<p>What can you do with a mechanical engineering degree in the petroleum industry? What about the alternative energy industry?</p>
<p>Good question. I’m wondering the same thing, especially pertaining the alternative energy field.</p>
<p>I read a book on magnetism a while back, just because, and it got me interested in alternative forms of power after it mentioned the fusion reactor. I’m not saying I’m dead set on working with fusion reactors, but if like to know, in general, about the role of MEs in that type of industry.</p>
<p>Mechanical engineering is one of the most broadly applicable areas of engineering and so wherever there is a need for design of components and systems there is work for a mechanical engineer.</p>
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<p>In Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineers can do a variety of tasks. First, they can act as facilities engineers working on designing/analyzing facility machineries such as rotating equipment, separators, etc. They can also design/analyze drilling and production equipment.They can also go into petroleum engineering tasks such as drilling, well completions, field surveillance, etc. I think this sums up some of the primary tasks a mechanical engineering student would go into.</p>
<p>For Alternatives, well depends on the field. Wind Turbine design/analysis. Hydropower Turbine Design/analysis. Solar Power Analysis…</p>
<p>You can also do a lot of thermo stuff in nuclear in addition to material/facility analysis.</p>
<p>Energy Efficiency, primarily in HVAC assessments and general auditing (lots of heat transfer and electric efficiency here).</p>