CO1 Energies : ressources, vecteurs et impacts écologiques - 3PMKO136

Goal(s)

Energy is a very common notion for physicists. Nevertheless and despite a good access to objective numbers, it is the object of intense debates in the public and in the news. The objective of the course is to give the student essential definitions, numbers, order of magnitudes that allow to seize the needs for energy and the potential of the different technologies. The students should have a better idea of the limits between the technical and physical arguments and the political ones.

Content(s)

Definitions: Energy, Power, primary energy, final energy, efficiency, load factor
Definitions of energy units: practical ability to use different units (W, J, TWh, barrels, Ton Oil Equivalent)
Order of magnitude : weights of the different sources (oil, gas, coal, hydro, nuclear, biomass…), comparison of animal, engine, solar, and other power sources.
Review of existing energy sources and vectors : usages, sources, limits, potential, environmental impacts.

Thermodynamics and Chemistry