The University Senate of Michigan Technological
University
Proposal 17-09
(Voting Units: Academic)
“Interdisciplinary Minor in Hydrogen Technology”
1. Introduction
The search for alternative energy sources is an area that has received great attention on and off over the last few decades. A growing area of research and development is currently occurring in the area of hydrogen energy and hydrogen fuel cells. Such technology has been suggested for transportation (motor vehicles) and stationary (heating and electricity) applications.
This proposal for a new minor is a portion of a Department of Energy grant for Hydrogen Education (9/2008 – 8/2011) which has 10 faculty and staff participants, from 4 academic departments and one research center. This minor is based upon the curriculum set forth in the successful “Enterprise Minor” (Senate Proposal 13-02) and “Nanoscale Science and Engineering (Nanotechnology) Minor” (Senate Proposal 17-05) which integrate coursework with research and/or enterprise project work.
The minor in Hydrogen Technology is designed to:
1) Introduce students to the fundamentals of this field
2) Encourage students to pursue interdisciplinary course and project work outside of their major
3) Allow for participation by students in diverse majors
2. Rationale
In the future, hydrogen may be used as an energy carrier for transportation and stationary applications. In order to introduce students into this area, a formal minor in Hydrogen Technology is proposed to give students the proper background for success in industry, graduate school, or government.
This minor builds upon the multi-year, interdisciplinary Enterprise and Nanotechnology minors by which students will work on hydrogen-related projects in the Alternative Fuels Group Enterprise or on hydrogen-related research projects.
Modifying the framework of the enterprise minor and
nanotechnology minor is the most appropriate format for this minor. It is based
upon elements of a Department of Energy award to
The Hydrogen Technology minor is a non-departmental minor that will be administered through the Department of Chemical Engineering and in cooperation with the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies.
The proposal has been written by the following individuals: Jason M. Keith, Daniel A. Crowl, and David W. Caspary (Department of Chemical Engineering); Jeffrey S. Allen, Jeffrey D. Naber, Abhijit Mukherjee, Dennis Desheng Meng (Department of Mechanical Engineering - Engineering Mechanics); John T. Lukowski (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering); Barry D. Solomon (Department of Social Sciences); and Jay S. Meldrum (Keweenaw Research Center).
3. Details
of Catalog Copy
I.
Title of Minor
Hydrogen Technology Minor
II.
Catalog Description
This interdisciplinary minor focuses on hydrogen technology as an alternative to fossil fuels for stationary and transportation applications. One component is participation in the Alternative Fuels Group Enterprise with project work based upon hydrogen fuel cells and/or other hydrogen technologies, such as hydrogen production or storage. Students will also enroll in hydrogen related elective course modules to receive the appropriate training. Students will also be exposed to the broader, societal impacts of hydrogen technology. Although the minor is open to all students, targeted majors are chemical engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, electrical engineering technology, and mechanical engineering technology.
III.
List of Courses
The Hydrogen Technology Minor will require 16 semester credit hours. The Minor must include at least 6 semester credit hours of 3000 level or higher courses which are not required for the Major degree program except as free electives.
A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required for courses in this minor.
