GEOTHERM 602 : Geothermal Energy Technology
Engineering
2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of the laws of thermodynamics and their applications in geothermal energy applications and solve practical problems (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 6.1)
- Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals heat transfer: Fourier law of thermal conduction, Newton’s law of cooling, the Stefan Boltzmann law on thermal radiation and their applications in the geothermal energy. Solve practical problems in geothermal heat transfer. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 8.1)
- Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals laws of fluid mechanics and their applications in the geothermal engineering. Solve practical problems of geothermal steam and liquid flow in geothermal pipelines. (Capability 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 6.1 and 7.1)
- Demonstrate an understanding of the engineering classifications of the different types of geothermal systems and the impact of this classification on the geothermal resource development and management. The geothermal resources have an important cultural and economic value to both the public specially to local Iwi. understanding the impact and development risks is also key to ensure the safe and sustainable use of these resources. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 6.1)
- Develop and demonstrate an understanding to the principles of geothermal drilling, coring, site preparations and drilling equipment. If not managed correctly, geothermal well drilling can result in hydrothermal below outs, which can put people health at safety at risk and directly impact the sustainability of the geothermal resource. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.2, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
- Analyse and evaluate down-hole measurement methods and the tools and techniques to assess geothermal well performance. Health and safety are a major consideration when operating geothermal wells. This is to ensure a long term and sustainable application while adhering to the RMA and maintaining the resource for future generations. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 7.1 and 8.2)
- Demonstrate an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of geothermal fluid reinjection and the environmental impact. Reinjection of both geothermal water and gases is key for the long-term sustainability of the resource, it is also a legal requirement in New Zealand and many other countries around the world. If not managed correctly it can result in significant health and safety risks to the local communities. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 40% | Individual Coursework |
| Tests | 60% | Individual Coursework |
| 2 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
| Tests | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
This course is a block-structured 15 point course and students are expected to spend on average 16 hours per week for 6 weeks only.
For this course, you can expect 40 hours of lectures, 30 hours of tutorial (including the field trip), 40 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 40 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including lecture, tutorials and field trips to complete components of the course.
Lectures and tutorials will be available as recordings. However, the field activities will not be recorded.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the tests.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a block delivery.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Health & Safety
Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.
There are three days of field activity, which requires extensive preparations and the development of a detailed Health and Safety management plan. PPE gear will be provided to the students. The students are also advised (before starting the course) to bring personal safety boots, and warm and wet weather gear.
In preparation for the field trip, Students should declare (in Confidence to the program director) any health issues.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Other Information
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.