Energy conversion systems are something that all people are dependent upon for transports, heating, household appliances, etc. The energy systems of the world are under a steady change and the major challenge today is how to combine sustainability with increased primary energy consumption globally. The special attention is on the close relationship between the use of primary energy and human-induced climate change.

In Sweden, the industrial sector uses more than one third of the energy (final use) and the industrial sector is the second emitter of fossil carbon dioxide after the transport sector. The supply and use of energy have become an increasingly strategic issue for energy intensive industrial companies due to volatile global energy prices and the perceived risk with unstable policy instruments intended to mitigate the use of fossil fuels (carbon taxes, energy taxes, etc.).

This course is covering advanced applied thermodynamics of importance for energy processes of industrial scale. During the course you will learn about technical, economic and, to some extent, environmental characteristics of real energy processes. The main part of the course is attributed to theory and problem solving within the field of technical thermodynamics. 

After finished course, you should be able to:

• Analyse the technical performance for energy processes in industrial scale with the help of thermodynamic relationships.

• Calculate combustion reactions and heat yields for different fuels.

• Perform thermodynamic calculations on thermal power and combined heat and power cycles, e.g. steam cycles, combined cycles, and stationary motors.

• Estimate the potential for energy efficiency by utilizing process integration (pinch analysis) including heat exchanging, heat pumping, and waste heat recovery.

• Apply relevant system boundaries to energy-related problems.

• Analyse the performance of energy conversion systems in relation to ideal systems and with this as a starting point suggest improvements.

• Evaluate the economic consequences of different energy solutions.

1. Lectures, exercises (tutorials), and calculation practices (räknestugor). During the lectures, different concepts and theories will be introduced by the teacher in a broader context (especially system aspects, energy recovery, economy, etc. that are insufficiently covered in the text book). The exercises (tutorials) and calculation practices are mainly used for the individual training of energy calculations.
2. An assignment where the student evaluates an industrial system for combined heat and power (CHP) or heat only generation. During the assignment, the student will practise the application of energy and mass balances for a complete cycle as well as analysing the financial viability of the plant. The results from the assignment will be presented as part of the examination.

Voluntary practices for problem solving (räknestugor)

During the course there will be voluntary practices (räknestugor), where the student can practise problem solving together with the teachers. The students may ask the teachers for further explanations of problems and prepare themselves for the intermediate tests and the exam, as well as for the assignment work. We also try to answer questions through e-mail. Please schedule an appointment if you want to visit us.

Study visits

We hope to be able to arrange a full day field trip to Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery in Finspång and a half day field trip to the CHP plant at Värtaverket. The first is a factory where turbines have been produced continuously since 1913 and the CHP KVV8 at Värtaverket is the largest bio-fuelled CHP plant in Europe. Previous years, the field trips have been much appreciated among the students.

Knowledge equivalent to the course KE1030 Transport Phenomena and Engineering Thermodynamics or KE1160 Thermodynamics

• Textbook: "Principles of Engineering Thermodynamics" (SI Version), by Moran & Shapiro (any edition). Earlier editions that also are called “Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics” will work.
• Examples with solutions (available on Canvas)
• Previous tests and intermediate tests with solutions (available on Canvas)
• Tables and diagrams (T&D), “Tabeller och diagram för energitekniska beräkningar” together with hs-diagrams for water and air (circa SEK 240 by credit card at the Student’s Office at Teknikringen 28)

Students at KTH with a permanent disability can get support during studies from Funka:

Funka - compensatory support for students with disabilities

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

• BER1 - Calculation Task, 3.0 credits, Grading scale: P, F
• TEN1 - Examination, 4.5 credits, Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

The two parts of the examination are evaluated and reported separately, but both a linked to the final grade. The homework assignment includes: a presentation, a final report and a reflective report about your own contributions in relation to the project as a whole. The final report is linked to the final grade through the number of revisions of the report before it is passed. The final grade will be one step higher than the grade for the exam if the report passes without revision and the final grade will be equal to the grade for the exam if the report passes after the first revision. The final grade will thereafter decrease with one step compared to the grade for the exam for each time the report is revised before it passes.

Over the course, two intermediate tests that together could give up to 20 credits are offered. If 12 or more credits are achieved in these tests, full score will automatically be given on one specified problem at the exam. This problem should therefore not be solved.

BER1 - Calculation Task, 3.0 credits

The assignment is normally carried out in a group of two. It is preferably solved by using Excel or Matlab. The final assignment report is linked to the final grade through the number of revisions of the report before it has passed.

The assignment (BER1, 3ECTS points) includes a presentation, a final report, and an individual reflective report about your own contributions in relation to the project as a whole. The presentation is due on 9 October. The final report is linked to the final grade through the number of revisions of the report before it has passed. The final grade will be one step higher than the grade for the exam if the final report passes without revision and the final grade will be equal to the grade for the exam if the report passes after the first revision. The final grade will thereafter decrease with one step compared to the grade for the exam for each time the report is revised before it has passed.

TEN1 - Examination, 4.5 credits

The exam (TEN1, 4.5 ECTS points) is due on 24 October (Tuesday), 08oo-13oo.

Intermediate tests (kontrollskrivning)

Intermediate tests: 11 September, 10oo-12oo, and 22 September, 08oo-10oo.

Over the course, two intermediate tests that together could give up to 20 points are offered. If 12 or more points are achieved in these tests, full score will automatically be given on one specified problem at the exam; this problem should therefore not be solved. The benefits provided by passing the limit for the intermediate tests can be used for the exam and the following reexam in December 2023. 

In addition to the bonus the intermediate tests may provide, they have proved to be very valuable training for the rest of the course. The results from the first intermediate test will also be used to form the assignment groups.

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.