Course Description
Fundamental concepts related to the use of combustion as a source of transportation energy and advanced combustion technologies. Topics include mathematics of combustion, characteristics and structure of flames, chemical thermodynamics/thermochemistry, chemical kinetics, potential energy surfaces, collision theory, and molecular structure of hydrocarbons and biofuels.
Athena Title
Combustion Science
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will have • learned interdisciplinary concepts and problem solving skills in engineering and chemistry that are relevant to combustion science, safety engineering, chemical engineering, and fuel-processing applications. • understood the role of combustion in transitioning to a low-carbon energy future and the relevant short-term problems that require attention. • gained the ability to analyze reacting systems and flames and the ability to assess the utility of newly proposed biofuels in current and future combustion strategies.
Topical Outline
Examples of topics that will be covered in this course include (in approximate order): • Current and future transportation energy needs • Introduction to the molecular structure of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and next-generation biofuels; some organic chemistry topics included • Mathematical formulation and derivation of fundamental equations of combustion • Characteristics and structure of flames (diffusion flames vs. premixed flames) • Mass transfer in flames and reacting systems • Chemical thermodynamics and thermochemistry • Collision theory • Chemical kinetics • Potential energy surfaces • Ignition mechanisms • Pollutant formation mechanisms • Application of abovementioned topics to combustion strategies and technologies (homogeneous charge-compression ignition (HCCI), reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI), gasoline direct-injection, and other advanced combustion concepts)