Faculty of Engineering

The Department of Thermal Engineering and Desalination Technology (ThED) is a division of the Mechanical Engineering Department at King Abdulaziz University. The program started on 23/3/1982 G (28/5/1402 H) to meet the Kingdom's growing needs for mechanical engineers with broad background in the fields of power generation, sea water desalination, air-conditioning, heat exchangers and other thermo-mechanical systems. These areas have been emphasized in appreciation to their importance for the fast growing development of the Kingdom and the neighboring Gulf States.

The department of Thermal Engineering and Desalination Technology offers a Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc.) in Mechanical Engineering with Thermal Sciences Major. The program provides graduates with the professional skills, engineering knowledge, effective communication proficiency, ability to work in teams and appreciation of the ethical, societal and global issues required for the engineer of the future.

The five-year program of Thermal Engineering and Desalination Technology provides the theoretical knowledge, skills and proficiency that enable graduates to commence their career as competent mechanical engineers. The Department offers a strong mechanical engineering program with special emphasis on thermal engineering applications such as refrigeration and air-conditioning, saline water conversion, energy conversion systems as well as internal and external combustion systems.

The department prepares the graduates to contribute effectively as professional engineers in a diverse and multidisciplinary work environment. They can also upgrade their profession by enrolling in the Master of Science programs provided by the Department or elsewhere. The master’s program covers areas of power generation and conversion, refrigeration and air conditioning, and desalination technologies.

VISION

To acquire and maintain a position of excellence in Mechanical Engineering Education.

MISSION

Prepare distinctive quality students in mechanical engineering, able to apply the acquired knowledge successfully with engineering professional ethics based on Islamic values to serve the society, and pursue advanced studies.

OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES

The program of the Thermal Engineering and Desalination Technology Department (ThED) focuses on the following three main areas:

· Energy aspects (e.g. generation, conversion, conservation, etc.) with concerns about the theory, design aspects and systems performance.

· Seawater desalination as an important source of domestic water for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States. The program focuses on conventional and non conventional desalination technologies. This includes the theoretical and technical features, water chemical treatment and plants' performance analysis.

· Thermo-fluids and heat transfer, which are widely encountered in many engineering fields, such as refrigeration and air conditioning and refinery industrial processes.

The B.Sc. Program qualifies the graduates to fit into a wide range of job opportunities such as working in steam and gas turbine power plants, internal combustion engines, desalination industries, refrigeration and air conditioning, alternative energy sources, thermal industrial units (e.g. furnaces, boilers, and combustion equipment).

In general, the program objectives are designed to prepare the graduates to effectively join the industry at the B.Sc. level and have productive careers in the mechanical engineering profession or other related fields. The necessary fundamentals are given to the students by a rigorous instruction in the engineering sciences and extensive laboratory and design experience together with appreciation of team work, communications skills, ethics, and environmental awareness. Objectives also include preparing students for graduate studies at the M.Sc. and/or Ph.D. level in Mechanical Engineering or related fields. In order to provide students with the opportunity to deepen their technical understanding in a particular subject, the number of elective courses has been increased; thus a broader education in Mechanical-Thermal systems is provided through flexible choice from a larger number of technical and non-technical elective courses.

The expected accomplishments of graduates during the first few years after graduation termed as the program educational objectives (PEO) are stated below.

The program educational objectives are:

1. Engage in successful careers in a broad range of mechanical engineering areas; demonstrate competence in applying knowledge and skills to the welfare of the society.

2. Effectively use modern tools in the analysis and design of mechanical engineering systems, respond to the continuous developments of the rapidly evolving field and evaluate the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context. .

3. Accomplish professional engineering performance that include; work in teams, communicate effectively, and appreciate ethical, societal, environmental and economic issues.

