Energy Systems Engineering Technician

This course will give the student a thorough understanding of current conventional energy systems at the residential & small facility level. It will deal with strategies and equipment used in standard heating, cooling and lighting systems. The course will also deal with overall energy usage within a facility; both by the above systems and by other major appliances and equipment. This analysis will be used to identify various conventional means of energy conservation.

This course is designed to give the student an introduction to renewable energy technologies. These will include technologies for both heat and electrical production. Established and emerging technologies will be dealt with in both a theoretical and practical format.

In this course students develop practical skills for the correct use of tools, safety equipment and a variety of test equipment. Basic fabrication and assembly skills are also practised using bolts and hand tools, wiring, pipe and pipe threading, and copper and plastic piping systems.

This course is designed to introduce the student to the fundamental relationship of voltage and current in circuits containing resistance and/or capacitance and/or indictors with D.C. sources. Included in the course is a comprehensive lab component which introduces the student to the standard lab equipment used in measuring fundamental D.C. circuit parameters. The application of the devices is stressed to ensure the student has the necessary background to recognize: (a) the device and its operation in a larger circuit and (b) the probable cause of a fault within the circuit.

This course provides instruction in the fundamental concepts and operations of algebra and trigonometry: linear, quadratic, and trigonometric functions, graphs and equations. Students study operations with algebraic expressions and equations in preparation for further topics in applied mathematics. An emphasis is placed on building fluency with foundational skills through practice and conceptual understanding.

This course is an in depth study of pressure and temperature instrumentation. It covers the theory and mathematics relating to the conversion of parameter to electrical signals and the selection of appropriate equipment for a given application. The laboratory projects will allow the student to install, connect, investigate, calibrate, and repair a variety of sensors and related equipment used in typical industrial applications.

This is a second semester course in residential, small commercial and industrial building systems, which is necessary to achieve a Diploma as an Energy Systems Engineering Technician or Technologist. The course covers fundamentals of HVAC systems and allows students to understand the principles for these systems. The course is presented in theory and lab segments building upon ESET 130. Each lab will be done on a first come first serve basis due to equipment limitations. Labs will be done with partners. The expectation that all 12 labs will be cycled through by end of semester. Airflow lab will require 2 classes to complete. There will be a lab makeup period the last week.

Prerequisite(s): ESET130

This course is designed to give the student an introduction to thermodynamics. These will include first law and second law of thermodynamics and their application to energy systems and process. Heat transfer through walls and windows will be discussed and the fundamental principle of a heat exchanger will be treated.

Energy Systems Technicians and Technologists frequently encounter, or are required to interpret technical drawings and related documents for energy systems and buildings. This course develops skills required to recognize, obtain, and utilize information from a variety of sources to produce a technical drawing.  This course also develops basic technical drawing interpretation skills.

This course is designed to introduce the student to the fundamental relationship between voltage and current in circuits containing resistance, and/or capacitors, and/or inductors with A.C. source. Included in the course is a comprehensive lab component that introduces the student to the standard lab equipment used in measuring fundamental A.C. circuit parameters. The course will also introduce the student to heavier power circuits and devices. Course topics include working safely with high voltage and current, power generation and motors, transformation and motors, transformation and distribution, switching and protection, electrical code and conventions, circuit documentation and interpretation.

Prerequisite(s): IETT410

This course introduces vectors and the complex number system, including conversions between polar and rectangular forms. Fundamental statistical concepts are introduced to inform technical evaluation. Students manipulate and solve exponential and logarithmic functions in order to apply in technical lab and theory. The course concludes with an introduction to differential and integral calculus.

Prerequisite(s): MATH2

This course covers the use of Microsoft Office as commonly found in a technology environment to prepare basic written documents and to solve numeric problems as well as using applications to build models for assisting in solving technical problems.

Prerequisites: None 

In this course semi-conductor devices are studied by examining their behaviour in electronic circuits. The student is directed toward an intuitive rather than a mathematical understanding of semi-conductor behaviour. Circuits examined include rectifiers, power supplies, filters, regulators, amplifiers, and semi-conductor switches. In this course an understanding of electronic devices such as diodes, bi-polar junction (BJT) transistors, Field Effect Transistors (FET) and Metal Oxide Silicon (MOS) is gained. Methods of AC rectification and filtering are learned. The characteristics and applications of diodes and BJTs are learned. DC biasing and switching configurations of transistors is covered.

Prerequisite(s): IETT410 + ESET320

This course is designed to provide the student with the knowledge of documentation systems used for specification and presentation in the Instrumentation and Control industry. The student will gain familiarity with and be able to produce a number of standard documentation tools such as ISA symbols, P&ID diagrams, Wiring Diagrams floor plans and Installation Drawings. The student will develop an intermediate level of capability with a CAD (Computer Aided Design) application, typically AutoCAD or one of its derivatives to produce industry standard documentation.

