Energy and the Environment

Code:

AMB240

Acronym:

AMB240

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Environment

Instance: 2015/2016 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	https://moodle.up.pt/course/view.php?id=2277
Responsible unit:	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Environmental Sciences and Technology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:CTA	57	Plano de estudos de 2008 até 2015/16	3	-	5	45	135

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

This course aims to provide basic training on existing energy sources and on the environmental impacts of their use.

Learning outcomes and competences

After completion of the course the student is expected to:

- understand the physical principles associated with the production, conversion, conservation and transfer of energy;

- understand the physical aspects underlying Solar Thermal, Solar Photovoltaic, Wind and Geothermal renewable energies, and related technologies;

- understand the operation of heat engines, refrigerators and heat pumps;

- understand the concepts of thermal efficiency and coefficient of performance;

- understand the process of heat transfer by conduction, convection and radiation;

- understand the concepts of thermal resistance and equivalent thermal resistance;

- analyze and solve problems in the field of Physics of Energy and Environment;

- quantitatively analyze geothermal processes at different scales and enthalpy levels for power generation;

- understand the basic principles of organic petrology related to conventional and unconventional fossil fuels, and environmental impacts of their use.

Working method

Presencial

Program

MODULE I – ENERGY, PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS

1. Energy in the Universe.
    Principle of conservation of energy.
    Forms of energy and their applications
2. Renewable Energies.
3. Heat transfer.
    Thermal conduction. Convection. Thermal radiation.
    General characteristics of thermal radiation emitted by a body.
    Thermal resistance of conduction, convection and radiation.
    Interior heating and insulation.
4. Conversion of heat into work.
    Thermal efficiency. Thermal machines.
    Heat pump and refrigerator. Coefficient of performance.
5. Solar energy.
    Solar spectrum and solar constant.
    Effect of the tilt of Earth rotation axis on annual insolation variations.
    Calculation of solar insolation versus time and latitude.
    Energy transport between the tropics and the poles.
    Solar thermal energy.
    Solar Collectors: constitution, radiative selectivity, heat power captured and extracted. Efficiency of a solar collector.
    General principle of thermal use of solar energy.
    Thermosyphon. Forced convection systems.
    Integrated residential installation.
    The solar pond.
    Conversion of solar thermal energy into electric energy.
    Mirror concentrators.
6. Wind energy.
    Mechanical power of the wind.
    Resistance force of a turbine.
    Mechanical power extracted by a turbine.
    Coefficient of performance and Betz limit.
    Power curve of a wind turbine and dependence factors.
    Effect of altitude and orography.
    Constitution of a wind turbine.
7. Photovoltaics.
    Physical principle of operation of a photovoltaic cell.
    Characteristic curve and point of maximum power.
    Modules and photovoltaic panels. Photovoltaic efficiency.

MODULE II - GEOTHERMAL ENERGY, AND BIOMASS FOSSIL FUELS

1. Geothermal energy
1.1 World economic situation
1.2. Renewable energies
1.3. Geothermal energy. Physical concepts
1.4. Classification of geothermal systems
1.5. Types of water systems
1.5.1.  Water-dominated fields
1.5.2.  Vapour-dominated fields
1.6. Geothermal systems vs enthalpy
1.7. Use of geothermal energy
1.8. Production of electric power. Economical factors.
1.9. Environmental impact
1.10. Sustainability
1.11. Geothermal energy in São PEDRO DE SUL
2. Energy from Fossil Fuels
2.1. Coal, Oil and Natural Gas basics.
2.2. World Usage Statistics of Fossil Fuels and associated emissions.
2.2.1. Construction of scenarios for a sustainable future.
2.2.2. The situation of Spain and Portugal in european and global context
2.3. Rational use of fossil fuels
2.3.1. Advanced technologies for coal combustion
2.3.2. Capture and sequestration of CO2 and their consequences
3. Energy from Biomass
3.1. Types of biomass and their characteristics
3.2. Biomass processing technologies.

Mandatory literature

M. A. Salgueiro da Silva; Apontamentos das aulas do módulo de Física., 2015
Iuliu Bobos Radu, Bruno Renato Valério Valentim; Apontamentos das aulas do módulo de Geologia,, 2015
Godfrey Boyle; Renewable Energy – Power for a Sustainable Future, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 2004
Volker Quasching; Understanding Renewable Energy Systems , Earthscan, London , 2005
Egbert Boeker, Rienk van Grondelle; Environmental Physics , Willey & Sons , 1999
Marion Jerry B.; Energy in perspective. ISBN: 0-12-472275-X
Hélder Gonçalves, António Joyce, Luís Silva; Energias Renováveis em Portugal – FORUM, ADENE-Agência para a Energia
Yoichi Kaya and Keiichi Yokobori; Environment, Energy, and Economy – Strategies for Sustainability , United Nations University Press, 1997
Stober, I., Bucher, K. ; Geothermal Energy: From Theoretical Models to Exploration and Development, Springer Verlag, 2013
Taylor, G.H., Teichmüller, M., Davis, D., Diessel, C.F.K., Littke, R. & Robert, P.,; Organic Petrology, 704 pp, Gebrüder Borntraeger. Berlin, Stuttgart, 1998
Tissot B.p.; Petroleum Formation and Occurrence

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures and theoretical-practical classes.

Physics Module:

Didactic content, including resolutions of problems of theoretical-practical classes and tests and exams of previous years, are made available in Moodle e-learning platform.

Discussion forum in Moodle e-learning platform to resolve doubts.

Geology module:

Presentation and discussion of the contents using case studies. Theoretical lectures will use Powerpoint presentations (including the analysis and discussion of graphs, diagrams, images, photographs and field photos) which will be made available to students in Moodle. For the practical component, hand samples of carbonaceous rocks will be used.

Whenever possible, classes will be enriched with lectures by invited experts, field trips, and study visits to laboratories and industrial units for processing and / or conversion of fossil fuels.

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Calculation formula of final grade

Final grade = 0.6*Grade(Module I) + 0.4*Grade(Module II)