Abstract:

Combining research and teaching is a key issue in the activity of a University lecturer. However, most times is not easy to find connections among these two important and complementary sides. The aim of the paper is to present an example of how an outcome of a technical research project may be adapted to improve the teaching-learning process of some difficult concepts.

The aim of the technical research project had been to apply exergy analysis to energy conversion systems based on thermoelectric materials. Exergy is a property based on the first and second law of thermodynamics and quantifies not only energy quantity but also its quality. Accordingly, exergy analysis is suitable for detecting potential of energy savings. Besides, thermoelectric devices are solid state energy conversion systems that can operate as cooling/heat pump device (Peltier effect) or producing electricity from a temperature difference (Seebeck effect). One outcome of the project is a lab-scale heat pump that consumes electricity while it cools down a mass of water and heats up another. The facility allows to measure temperatures and electric parameters (current, voltage and power).

Based on this lab, an exercise for students of thermal energy subjects in engineering degreed has been developed. It allows to explain and to clearly apply some of the concepts that students find to be more difficult in the field of thermal systems: convection heat transfer, entropy generation, and transient state balances (energy and entropy).

Experience presented in the paper shows how the re-use of lab-scale facilities from research projects can provide valuable resources for improving teaching at low marginal cost. Furthermore, motivation of students increases as they know that what they are doing in lab sessions directly comes from research and from practical applications.

Keywords:

Lab session, engineering education, learning by doing.