Renewable Energies

Code:

EM0055

Acronym:

ER

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Heat Transfer and Fluid

Instance: 2015/2016 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Fluids and Energy Division
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	16	Syllabus since 2006/2007	5	-	6	45,5	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Familiarization with the problems of the use of energy resources and their relationship with the environment. Acquisition of knowledge on renewable energy sources and technologies, with emphasis on those with higher expression in the electricity sector, methods of evaluating energy resources and production estimates. Perception of the economic and environmental value of renewable energy sources.

Learning outcomes and competences

Perception of the origins of renewable energy sources and of the potential of its use.
Apprehension of the concept of primary resource and understanding of the essentials of its preliminary characterization.
Basics of the development process of a renewable energy conversion project.
Understanding the functioning of the conversion technologies (wind and water) and the limits of its use.
Knowledge at the level of the preliminary selection of equipment and of a project production estimates.

Working method

Presencial

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

Basic courses of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics.

Program

INTRODUCTION
General concepts of energy (review). Traditional sources and their uses. Development and energy consumption. Dominant energy culture. Fossil fuels. Electricity. Finite nature of reserves and problems of its extensive use. Brief energy policy notions.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Traditional fuels. Environmental problems associated with the use of energy; temporal and spatial scales, impacts of energy use. Energy dilemma of modern societies. Saving measures and rational use of energy. Sustainable development.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Generalities. Origins and characteristics of renewable sources. Maturity and comparative development of conversion technologies. Growth of RES and present contribution to meeting energy demand. Renewable energy in the electricity sector. Renewables and / or alternatives?
WIND ENERGY
Historical and prospective applications of the technology. Maturity and new challenges. Wind origins, main characteristics and their evaluation. The energy of the wind. Principle and conversion limits; coefficient / Betz limit and Glauert theory. Modelling the wind, modelling needs and families of models. Aerodynamics of the rotor of a wind turbine. Power limitation and regulation concepts. Power curve and converted energy. General aspects of the development of a wind farm project. Selection of a wind turbine model. Production estimates, losses and uncertainties.
HYDROELETRIC POWER
Energy and hydroelectric power. Maturity of technologies and contribution of hydro energy (electricity sector). Small hydroelectric plants and their classification. Pre-dimensioning of some components. Flow rate and water resources. Variability and characterization of the resource. Basic design criteria. Main types of hydraulic turbines and its application. Estimates of energy yield in a small hydro plant.
WAVE ENERGY
Origins. Energy potential of the oceans. Concepts of the use of wave energy. Maturity of the technology. Upcoming developments.
BIOFUELS
Seminar - Present situation, processes and sustainability.

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
L. Monition, M. Le Nir, J. Roux; Micro hydroelectric power stations. ISBN: 0-471-90255-1

Complementary Bibliography

Manuel Collares-Pereira; Energias Renováveis, a Opção Inadiável, SPES - Sociedade Portuguesa de Energia Solar, 1998. ISBN: 972-95854-3-1
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
Martin O. L. Hansen; Aerodynamics of wind turbines. ISBN: 1-902916-06-9
J. F. Manwell, J. G. McGowan, A. L. Rogers; Wind Energy Explained, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-470-01500-1
Adam Harvey ; with Andy Brown, Priyantha Hettiarachi and Allen Inversin; Micro-hydro design manual. ISBN: 1-85339-103-4

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical classes: exposition of concepts and discussion.
Theoretical-practical classes: discussion of additional topics, problem solving typical problems and clarify students doubts.

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	101,00
Frequência das aulas	45,00
Trabalho de campo	16,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Participation in, at least, 70% of the classes held and in the study visits.

Calculation formula of final grade

Two theoretical tests during the semester (without consultation, 60 minutes), weighting 2/3 (1/3 + 1/3) of final grade. In the examination period, practical test (with limited consultation), weighting 1/3 of the final grade.
Theoretical (without consultation, 60 minutes) and/or practical (limited consultation, 60 minutes) components in the improvement/final examination.
The attendance and participation of the student will be considered for small adjustments (limit 1 point) in the final grade.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

According to FEUP regulations, with rules similar to the ones of the improvement/final examination.

Classification improvement

According to FEUP regulations, simultaneously with improvement/final examination, with the same rules.

Observations

Two study visits will take place: one to a wind farm, the other one to a smal  hydroelectric power plant.