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151-0950-00L 4 Credits MSC D-ITET , D-MAVT

Sustainable Heating and Cooling Technologies

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. André Bardow, Dr. Leon Brendel

VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:14:22

Abstract

This course introduces the fundamentals of sustainable heating and cooling technologies regarding thermodynamics, technology, and regulations. In addition to teaching fundamental knowledge, this course focuses on process design. In case study sessions, students solve problems related to the process design of heating and cooling technologies.

Objective

At the end of this course, students will be able to: - select and use appropriate fluid property models, - choose a proper heating and cooling technology depending on the application, - develop mathematical models for the simulation of heat pump and cooling processes, - design and optimize heat pump and cooling processes, - design and select components and refrigerants, - apply the acquired numerical methods to the process design in other fields.

Content

- Heat pump applications: residential heating, industrial and high-temperature heating - Vapor-compression heat pumps: thermodynamics, components, refrigerants, oil - Alternative heat pump technologies - Cooling technologies and applications - Cryogenic cooling - Fluid property models - Numerical skills: root-finding, curve fitting, constrained non-linear-programming (NLP) optimization, discretization, solving ordinary differential equations

Resources

Lecture Notes

Lecture slides and supplementary documentation will be available online. Reference to appropriate book chapters and scientific papers will be provided.

General Information

Language: English
Levels: MSC
Frequency: Yearly recurring

Examination

Type: session examination
Mode: oral 30 minutes

In addition to the final oral examination, there is one compulsory continuous performance assessment.Groups of two students each have to work on one project during the semester. A written report (about 5-10 pages) must be prepared for the project. The report will be part of the entire performance assessment.The project task is issued mid-semester; submission is due around the end of June; the report's grade counts 50% towards the final course grade.The final oral exam will cover the general content of the lecture (50%) and content related to the task and the report (50%). The grade of the oral examination counts 50% towards the final course grade.The project must be passed (grade 4) on its own.

Registration & Places

Max Places: 40

Course Components

Type	Title	Time & Place	Hours
lecture	Sustainable Heating and Cooling Technologies	Wed 10:15-12:00 (HG E 21)	2 h weekly
exercise	Sustainable Heating and Cooling Technologies	Wed 14:15-16:00 (HG E 19)	2 h weekly

Offered In

Mechanical Engineering Master
- Core Courses (The Core Courses in the Master’s program Mechanical Engineering listed below are indicative and include courses designed by the Department at the Master's level. With the approval of the tutor, students may also select Master's-level courses offered by other departments at ETH. These courses will be marked as non-regular in the LAG, but their categorization as Core Courses is possible if included in the approved LAG.)
Process Engineering Master
- Core Courses
Energy Science and Technology Master
- Electives (These courses are particularly recommended, other ETH-courses from the field of Energy Science and Technology at large may be chosen in accordance with your tutor.)
  - Energy Flows and Processes