An advanced energy assessment course covering necessary commercial-industrial plant and facility testing required for obtaining output efficiency results on energy systems and equipment. Examines control concepts and performance characteristics and their application. Study includes use of controls and test instrumentation and equipment for determining productive and efficient operation in areas such as combustion, power demand, input and use of energy and environmental elements or other processes in power plants to ensure equipment is operating efficiently and within the specified range. Mandatory laboratory activities or authentic field activities.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
- Thermodynamics, Power Plant Cycles
- Describe basic plant cycles and thermodynamics while reviewing data collected for energy efficiency calculations.
- Describe basic co-generation and combined cycle plant data collected for energy efficiency review calculations.
- Prime Mover Efficiencies and Benchmarking
- Analyze prime mover efficiencies including those for steam and gas turbines.*
- Apply steam, gas turbine efficiency calculations to the benchmarking processes as found for basic equipment and system operations.
- Testing and Analysis
- Conduct tests to analyze basic boiler results and efficiencies.
- Analyze boiler operating efficiency, calculations for benchmarking basic operations.
- Plant Emissions
- Describe boiler emissions controls and various boiler and plant emissions.
- Analyze plant emissions with the prospect of providing benchmarking.*
- Treatments for Waterside and Fireside
- Analyze fireside waterside inspections to improve plant efficiency.*
- Analyze water treatment (steam boilers), impact on efficiency.
- Boiler Efficiency and Oxygen Trim
- Identify boiler efficiency improvement opportunities.
- Test, analyze combustion air control, and oxygen control (O2 Trim) efficiency.
- Steam and Air Conditioning System Analysis
- Analyze steam distribution system efficiency for finding improvement opportunities.*
- Analyze commercial/industrial air conditioning system efficiency for finding improvement opportunities.
- Test and Measurement with Data Loggers
- Apply productively the latest test and measurement instrumentation for equipment and system applications including digital equipment and data loggers.*
Assessment and Requirements
The assessment for this course will include lab experiences for each objective and exams covering each major topic with the percentage of student achievement for these elements and the percentage of the total course being determined by the individual instructor.
Outcomes
Credit for Prior College-Level Learning
This course is identified as a departmental course for which a learner can receive college credit for prior college-level learning and/or skills acquired outside the traditional classroom. Terms of the HFC Credit for Prior College-Level Learning Policy may be met by review of the appropriate documentation, skill, certifications, and/or knowledge acquired by the learner and submitted for evaluation by the appropriate departmental faculty. As required, one or more of the following may be considered in the evaluation process: A. field experience B. licenses held C. completing course exams and/or D. performance sequences and/or E. competing a portfolio.