysis for a technological system
• exam to assess understanding of key concepts and methods from the course

All students undertake an individual research project working with our high quality researchers on cutting-edge chemical engineering challenges. The module will teach the application of core and advanced chemical engineering principles within a research setting.

The module extends across the various advanced chemical engineering and business/management subjects taught during previous years to consider an advanced technical issue and a business case, within the students industrial workplace.

On completion of the module the student is expected to be able to:

• demonstrate an ability to work across subject boundaries in response to specific technical problems
• have an critical awareness of how to develop a research model and have an ability to apply analytical and modelling tools and techniques appropriately to a specific research problems
• be able to present a business case in support of proposals generated by research

Lecturer: Prof Jillian MacBryde

Assessment: coursework (100%)

The module will teach the following:

• Appreciation of the concept of a System, Systems Thinking, A systems Approach and Systems Engineering
• Systems Engineering Methodologies. Introduce the different types of methodologies and when they would be used: waterfall, incremental, spiral, agile, Vee, Viable, Soft Systems Methodology
• System of systems engineering: how and when systems of systems can be used instead of monolithic solutions to satisfy requirements
• V-model – advantages and disadvantages of managing system development complexity using the v-model.
• ISO15288 – introduce the different process for describing the life cycle of systems: enterprise; agreement; project; tailoring; and technical
• Requirements engineering – approaches to requirements elicitation and analysis; defining and documenting requirements
• Verification and validation – checking the system or system of systems satisfies the requirements and understanding the relationship with ISO9000
• Management of complexity – methodologies for the modelling, analysis and optimisation of complexity within systems engineering

Learning Objectives

• Awareness of relevant regulatory requirements governing engineering activities in the context of the particular specialisation (EL12M)
• A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations, and some appreciation of likely new developments (P9m)
• Ability to apply engineering techniques, taking account of a range of commercial and industrial constraints (P10m)
• Apply their skills in problem solving, communication, information retrieval, working with others, and the effective use of general IT facilities (G1)

Lecturer: Dr Itamar Megiddo

Assessment: coursework (50%), examination (50%)

This module aims to introduce the fundamental techniques of risk management and risk-informed decision making.

Under Health and Safety legislation, and under the wider European Post-Seveso Directives, it is mandatory for many industries to carry out risk assessments with the aim of showing that risk is “As Low As Reasonably Practicable”. Students will have the opportunity to learn the general principles of methods and their place in risk management, as well as the chance to develop skills in applying these methods to a variety of engineering examples.

The module is split into two distinct sections.

• Initially the focus will be on learning the modelling approaches and methods used by industry currently to manage risk
• Latterly we shall consider tools and techniques that are gaining popularity in industry but are not yet widespread

Throughout the module, the basic principles of uncertainty and consequence modelling are considered together with the tools and techniques required to apply these principles. Industry standard processes and software tools are discussed, and illustrated by relevant case studies.

Learning Outcomes:

• To understand the general process of risk management and its applications in industry
• To build risk models, appreciating the modelling issues involved in their application
• To understand key theoretical concepts and their application in the development of an ALARP case
• To use commercial software to conduct detailed risk analysis of technological systems