Renewable Energies

Code:

EM0055

Acronym:

ER

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Heat Transfer and Fluid

Instance: 2013/2014 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Fluids and Energy Section
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Mechanical Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIEM	28	Syllabus since 2006/2007	5	-	6	45,5	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Familiarization with energy resources and energy use related problems, including environmental issues. Acquisition of knowledge on the main renewable energy technologies, resource assessment and approximate design methods for solar thermal, photovoltaic, mini-hydraulic and wind energy conversion systems. Perception of the economic and environmental value of renewable energy sources.

Learning outcomes and competences

Knowledge and understanding - knowledge related to renewable energy processes; understanding of system operation and variable output usually related with renewables.

Engineering analysis - analysis of energy systems, economic and environmental studies.

Engineering design - design tools for renewable energy systems.

Investigations- analysis of new system configurations.

Engineering practice- applications in Thermal Engineering regarding Building Services, Industry and Energy Production.

Transferable skills- design tools for different renewable energy systems.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Basic courses of Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer.

Program

INTRODUCTION – GENERALITIES: Energy, definition and concepts, brief history of its use; energy consumption and progress, the change of energy paradigm and energy policies. ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT: Traditional fuels and environmental problems related to its use, the energetic dilemma of modern societies, saving and rational use of energy, sustainable development. Environmental problems related to the use of energy; energetic problem of modern societies; renewables and sustainable development. RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES: Renewable / alternative; the “renewable” concept; the origin of renewables – solar radiation; renewable energy sources – different technologies and its maturity; present and future role of renewables in the global energetic context. SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY: Solar geometry and solar resources; solar radiation on inclined surfaces; thermal solar collectors without or with low concentration – types and applications; water heating systems (domestic and pools), space heating, space cooling, process heating; simplified calculation methods – f-chart, fi-chart, fi, f-chart. PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR ENERGY: Photovoltaic effect; photosensitive materials; solar cells and its efficiency; photovoltaic collectors and integration in buildings; electricity production systems; simplified calculation methods – PV f-chart. WIND ENERGY: Origin, general circulation and local effects; characterization of the wind regime and resource assessment; conversion principles, rotor aerodynamics; main characteristics and energy converted by wind turbines; isolated and grid-connected systems. HYDRIC ENERGY: Technologies, type and classification of plants; hydraulic regime and resource assessment; basic design criteria; main types of hydraulic turbines and its employment. Energy converted on a plant. WAVE ENERGY: Oceans energy potential; different concepts for wave energy conversion systems; maturity of the thecnology and future perspectives.

This course has a 70% technological component and a 30% scientific component.

Mandatory literature

Boyle, Godfrey; Renewable energy. ISBN: 0-19-856451-1
Tony Burton, David Sharpe, Nick Jenkins, Ervin Bossanyi; Wind Energy Handbook, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2001. ISBN: 0 471 48997 2
Duffie, John A.; Solar engineering of thermal processes. ISBN: 0-471-51056-4

Complementary Bibliography

Solar Energy - The state of the art, ISES - James & James, 2001. ISBN: 1 902916 23 9
Manuel Collares-Pereira; Energias Renováveis, a Opção Inadiável, SPES - Sociedade Portuguesa de Energia Solar, 1998. ISBN: 972-95854-3-1
Kreith, Frank; Principles of solar engineering. ISBN: 0-07-035476-6
R. Gash, J. Twele; Wind Power Plants, James & James, 2002. ISBN: 1-902916-37-9
Le Gourniérès, Désiré; Wind Power Plants. ISBN: 0-08-029967-9

Teaching methods and learning activities

The room sessions are of the theoretical-practical type. The concepts and methodologies are presented and some practical typical problems are solved. The fundamental design criteria and basic design principles of conversion systems are discussed.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	33,00
Teste	67,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	126,00
Frequência das aulas	63,00
Total:	189,00

Eligibility for exams

Presence in 75 % of the theoretical-practical planned sessions. Attendance of the theoretical mini-tests during the semester.

Calculation formula of final grade

Two theoretical mini-tests during the semester (access to books or other texts not allowed), with a weight of 2/3. Practical written exam (with consultation) with a weight of 1/3. Small adjustments (max. 1/20) depending on the student assiduity, interest and participation.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Written exam with theoretical part (access to books or other texts not allowed) with a weight of 12 (in 20) and a practical part (use of books, calculators, etc. is allowed) with a weight of 8 (in 20).

Classification improvement

Written exam with theoretical part (access to books or other texts not allowed) with a weight of 12 (in 20) and a practical part (use of books, calculators, etc. is allowed) with a weight of 8 (in 20).