pre031 - Renewable Energy Technologies I

After successful completion of the module students should be able to:

-        critically evaluate and compare three major Renewable Energy conversion processes and technologies: photovoltaics, wind energy and one out of three of solar thermal energy, biomass energy or hydro power.

-        critically appraise various electrochemical storage processes and the respective storage techniques

-        analyse various system components and their interconnections within a complex Renewable Energy supply system.

-        evaluate the Renewable Energy supply systems’ operational size and efficiency.
-        critically evaluate non-technical impact and side effects when implementing renewable energy supply systems

This module will give an overview over a selection of the major renewable energy technologies and some possibilities of their storage. The focus is on the scientific principles of components and the technical description of the components. Further detailed system analysis will be presented in other modules.  

Photovoltaics (Lecture ‑ 90 h workload)

Physics of PV:

-        Basic and most important properties of solar radiation related to photovoltaics

-        PV cells basics: Fundamental physical processes in photovoltaic materials

-        Characterisation and basic modelling of solar cells

Component Description:

-        PV generator

-        Charge controller

-        Inverter

-        Balance of system components

System Description

-        Grid Connected System

-        Stand Alone System   

Basics of Wind Energy (Lecture ‑ 90 h workload)

-        Wind characterization and anemometers

-        Aerodynamic aspects of wind energy conversion

-        Wind turbine performance

-        Design of wind turbines

-        Dimensional analysis and pi-theorem

Fuel Cells & Energy Storage (Lecture ‑ 90 h workload)

-        Fundamentals of electrochemistry and thermodynamics, energy and environmental balances

-        Basics of hydrogen production - starting materials, processes, efficiencies, environmental impacts

-        Basics of fuel cells function, materials, construction, systems, applications

-        Fundamental setup of most common battery types

-        Fundamental chemical reactions in these batteries
-        Operational characteristics, weir processes and service lives of these batteries.

Solar Thermal Energy, Biomass Energy, Hydro Power

Students select one out of the three units:

a.     Solar Thermal Energy (90 h workload)

b.     Biomass Energy (90 h workload)

c.     Hydro Power (90 h workload)

In the third semester the other two of the three units will be selected in the module Renewable Energy Technology II.

Solar Thermal Energy  (Seminar & Exercises ‑ 90 h workload)

-        Assessment of solar thermal ambient parameters: regional global, diffuse, reflected solar radiation on horizontal and on tilted plane, ambient temperature

-        Solar thermal collectors

-        Solar thermal heat exchangers

-        Solar thermal storages

-        Solar thermal systems and their operation

-        Characterization of solar thermal systems

Biomass Energy (Lecture ‑ 90 h workload)

-        Energy mix overview; gas, heat, electricity, Pros & Cons of biomass

-        Chemical composition of biomass: sugar, cellulose, starch, fats. Oils, proteins, lignin

-        Natural photosynthesis in plants: chemical storage of solar energy; general mechanisms

-        Chemistry & Biology (microorganism) of Biogas Technology

-        Conversion processes of biomass: classification, main pathways

-        Introduction to catalysis used in biomass conversion

-        Chemical fuels (chemical energy storage) from biomass, routes to platform chemicals and separation processes

-        Technology concepts for bioenergy usage

-        Introduction into economical and legal constraints

Hydro Power (Seminar  & Exercises ‑ 90 h workload)

-        Theoretical background ‑ general hydraulic terms, Bernoulli Equation, Major Empirical Formulae and their backgrounds

-        Water Resource ‑ catchment area, seasonal precipitation, flow duration curve, dam, & run off river

-        Powerhouse ‑ penstock, water hammer, cavitation, tailrace

-        Turbines ‑ main types of turbines, their characteristics & their components
-        Ocean Power Overview