Students will participate in the same seminar training Hughes Machinery offers industry professionals at its technical training center. The seminar in steam energy conservation also will be integrated into the mechanical engineering curriculum at the school.

The course, which will be offered for free, will teach students how to design, operate, and install steam systems and their components. Twenty-five mechanical engineering seniors will participate in the seminar this fall.

Students will engage in hands-on experiments using a fully instrumented glass steam distribution system that allows participants to see its internal design and operation. The system will simulate actual field conditions, enabling students to learn real-world system operations, design, maintenance, and problem solving.

The partnership is part of an initiative of UMKC's Campus Facilities Management. Last year, that department formed the Energy Management Group to lead UMKC's efforts in reducing the campus' energy consumption. The opportunity with Hughes Machinery emerged after more general talks about partnering with the university in energy-saving endeavors.

Publication date: 05/31/2004