A first course in power engineering-an energy conversion approach

Summary form only given. The first course in power engineering has an important role to play in attracting good students to power engineering. The question is what form should this class take? A power systems approach, a power electronics approach and an energy conversion approach are possibilities. This paper makes the point that the foundation of power engineering is energy conversion and that power faculty need to find ways to make this class more interesting, rather than gravitating towards subject material that may be more "trendy" but less fundamental and valuable. Two areas that students universally find interesting are electric vehicles and alternate energy systems based on a renewable energy supply like wind. This paper goes into some of the details of an energy conversion class taught at Clarkson University. This includes the use of external speakers in the power area who bring an industrial perspective, class design problems relating to alternate energy and the space program, and field trips to show the class the equipment involved. Some enrolment data of the power program are also included. Social and environmental issues are addressed through seminars and student in-class presentations