Atmospheric Fluid Dynamics and Pollution

Course Description:
The course offers a comprehensive scientific and engineering overview and detailed analysis of sources of pollution of atmospheric air. It covers primary sources of atmospheric toxic pollution from combustion sources, to the evolution and dispersion of pollution into the atmosphere considering the chemical reactions in the atmosphere and local micrometeorology. The course discusses the theoretical background of criteria for air contaminants generation and their dispersion into the local atmosphere to a receptor site. It provides hands-on experience in emission measurement and practice on analyses of an emission source’s impact on local air pollution.

Pre-requisites:
SEE 224 and SEE 225

Instructor:
Dr. Vahid Hosseini
 

Carbon Capture Engineering

Course Description:
This course presents the philosophy and procedures of chemical engineering and process design as applied to designing the next generation of sustainable carbon capture systems. The course is covered in two modules:

Module 1: Fundamentals of Process Engineering: Mass and energy balances are reviewed. Concepts in reaction engineering as applicable to carbon capture including yield, selectivity, fractional conversion, reversibility of reactions, rate constants and chemical equilibrium are discussed. Basics of reactor design are covered with an emphasis on unifying the concepts in kinetics, thermodynamics and transport phenomena. Topics explored in Module 1 also include: ion equilibria in solutions, mass transfer, bubble behaviors, adsorption processes.

Module 2: Applications of Process Engineering: Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) are introduced. Concepts introduced in Module 1 will be applied towards designing the next generation of CO2 capture and conversion systems. Each module will address recent scientific developments and include guest lectures. In a team project throughout the semester, students will professionally design carbon capture facilities and deliver a presentation at the end of the semester and write a comprehensive report addressing process flow, materials, environmental considerations, sustainability and safety.

Pre-requisites:
1) One of CHEM 121 or (CHEM 122 and CHEM 126)
2) One of SEE 324 or SEE 225

Instructor:
Dr. Sami Khan
 

Energy Harvesting Materials

Course Description:
This course covers the fundamentals of energy harvesting materials and their application in devices for the conversion of ambient energy into electricity through various physical mechanisms (the photovoltaic effect, thermoelectricity, piezoelectricity, triboelectricity, and radiofrequency power transfer). The properties of materials in relation to their energy harvesting mechanisms are treated alongside their key figures of merit, design rules, and sustainability profiles. The course includes a significant laboratory component in which students design and fabricate photovoltaic energy harvesters, as well as characterize and analyze their performance.

Pre-requisites:
SEE 222, SEE 230 and SEE 231

Instructor:
Dr. Vincenzo Pecunia
 

Hydrogen Energy: Engineering, Technologies, and Economics

Course Description:
Introduction to hydrogen energy from a materials perspective and the roles of hydrogen energy in sustainable development and renewable economy. Students will learn fundamentals of the chemical element hydrogen and hydrogen energy, explore the sustainability of hydrogen supply chain from the technical, economic, environmental, and societal aspects, and apply life cycle analysis to prioritize hydrogen energy systems.

Pre-requisites:
SEE 110, SEE 222, and a minimum of 80 units

Instructor:
Dr. Mina Xu
 

Life Cycle Assessment in Buildings

Course Description:
Introduction to product life cycle assessment, data collection and modeling of system inventory, environmental impact measures, and application of life cycle assessment to buildings. Introduction to ISO LCA standard for life cycle assessment, LEED LCA credit, and local codes for whole-building LCA. Application of industry standard software to conduct whole-building life cycle assessment and present in ISO standard format. Written and verbal presentation of LCA results.

Pre-requisites:
SEE 310

Instructor:
Dr. Molly McVey
 

Renewable Energy Systems

Course Description:
The focus of this course is on renewable energy systems and their grid interfacing technologies. The class will learn about wind, solar, tidal, hydro and fuel cell energy conversion systems, their grid interfacing technologies and economics of distributed generation. Some of the systems are explored in more details through experiments and the course project.

Pre-requisites:
SEE 251

Instructor:
Dr. Mahda Jahromi
 

All requests for exception to existing SFU policy and program requirements should be made in writing to ensure consistency and fairness for all students through SEE Appeal Form.

*New: Policy for Course Prerequisite Waiver Appeals

The policy considers two different scenarios,

1. the student intends to waive the prerequisite, based on their existing knowledge of the course, and

2. the student has not succeeded in acquiring the minimum requirements of the prerequisite course in the first attempt, and intends to retake the course as corequisite.
 

Criteria
When considering a prerequisite waiver appeal, depending on the above-mentioned scenarios, the following criteria will be considered:

1) Prerequisite waiver based on existing knowledge of the course material

• Proof of successfully finishing an equivalent course in other institutes, in which case the student should make the appeal for Course Substitution/Waiver Appeal, or
• Demonstrated expertise in the requested prerequisite course subjects, e.g. first author of a relevant peer-reviewed publication, or minimum one year of relevant industrial experience

2) Prerequisite waiver to retake the course as corequisite

Students who withdraw from the prerequisite course are not eligible to make the appeal for prerequisite waiver.

• No less than D-grade in the failed prerequisite course, and
• Good academic standing with minimum CGPA 2.67, and
• Approval from the instructor of the course, for which the prerequisite is being waived, and
• Consent to the fact that, in case of the appeal approval, the student cannot register in follow-on courses unless they pass both the corequisite, and the course for which the prerequisite is waived.

*New: Policy for Course Substitution and Credit Transfer

The policy considers three different scenarios:

1. the course is completed in an institute with which SEE does not have an existing transfer agreement, or

2. the course is completed in an institute with which SEE does have an existing transfer agreement, or

3. the course is completed in another SFU program and credit transfer is requested based on the course description equivalency statement in SEE calendar.
 

Criteria
When reviewing a course substitution or a credit transfer appeal, depending on the above-mentioned scenarios, the following criteria will be considered by UCC chair:

1) If the course is completed in an institute that SEE does not have an existing transfer agreement with.

• Only first and second-year courses will be taken into consideration.
• The institute that course is completed in, must be from either: 
  • an accredited engineering program within Canada
  • an institute or university that is a member of the Washington Accord
• Courses with significant (>25%) Engineering Design and/or Engineering Science content will not be transferred, unless it can be verified that:
  • the courses are significantly (>75%) similar in content, and
  • the courses are taught by licensed engineers who are permitted to practice engineering in jurisdiction where Engineers Canada has mutual recognition agreement
• For 2-year pre-university CEGEP programs (Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel, or General and Vocational colleges) for which no validation procedure is performed, or no agreements exist, the following restrictions apply:
• Engineering science and engineering design: 0 AU¹
  • Mathematics: ≤ 112 AU
  • Natural science: ≤ 112 AU
  • Complementary studies: ≤ 112 AU;
  • No credit is given for the following: engineering economics, impact of technology on society, oral and written communication, health and safety,
  • professional ethics, equity and law, or environmental stewardship and sustainable development.
  • Total transfer credits in all circumstances ≤ 225 AU

¹One lecture hour is considered one AU, and each hour spent in lab sessions, tutorial, or open las is counted as half AU.

2) If the course is completed in an institution that SEE has an existing transfer agreement

• The course equivalency will be considered according to the existing transfer agreement.
• For students from 2-year pre-university programs given in CEGEPs (Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel, or General and Vocational colleges), for which a one year of preparatory studies is planned for students who have completed their 12 years of primary and secondary studies, the following restrictions apply:
  • Engineering Science and Design: 0 AU
  • Mathematics: ≤180 AU
  • Natural Sciences: ≤ 180 AU
  • Complementary Studies: ≤ 120 AU;
  • No credit will be given for the following subjects: engineering economics, impact of technology on society, health and safety, professional ethics, equity and law, or environmental stewardship and sustainable development.

3) If the course is completed in another SFU program and credit transfer is requested based on the course description equivalency statement in SEE calendar.

• At the UCC Chair’s discretion, such appeals may be approved or rejected. The appeal could be rejected based on a mismatch between the number of credits or the number of AUs.
  • AUs are calculated based on contact hours, i.e., lecture hours, lab hours, and tutorial hours.
• Under no circumstances can the number of transferred units be more than 925 AUs. In other words, at least 50% of the program must be successfully completed at SEE.

*For all scenarios,

• ≥ 225 AU of Engineering Design and ≥ 600 AU of Engineering Science plus Engineering Design AUs must be completed at SEE. In other words, in all circumstances the significant design experience must be completed at or under the control of SEE and must be under the professional responsibility of faculty licensed to practice engineering in Canada.
• For 2-year CEGEP programs (with or without validation arrangements), no credits in Engineering Science or Engineering Design may be transferred
• For 3-year CEGEP programs and students from feeder intuitions, e.g., satellite campuses, formally documented validation procedures must be in place before any engineering design and engineering science credits can be transferred.

*For all scenarios, the application should include the following:

• A CourSys appeal form
• A detailed course syllabus and/or a course outline
• Sample coursework including sample course notes, sample assignments, sample lab reports and lab manuals (if applicable), etc.

Missed Exam Policy

Midterm Exams
There is currently no university policy covering missed midterm exams. Instructors may use their discretion whether to allow a student to write a deferred exam, to provide an alternative method to make up the percentage of the grade given to the midterm exam (a project, verbal exam, etc.), or to change the grading structure to add the weight normally assigned to the midterm exam to another part of the grading structure (by adding it to the final exam, for example). The instructors are advised to be consistent in applying the exam make-up policies. 

Final Exams
Students are instructed to be available throughout the entire final exam period, and not to make travel plans, etc. during that time period. The normal rule is that students requesting deferral of a final exam due to illness or compassionate reasons should obtain a physician’s certificate or other supporting documents. Such documents must be filed with the school director or registrar within four days of the date on which the exam was to be written. The appropriate form is available here – see ‘Appeals / Health Care Provider statement, general (non-withdrawal)’