Course syllabus for Design of industrial energy equipment

Course syllabus adopted 2026-02-19 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameDesign av energitekniska anläggningar
  • CodeKVM071
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPSES
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyEnergy and Environmental Systems and Technology, Chemical Engineering with Engineering Physics, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
  • DepartmentENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY SCIENCES
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 39129
  • Maximum participants48 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0107 Written and oral assignments 1.5 c
Grading: UG		 1.5 c
0207 Examination 6 c
Grading: TH		 6 c

In programmes

Examiner

Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements

Course specific prerequisites

Engineering thermodynamics, heat transfer, energy technology (including heat exchanger theory).

Aim

The aim of the course is for students to achieve an understanding of and training in selection and design of industrial energy equipment. The level of understanding should be such that the students in their professional role as engineers are able, individually and in teams, to select and assess energy equipment, and to design such equipment with respect to materials selection, construction and main dimensions, and to evaluate the economic performance of a given design. Equipment addressed in the course includes steam boilers, heat exchangers, and heat pumps (including high-temperature heat pumps).

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  1. apply general design strategies for industrial energy equipment
  2. assess the feasibility of a design and dimensions of an industrial energy equipment as well as write technical reports where the design is assessed and the design assumptions made are justified and evaluated
  3. understand and apply heat transfer theory for gas radiation, condensation and boiling
  4. perform thermal design of an industrial power boiler for a given process heat demand
  5. perform thermal design of a heat pump plant (for both conventional and high temperature heat pumps), considering multi-stage configurations, gas super-heating, compressor selection and selection of working fluid
  6. perform thermal design of industrial heat exchangers, considering the balance between heat transfer and pressure drop, and evaluating the influence of fouling
  7. be aware of commercial process design engineering software and their basic features and limitations

Content

The course starts with the general design strategy for energy equipment, aiming for understanding of the trial-and-error concept using heuristics for preliminary design. Professional design tools are used or demonstrated. The course is strongly oriented on design work, organized as projects in small groups of students. A study visit to a boiler manufacturer is included to reinforce the professional aspect of design work and visualize boiler components and their production. The course contains the following parts: (1) boiler design: types, construction, furnace design and heat transfer, water circulation, convection section design. (2) heat exchanger design: types, construction, heat transfer and pressure drop theory for industrial heat exchangers, industrial heat exchanger design, professional design software. (3) heat pump design: types, selection theory, cycle design, boiling and condensation heat transfer theory in particular for tube-and-shell heat exchangers, refrigerant properties and selection, Professional design software. Focus on both conventional and high-temperature heat pumps.

Organisation

The course includes 10 lectures, 4 design project exercises, 1 study visit and 1-2 labs.

Literature

Course compendium produced at the Division of Energy Technology, distributed for free to course participants.

Examination including compulsory elements

Written examination on theory and calculations. Completed and approved project reports, study visit and laboratory reports are also a course requirement.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers about disability study support.

Design of industrial energy equipment | Chalmers