These objectives were first drafted by the faculty in 2004 and revised after consultation with the constituents (Alumni and preliminary evaluation consultants). The three PEO are related to the fifteen outcomes as follows:

ABET Program outcomes

PEO

1- Engage in productive careers ……

2- Advance in their careers through effective …

3- Practice professional engineering and contribute …

The ThED program outcomes (what the students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation) are stated in the following:

Graduates will have	*Criteria 3*
An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering	a
An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.	b
An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs	c
An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams	d
An Ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems	e
An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility	f
An ability to communicate effectively	g
The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context.	h
A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning	i
Knowledge of Contemporary Issues	j
An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.	k
An ability to apply knowledge of chemistry and calculus-based physics [ME criteria]	l
An ability to apply advanced mathematics through multivariate calculus and differential equations. [ME criteria]	m
Familiarity with statistics and linear algebra. [ME criteria]	n
An ability to work professionally in thermal and mechanical engineering systems, including the design and realization of such systems. [ME criteria]	o

PROGRAMS OFFERED

The Department of Thermal Engineering and Desalination Technology offers a five years Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc.) in Mechanical Engineering with a major in thermal sciences and water desalination disciplines. This program is accredited as substantially equivalent to similar programs in US universities by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The program involves a Coop option for which students spend two semesters of practical training. In addition, the Department offers a graduate program leading to Master of Science degree (M.Sc.) in Mechanical Engineering.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Career opportunities for the Thermal Engineering and Desalination graduates vary. Graduates work for both the government or private sectors. The graduates are generally employed by the following corporations and companies:

· ARAMCO (Arabian-American Company)

· SABIC

· Saudi Arabian Airlines

· Governmental Agencies, such as the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Electricity and Water, etc.

· Chemical and Petroleum Industry

· Automotive Industry

· Power and Electricity Company

· SWCC (Saline Water Conversion Corporation)

· Land and Sea Transport and Shipping Companies

· Foreign Companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (ABB, GE, Unilever)

· Other Industrial and Private Sectors

FACILITIES

The Department has two types of facilities;

· Educational labs. serving the undergraduate program,

· Research and support facilities for graduate programs and faculty research.

· Educational Laboratories

- Thermodynamics Laboratory

This lab serves the basic thermodynamic course MEP 261.

- Fluid Mechanics Laboratory

The lab serves the basic Fluid Mechanics course MEP 290.

- Heat Transfer Laboratory

The Lab is equipped with several experimental units that cover and verify the basic concepts such as heat conduction, natural and forced convection, parallel and cross flow heat exchangers and boiling and condensation. The Lab serves the relevant courses as MEP 360 and MEP 460.

- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Laboratory

The equipment and instrumentation available in the laboratory meet the needs of relevant courses, i.e., MEP 451 and MEP 452.

- Internal Combustion Engines Laboratory

The Lab is equipped with instrumentation and a modern 4 stroke SI test engine. The Lab Covers the needs of the undergraduate level courses, MEP 370 and MEP 471

- Gas Turbine Engine Laboratory

The lab contains two small engines suitable for illustration of Turbomachines and Gas Turbines relevant course MEP 474

- Thermal Engineering Measurements

The laboratory is a special one where the students assemble the experimental rig. The lab is equipped mainly with constant temperature baths (-10 to 100 °C), dead weight pressure calibration units, water circulation loop for calibration of different flow meters. The laboratory with the present facilities is sufficient for hands-on student experience and illustration of calibration importance. The Lab serves the relevant course MEP 365.

- Solar Energy Laboratory

The laboratory is equipped with Eppley radiometers for global and diffuse radiation measurement. Students measure the solar intensity on planes of different tilt angles, orientation and solar hour. The radiation properties for different opaque and semitransparent surfaces are also measured. This Lab serves the relevant course MEP 478.

- Desalination Laboratory

This Lab includes two desalination units. One operates on the basis of Multi Stage Flash (MSF) technology. The second operates on Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology. These units are used to show students the main components of each desalination technology. The Lab serves the relevant courses: MEP 481 and MEP 482.

· Research and Support Facilities

- Advanced Fluid Facility

The lab is well equipped for research in the area of turbulent flow measurement. The lab is equipped with measuring instruments as hot wire anemometer and data acquisition system. The lab serves senior and graduate level projects.

- Thermal Comfort facility

The Thermal Comfort Facility is designed to study the physiological and psychological influences of thermal environment on human subjects. The laboratory contains a controlled environment chamber. The laboratory is a unique facility that could contribute to the research and development of thermal comfort.

- Steam Supply Station

The station is equipped with three fully automated steam generators capable of producing a total of 4,000 kg/h of steam flow rate. Besides the steam generators, the station has a separate superheater, steam turbine, steam calorimeter, steam nozzle apparatus, steam condenser and two cooling towers.

- Desalination Station

The station is equipped with a multi-stage flash (MSF) desalination unit coupled to steam generators and cooling towers of the steam supply station.

Last Update

4/18/2009 9:07:14 PM

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