Required Courses
Select 4 to 6 credits from the
list below:
Course
# |
Title |
Credits |
Prerequisites /
Corequisites |
Offered |
Frequency |
ENT1960 |
Alternative
Fuels Group |
1** |
None |
Fall,
Spring |
Annually |
ENT2950 |
Alternative
Fuels Group |
1** |
Sophomore,
Junior, or Senior Standing |
Fall,
Spring |
Annually |
ENT2960 |
Alternative
Fuels Group |
1** |
Sophomore,
Junior, or Senior Standing |
Fall,
Spring |
Annually |
ENT3950 |
Alternative
Fuels Group |
1** |
Junior
Standing |
Fall,
Spring |
Annually |
ENT3960 |
Alternative
Fuels Group |
1** |
Junior
Standing |
Fall,
Spring |
Annually |
ENT4900 |
Alternative
Fuels Group |
2** |
Senior
Standing |
Fall,
Spring |
Annually |
ENT4910 |
Alternative
Fuels Group |
2** |
Senior
Standing |
Fall,
Spring |
Annually |
ENT4950 |
Alternative
Fuels Group |
2** |
Senior
Standing |
Fall,
Spring |
Annually |
ENT4960 |
Alternative
Fuels Group |
2** |
Senior
Standing |
Fall,
Spring |
Annually |
ENT4961 |
Alternative
Fuels Group |
1** |
Permission
of Instructor; Senior Standing ENT3950
and ENT3960 and ENT4950 and ENT4960 |
Fall,
Spring |
Annually |
Select one course from the
list below:
Course
# |
Title |
Credits |
Prerequisites /
Corequisites |
Offered |
Frequency |
CM/ENT
3974 |
Fuel
Cell Fundamentals |
1 |
CH1100
or CH110 |
Fall |
Annually |
MEEM
4990/5990 |
Fuel
Cell Technology |
3 |
(MEEM2200
or MY3100 or CM3230) and (CH1110 or CH1110) |
Fall |
Annually |
Select at least one course from
the list below:
Course
# |
Title |
Credits |
Prerequisites /
Corequisites |
Offered |
Frequency |
CM/ENT
3977 |
Fundamentals
of Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier |
1 |
PH2200
and (CH1100 or CH1110) |
Fall |
Annually |
CM/ENT
3978 |
Hydrogen
Measurements Laboratory |
1 |
PH2200
and (CH1100 or CH1110) |
Spring |
Annually |
Elective Courses: Select
remaining credits from the list below:
Course
# |
Title |
Credits |
Prerequisites /
Corequisites |
Offered |
Frequency |
CM3110 |
Transport
/ Unit Operations 1 |
3 |
CM2120 and PH2100 and
(MA3520 or MA3521 or MA3530 or MA3560) |
Fall,
Spring |
Annually |
CM3120 |
Transport
/ Unit Operations 2 |
3 |
CM3110 and (MA3520 or
MA3521 or MA3530 or MA3560) |
Spring |
Annually |
CM4000 |
Chemical
Engineering Research |
1-3** |
None |
Fall,
Spring |
Annually |
CM4310 |
Chemical
Process Safety / Environment |
3 |
Senior
Standing CM3120 and CM3230 |
Fall |
Annually |
CM4550 |
Industrial
Chemical Production |
3 |
(CH2400 or CH2410) and CM3510(C) |
On
Demand |
Annually |
EC4620 |
Energy
Economics |
3* |
(EC3001 or EC3002 or
EC3003) and UN2002 |
Spring |
Annually |
EE2110 |
Electrical
Circuits |
3 |
EE2150 and (MA3520 or
MA3521 or MA3530 or MA3560) |
Fall,
Spring, Summer |
Annually |
EE3010 |
Circuits
and Instrumentation |
3 |
May not be enrolled in one
of the following majors: Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering |
Fall,
Spring, Summer |
Annually |
EE3120 |
Introduction
to Energy Systems |
3 |
EE2110 or EE3010 |
Fall,
Spring |
Annually |
EE3221 |
Introduction
to Motor Drives |
4 |
EE2110 or EE3010 |
Spring |
Annually |
EE4000 |
Electrical
Engineering Undergraduate Research |
1-4** |
None |
Fall,
Spring |
Annually |
EET2120 |
Circuits
II |
4 |
EET1120 and (MA1160(C) or
MA1161(C) or MA1135(C) or MA1140(C)) |
Fall,
Spring, Summer |
Annually |
EET3131 |
Instrumentation |
3 |
EET 1411 or EET 2311 or EET
2220 |
Spring |
Annually |
EET3390 |
Power
Systems |
3 |
EET2233 |
Fall |
Annually |
ENG5510 |
Sustainable
Futures I |
3 |
UN2002 Junior or Senior Standing |
Fall |
Annually |
ENG5520 |
Sustainable
Futures II |
3 |
None |
Spring |
Annually |
ENT3956 |
Industrial
Health and Safety |
1 |
Junior
or Senior Standing |
Fall |
Annually |
ENT3975 |
Intro
to Vehicle Design and System Modeling |
1 |
ENG1102 |
Fall |
Annually |
MEEM
3210 |
Fluid
Mechanics |
3 |
Co-requisite:
MEEM3220 Pre-requisite: MEEM2200 and
MEEM2700(C) |
Fall,
Spring, Summer |
Annually |
MEEM
3230 |
Heat
Transfer |
3 |
MEEM3210 and (MA3520 or
MA3521 or MA3530 or MA3560) |