Prerequisite(s): ESET260

This course will build on knowledge of hvac systems from ESET 130 and ESET 230, and add principals of building science and construction techniques to provide the foundation for real world energy auditing of buildings. The tools of energy auditing will introduced, including inspection, measurement, blower door testing, and finally software modelling. The control of heat, humidity, and airflow in buildings will be carefully considered. The course will begin with an emphasis on single family residential buildings, and conclude with a look at commercial buildings, which will continue in third year with ESET 630. Labs will involve field trips to buildings for hands-on audit experience, and computer modelling. The final project will be an extensive audit on a building, and preparation of a client report.

Prerequisite(s): ESET130 + ESET230

This course will continue from the first semester ESET 140 course to take an in-depth look at various renewable methods of electrical power generation. These include photovoltaic generation systems, wind generation systems, fuel cells, and small Hydro-electric systems. The student will make equipment selection based on specific requirements and interconnect equipment and control devices to develop complete generation systems.

Prerequisite(s): IETT410 + ESET140

In this course, students will explore ways of communicating technical information to specialists and to laypersons using common professional formats.  Students will also create a resume and deliver an oral presentation. Students will work individually and in teams. Assignments and discussions will emphasize effective collaboration, audience analysis, appropriate formats and tone, clarity of communication, and the mechanics of correct syntax, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.  Attention will also be given to general reading, editing, and collaboration strategies.

A course designed to introduce the student to electrical supply and power circuits and devices found in light to medium structures from homes to small business, commercial and industrial sites. Course topics include the following: working safely with high voltage and current, power generation, transformation and distribution, switching and protection, electrical code and conventions, circuit documentation and interpretation. The course will be presented from the prospective of providing the necessary background for identifying and calculating electrical loads, effectively measuring the consumption and/or production of electrical power, and calculating the energy efficiency of particular loads.

Prerequisite(s): ESET220 + ESET320

Applied Thermodynamics 2 is a fourth semester course covering the theory and applications of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The course is intended to provide fundamental knowledge in thermodynamics. It is necessary for technicians and technologists working with heat engines, heat pumps, energy audits, and other applications involving thermodynamic processes where theoretical and actual efficiency and gas properties are involved in determining process parameters.

Students will learn the concepts of heat-work equivalence, energy balance, and thermodynamics of the Carnot cycle. These concepts will be applied to the understanding of heat engines (e.g. Otto and Rankine Cycle), refrigerators and heat pumps. Concepts will be presented in the lectures and further reinforced via weekly labs using a variety of equipment and computer simulations. The laboratories are designed to reinforce classroom learning with practical exercises aimed at: Reviewing the definitions of heat, work, specific heat and the first law of thermodynamics Using the kinetic theory of gases and the ideal gas equations to solve gas related problems Developing an understanding of isothermal, isobaric, isochoric and adiabatic processes Using the gas laws in practical gas related problems Examining the processes and efficiencies of the Carnot cycle Using computer models of various thermodynamic cycles

Prerequisite(s): ESET250

This course is designed to give the student an understanding of the various control mechanisms used in heating, ventilating, cooling, lighting, water supply and electrical production systems. These will range from the simplistic control switch to the moderately complex including electrical-electronic systems. Emphasis will be placed on the selection and configuration of the appropriate control system for a specific application, be it heating, cooling or alternative energy production. Emphasis will be on equipment found in residential and small commercial buildings. Data logging devices and their application will be introduced.

Prerequisite(s): ESET220 + ESET230 + ESET320

This course will continue from the first semester ESET 140 course to take an indepth look at various renewable methods of heat generation. These include: solar hot water, solar air, ground source heat pump, and biomass, with an emphasis on solar hot water. The student will learn to select equipment based on heat requirements, building codes and site issues. Labs will involve hands-on equipment use and installation.

Prerequisite(s): ESET140

As energy conservation and alternative energy production become a greater priority throughout the world, governments are playing a larger role in steering the transformation of how our energy is produced and consumed.

This course content allows students to become more aware of the type of involvement government and regulatory agencies have in the energy field and the influence these organizations have on the clean energy industry and the future job market in clean energy. Students are introduced to the theories and types of regulations and policies that apply to energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, mostly from a Canadian perspective. As some of our energy legislation is based on examples from other countries, international energy policy examples are also explored.

The broad and evolving area of federal, provincial and municipal government incentive programs for energy conservation, renewable energy use, and green-house gas emission reductions are discussed. The role of regulatory bodies in the renewable energy sector and the licensing of energy efficiency and renewable energy practitioners are reviewed.