This module is designed to excite the student about building engineering, develop skills such as research, creativity, innovation and team working, and prepare the student for further independent learning in the context of a practical project based learning environment.
The aims of this module are to provide experience in and to develop the students’ skills in team working, research, communication, technical presentation and problem solving.
The student is required to design, predict the performance of, construct and test the actual performance of their own ‘Energy Cube’. The Energy Cube represents a scale model of a modern building. The objective is to design and construct a scale model of a building which has the lowest possible demand for heating and lighting energy. The model will have wall(s), roof(s), floor(s), door(s) and window(s) and shall be constructed from cardboard, clear plastic and insulation according to your own designs. In the design and construction of the model the student should consider its shape, its airtightness and the insulating properties of the wall, floor roof and windows. These will all influence how well it performs and how much energy it uses. The energy cube will have to comply with the detailed requirements for floor area, minimum window area, minimum door area and maximum wall, floor & roof thicknesses. A limited amount of raw materials including cardboard sheeting, tape, insulation and clear plastic will be provided to each group.
Once completed the Energy Cube will be tested in a laboratory. A temperature thermocouple will be installed inside the Energy Cube to monitor internal air temperature. A further thermocouple will monitor the ambient temperature in the lab. An electrical heat/energy source of known output will be placed inside the Energy Cube. By monitoring and recording the air temperature inside the Energy Cube and the ambient air temperature in the laboratory over a short period of time you will use this data, together with the rating of the heat/energy source, as the basis for calculating the rate of heat loss from the model.
Weeks 1/2
- Reading and analysis of the project brief
- Organising the project team
- Project planning
Weeks 3/4
- Technical research
- Design and drawings
- Predicting performance by calculations
Weeks 4/5
- Construction
Weeks 6/7
- Performance testing in the laboratory
Weeks 7/8
- Analysis and presentation of actual and predicted results
Weeks 9/10
- Preparation of final report, team presentations
Weeks 11/12
- Team presentations
The module will be taught in an informal weekly engineering design class with emphasis on self-directed learning.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |