Education designed for impact

Edinburgh Napier University, Merchiston campus

9 January - 31 March 2023

Our Aims

The overarching aims of the course are to introduce a certified research based and informed course through which students enrolled on HN courses (both HNC and HND) in colleges will engage with state-of-the-art research projects that aim to address key current industry needs and thereby will be able to develop research skills. The current project also aims to promote their articulation to engineering programmes and increase their employability.

Renewable energy for technologies for smart sustainable cities

12-week pilot course composed of 4 units, each unit running for 3 weeks.

This is a course for students enrolled on HNC/HND engineering programmes in Colleges in the SE Scotland.

Hydrogen technology
Dr Stathis Tingas

This unit will provide learners with a broad knowledge and understanding of technologies that use hydrogen as an energy vector. The learners will familiarise with the benefits of using hydrogen as a means to decarbonise applications that are challenging to electrify (e.g., heavy duty applications), with an emphasis on retrofitting. In addition, the limitations (as a result of hydrogen's unique features) will be highlighted as well as some of the challenges that are currently subjects of ongoing research.

The learners will familiarise with the mechanical engineering quantities used in the relevant engineering systems and will be introduced to the governing equations that are used to model systems of reacting flows. The fundamental physics that characterises such systems in the context of given setups (e.g., a gas turbine) will be discussed. Then, commercial software will be used to simulate different scenarios of the discussed technologies on the basis of given research questions and thereby calculate a variety of important mechanical engineering quantities.
unit1

unit2
Renewable energy technology (e.g., solar)
Dr Fadi Kahwash

In this unit, the learners will delve into a selected renewable energy technology and carry out theoretical and experimental investigation that constitute the heart of scientific research. Firstly, the learners will familiarise with the basic concepts and theories pertinent to the operation of the selected engineering system. Then, the learners will carry out power modelling through which they will explore the main factors affecting the performance of the technology and will develop deeper understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the chosen technology.

Modelling activities will be guided and suitable to the students' current abilities. Finally, experimental work will be carried out. Initially, the experimental protocol and aims will be delineated and discussed. Hence, the learners will a develop realistic testing plans within the boundaries given by the tutor and they will collect appropriate data. Finally, the outputs will be collated and discussed.

Electronics and sensors
Dr Lourdes Alwis

This unit will introduce the concept of fibre optic technology in general, i.e. telecommunication and sensors. It will then focus on the construction material related to fiber optic sensors (FOSs), devices and instrumentation. Different types of FOSs that are used in practice will then be presented, with real-life examples from previous projects. Several such examples from the industry will be introduced, together with the appropriate sensor principles and instrumentation involved.

A section of the unit will be used to introduce the use of fiber optic for telecommunication purposes, i.e. broadband etc. which underpins its importance towards the concept of smart cities.
unit3

unit4
Mathematical modelling
Dr Chris Guiver

This unit focusses on mathematical models, and the related process of mathematical modelling. The role and importance of mathematical models in a range of engineering and scientific contexts shall be considered. The connection between mathematical models, modelling and research shall be explored. First, the learners will be presented with some basic models, such as those specified by simple equations, which they can use and explore to make predictions and solve problems. The aim is to illustrate how the elementary mathematics they have already met is applicable in the context of modelling.

Learners shall subsequently be set tasks to construct their own models. The mathematical modelling approach shall be presented. Then, modern mathematical models from relevant, accessible, and appropriate research papers, or other literature, will be presented and discussed. Bespoke mathematical concepts and material required shall be included. Finally, the learners shall be encouraged to reflect on their activities to date, and to think about the wider role, possible limitations and ethical considerations of mathematical models and modelling.

Spaces are limited

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Delivery
  1. Each weekly session 3 hours in duration
  2. The course will be certified by the University's quality as a SCQF L7 20-credit module
  3. Research-based and informed teaching
  4. The content will be tailored to the students' academic level.
  5. Transportation from colleges to Merchiston campus will be provided.
Delivery

Structure
Structure
  1. A real-world societal problem relevant to sustainability is introduced
  2. Relevant tools, methods and approaches to the problem are discussed
  3. Students are using these tools to propose/work on solutions to simpler versions of the original problem

The Organisers

Sathis Tingas
Dr Stathis Tingas

Hydrogen Technology Unit

Dr Stathis Tingas received a first degree (BScH) in Aeronautical Science from the Hellenic Air Force Academy in Greece in 2005 and a MSc and a PhD in Mechanics from the National Technical University of Athens in Greece in 2012 and 2016.

Before his current appointment, he was an Aircraft Engineer with specialty in jet engines at the Hellenic Air Force (2005-2016), a postdoctoral research associate at KAUST (2016-2019) and a Lecturer in Engineering and Aviation at Perth College UHI (2019-2020). Dr Stathis Tingas' research focuses on the areas of mathematical modelling and dynamics analysis of multiscale systems (chemical kinetics, brain metabolism, pharmacokinetics, population dynamics), the high fidelity (multi-dimensional) modeling of turbulent reacting flows with an emphasis on hydrogen and biofuel combustion and the mathematical modelling of EV-related technology. Explore more
Dr Chris Guiver
Dr Chris Guiver

Mathematical Modelling Unit

Chris Guiver is a lecturer in the mathematics group at Edinburgh Napier University, and started the role in July 2020. Between January 2016 and June 2020 he was a Lecturer in Applied Mathematics at the University of Bath.

Chris obtained a Mmath and Ph.D. in mathematics in 2008 and 2012, respectively, both from the University of Bath. Between 2012 and 2015, he was the postdoctoral researcher on the EPSRC project EP/I019456/1 at the University of Exeter. He obtained the award of FHEA in 2018. Chris's research interests lie at the intersection of mathematical analysis and mathematical control theory. In its broadest sense, mathematical control theory seeks to both understand and consequently shape the behaviour of interconnected dynamical systems — modelling temporally-varying real-world objects. Chris is also interested in establishing connections between mathematical control theory, and problems arising in biology and ecology, and seeks to increase the awareness and uptake of concepts from mathematical systems and control theory in ecological modelling and management. The concepts of forced nonlinear dynamics, feedbacks, and control or management strategies/actions are ubiquitous in both disciplines. His research draws upon and contributes to techniques from a range of mathematical areas, including: dynamical systems theory; evolution equations; positive (ordered) systems, and; real, complex and applied functional analysis. Explore more

Dr Fadi Kahwash
Dr Fadi Kahwash

Renewable Technology Unit

Dr Fadi Kahwash is a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the School of Engineering & The Built Environment of the Edinburgh Napier University. He teaches several modules in design and energy topics.

He has obtained a PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 2018 from Northumbria University at Newcastle based on his research into novel numerical methods applied to modelling of machining composite materials. Dr Kahwash's research interests are varied (renewable technologies, energy storage, aerodynamics, materials and manufacturing) with common denominator of physics-based modelling/numerical methods. Prior to joining Napier University in 2021, he worked as research assistant then research fellow at Northumbria University, where he was involved in several EU funded projects related to renewable energy teaching (Erasmus+) and research (Horizon 2020). Explore more
Dr Lourdes Alwis
Dr Lourdes Alwis

Electronics and Sensors Unit

Following a first class (Hons) degree in Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering from City University London (2005), Lourdes was offered a scholarship to commence a part-time PhD at the same establishment.

She completed her thesis on the optimisation of polymer coated long period grating-based sensors for structural health monitoring applications, in 2013. Lourdes has significant industrial experience, having worked within the R&D section of Alcatel-Lucent Ltd. for over 7 years, a company specialising in design, implementation, build and test of optical fibre telecommunications products. The work at Alcatel-Lucent has given her valuable industrial experience through which she gained both practical and industry focused approach, especially in the field of optical fibre technology. Since joining Edinburgh Napier in 2013, she has been actively conducting her research career within the highly topical field of optical fibre sensors. She had been working on a range of projects from civil engineering to biomedical engineering applications where state-of-the-art sensors are utilised. Explore more

The course is funded by the Scottish Government through the HCI Skills Gateway scheme.

For more information please reach Dr Stathis Tingas.

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