Course Details
Course Information Package
Course Unit Title | INTRODUCTION TO RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS | ||||||||||
Course Unit Code | AEEE260 | ||||||||||
Course Unit Details | BSc Electrical Engineering (Required Courses) - | ||||||||||
Number of ECTS credits allocated | 6 | ||||||||||
Learning Outcomes of the course unit | By the end of the course, the students should be able to:
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Mode of Delivery | Face-to-face | ||||||||||
Prerequisites | NONE | Co-requisites | NONE | ||||||||
Recommended optional program components | NONE | ||||||||||
Course Contents |
· Photovoltaics Generation: Introduction to photovoltaic generation, the silicon p–n junction, photon absorptionat the junction, solar radiation absorption, maximization of cell efficiency,solar cell construction, types and adaptations of photovoltaics, photovoltaiccircuit properties, applications and systems, social and environmental aspects.
· Wind Power: Introductionto wind power, turbine types and terms, linear momentum and basic theory,dynamic matching, blade element theory, characteristics of the wind, powerextraction by a turbine, electricity generation, mechanical power, social andenvironmental considerations.
· Biomass and Biofuels: Introduction to biomass and biofuels, biofuel classification, biomass productionfor energy farming, direct combustion for heat, pyrolysis (destructivedistillation), further thermochemical processes, alcoholic fermentation,anaerobic digestion for biogas, wastes and residues, vegetable oils andbiodiesel, social and environmental aspects.
· Geothermal energy: Introductionto geothermal energy, geophysics, dry rock and hot aquifer analysis, harnessinggeothermal resources.
· Wave Power: Introduction to wave power, wave motion, wave energy and power, wave patterns,devices.
· Fuel Cells: Introduction to fuel cells, electrochemical cells, fuelcell classification, temperature of operation, state of the electrolyte, type offuel, chemical nature of the electrolyte, fuel cell reactions, alkalineelectrolytes, acid electrolytes, molten carbonate electrolytes, ceramicelectrolytes, methanol fuel cells.
· Hydrogen Production: Chemical production of hydrogen, historical, modern production: a)partial oxidation, b) steam reforming, c) thermal decomposition, d) syngas, e)shift reaction, f) methanation, g) methanol, h) sycrude, hydrogen purification,desulfurization, CO2 removal, CO removal and hydrogen extraction,hydrogen production plants, compact fuel processors, electrolytic hydrogen,introduction to electrolyzer configurations: a)liquid electrolyteelectrolyzers, b) solid polymer electrolyte electrolyzers, c) ceramicelectrolyte electrolyzers, efficiency of electrolyzes, concentrationdifferential electrolyzers, electrolytic hydrogen compressors.
· Experimental work: Introduction of solar cells as an energy converter.Basic measurements of the irradiance of different light sources. Series andparallel connections of solar cells. Investigate shadowing conditions.Introduction of wind turbines as an energy converter. Measuring power output ofthe generator. Deriving the characteristic curve.
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Recommended and/or required reading: | |||||||||||
Textbooks |
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References |
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Planned learning activities and teaching methods | Teaching is based on lectures. The course delivery will be based on theoretical lecturing, assignments and exercises solved in class. Exercises will be handed to students and their solutions shall be analysed at lecture periods. Additional tutorial time at the end of each lecture will be provided to students. Students are expected to demonstrate the necessary effort to become confident with the different concepts and topics of the course. Lectures are supplemented with laboratory work carried out at the laboratory. During laboratory sessions, students perform individual or small group experiments performed with circuit boards. | ||||||||||
Assessment methods and criteria |
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Language of instruction | English | ||||||||||
Work placement(s) | NO |