Journal of Effective Teaching and Learning Practices

Volume: 2 Issue: 1

  • Open Access
  • Original Article

Enhancing Fluid Mechanics Education through a Field Trip to a Hydropower Plant

Shaharin Anwar Sulaiman 1a , Rabi Kabir Ahmad 2

 

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610 Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia.
2Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Bayero University, Kano (BUK). P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria.

Correspondence: [email protected]

 

Year: 2025, Page: 19-28, Doi: https://doi.org/10.70372/jeltp.v2.i1.3

Abstract

A field trip to a hydropower plant can be a valuable educational experience for Mechanical Engineering students studying Fluid Mechanics, offering practical, real-world applications of classroom principles. This paper presents the key learning outcomes from a field trip to the Pergau Hydroelectric Power Station, located in the northern part of the Titiwangsa Range near the Malaysia-Thailand border. The connection between the plant's operations and fluid mechanics concepts, and how the experience enhanced students' understanding, is examined. A total of 32 students participated in the trip, completing a questionnaire on their learning experiences. The findings show that students were able to connect theoretical concepts like Bernoulli's principle, fluid flow, and energy conservation with actual engineering practices, significantly improving their grasp of hydroelectric power generation. The field trip also fostered critical thinking, problem-solving, and deeper insights into the complexities of hydropower, reinforcing the importance of fluid mechanics in sustainable energy production.

Keywords: Bernoulli’s Principle; Experiential Learning; Fluid Mechanics; Hydroelectric Power Generation; Hydropower Plant; Sustainable Energy

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Cite this article

Shaharin Anwar Sulaiman and Rabi Kabir Ahmad. Enhancing Fluid Mechanics Education through a Field Trip to a Hydropower Plant. Journal of Effective Teaching and Learning Practices. 2025; 2(1); 19-28

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