This course took my knowledge of thermodynamics, combined it with my experience with differential equations, and gave them new meaning with real-world applications. Two specific applications I learned about were heat transfer and resistance through insulation materials used to build efficient poultry houses and Southern Company's use of infrared heaters and convection ovens in the Research and Development department.
I am especially interested in the way heat loss is calculated across walls and double-paned windows, as this is very obvious in everyday life. Learning the resistance equation R=(hL/k), prompted me to learn more about how expensive it is to heat water for a shower and air in a home. On multiple occasions, we were challenged to calculate the amount of money that could be saved by using different types of insulation in our walls, taking shorter showers, and replacing our regular lightbulbs with LEDs. These are the numbers that excite me. Engineering is about making things more efficient for consumers, and I cannot wait to be a part of it.
As I enter the working world, I hope to use my growing knowledge of how heat is transferred to create more efficient and sustainable ways to generate heat in homes. In addition to eco-friendly heat sourcing, I hope to combine my skills acquired through this class with the content of other courses such as Renewable Energy and Soil and Environmental Quality to maintain and restore this beautiful planet.
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