Fall,
Spring, Summer |
Annually |
MEEM
3999 |
ME
Undergrad Research Project |
3** |
None |
Fall,
Spring |
Annually |
MEEM
4220 |
Internal
Combustion Engines 1 |
3 |
MEEM3210 |
Fall |
Annually |
MEEM
4990/5990 |
Micro-
and Nanofabrication for Energy Applications |
3 |
EE4200 or MEEM4640/ 5640 |
Fall |
Annually |
MET3250 |
Applied
Fluid Mechanics |
4 |
MET2130 |
Fall |
Annually |
MET4300 |
Applied
Heat Transfer |
3 |
MET3600 |
Fall |
Annually |
MET4390 |
Internal
Combustion Engines |
3 |
MET3600(C)
or MET3361 |
Spring |
Alternate
years beginning with 07-08 |
MET4900 |
Alternative
Energy Systems |
3 |
Junior or Senior Standing MET3600 or MET3361 |
Spring |
Alternate
years beginning with 06-07 |
MY3100 |
Materials
Processing I |
4 |
MY2100 |
Fall |
Annually |
MY3110 |
Materials
Processing II |
4 |
MY3100 |
Spring |
Annually |
MY4140 |
Science
of Ceramic Materials |
3 |
MY2100 |
Spring |
Annually |
MY4990 |
Materials
Science and Engineering Undergraduate Research |
1-6** |
None |
Fall,
Spring |
Annually |
MY5410 |
Materials
for Energy Applications |
3 |
MEEM2200 or MY3100 or
CM3230 |
Spring |
Annually |
SS3800 |
Energy
Technology and Policy |
3* |
UN2002 |
Spring |
Alternate
years beginning with 01-02 |
Students are encouraged,
though not required, to take at least one course from the list above which are
related to the broader context and societal impacts of hydrogen
technology:
CM4310 Chemical Process Safety / Environment (3)
EC4620 Energy Economics (3)*
ENG5510 Sustainable Futures I (3)
ENG5520 Sustainable Futures II (3)
ENT3956 Industrial Health and Safety (1)
SS3800 Energy Technology and Policy (3)*
* indicates that the course may be used to satisfy HASS Distribution Course Requirement if not required by major.
** topic must be approved by minor program coordinator (J. Keith)
4.
New Course Descriptions
Two new courses have been proposed and have been through the new course review process in October 2008, independent of this minor proposal. They will be first taught in the semesters indicated of the 2009-2010 academic year. Development of these courses was funded by the United States Department of Energy.
Fundamentals of Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier (1 credit)
Course numbers: CM/ENT 3977
Description: This course provides an overview of traditional and alternative
energy sources, with particular emphasis on hydrogen energy. Discussion of
energy production and sources; electric and hydrogen vehicles; production,
distribution, and policy of hydrogen and the hydrogen economy.
Semesters offered: Fall on an annual basis
Hydrogen Measurements Laboratory (1 credit)
Course numbers: CM/ENT 3978
Description: This course provides an introduction to basic
experiments and measurements that relate to hydrogen and hydrogen powered fuel
cells. Includes chemical and electrical safety, fuel cell operation and
introduction to fuel cell integration into practical applications.
Semesters offered: Spring on an annual basis
5.
Estimated Costs
The immediate initiation of this minor has no direct new costs. The minor-specific courses CM/ENT3974, CM/ENT3977, and CM/ENT3978 will be taught by one or more of the investigators (Keith, Crowl, Caspary, Allen, Naber, Mukherjee, Meng, Lukowski, Solomon, Meldrum) or by other faculty who may have a research and teaching interest in this area.
The Alternative Fuels Group Enterprise project work courses (ENT1960, ENT2950, ENT2960, ENT3950, ENT3960, ENT4900, ENT4910, ENT4950, ENT4960, and ENT4961) will also be taught by one or more of the investigators (Keith, Crowl, Caspary, Allen, Naber, Mukherjee, Meng, Lukowski, Solomon, Meldrum) or by other faculty who may have a research and teaching interest in this area. Funded projects will be pursued in concert with the Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies at Michigan Technological University.
Introduced to Senate:
01 April 2009
Adopted by Senate: 15 April 2009
Approved by Administration: 22 April 2009