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Alternative Energy Sources

* Exchange students do not have to consider this information when selecting suitable courses for an exchange stay.

Course Unit Code635-2035/01
Number of ECTS Credits Allocated6 ECTS credits
Type of Course Unit *Compulsory
Level of Course Unit *First Cycle
Year of Study *Second Year
Semester when the Course Unit is deliveredSummer Semester
Mode of DeliveryFace-to-face
Language of InstructionCzech
Prerequisites and Co-Requisites Course succeeds to compulsory courses of previous semester
Name of Lecturer(s)Personal IDName
PR150prof. Ing. Miroslav Příhoda, CSc.
PYS30prof. Dr. Ing. René Pyszko
VEL37doc. Ing. Marek Velička, Ph.D.
BUR19Ing. Jiří Burda, Ph.D.
Summary
Solar energy – solar radiation basic parameters, solar positioning. Solar thermal collectors, barrier-layer photocell. Wind energy – wind engine output, wind power plants. Energy of seas and water flows. Energy of biomass: thermal, biotechnological and chemical processes. Low temperature and high temperature geothermal energy. Heat pumps. Nuclear energy. Hydrogen technologies. Fuel cells. Energy storage.
Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit
Student will be able:
- to calculate optimal orientation and power of solar collector and photovoltaic cell
- to calculate power of wind engine and water engine
- to assess particular renewable energy sources
- to compare types of fuel cells
- to compare various ways of energy storage
Course Contents
• Solar energy. Solar spectrum, solar constant, Positioning the Sun. Solar energy flux density, direct sunlight, diffuse sunlight, total solar radiation. Energy to insulated area.
• Solar collectors - flat, vacuum, concentration. Energy absorbed by collector, collector efficiency.
• Photovoltaic conversion. Band gap. Photovoltaic cells - types, performance, efficiency, connection. Photovoltaic power plants.
• Wind energy: Parameters and vertical wind profile. The kinetic energy and wind power. Betz’s law. Output wind engine, tip-speed ratio. Wind turbine - rotor, gearbox, generator, system yaw of engine room, tower, control system. The potential of wind energy in the Czech Republic.
• The energy of water flows. Specific energy, output of the water engine. The main kinds of water turbines. Hydroelectric power plant in the Czech Republic and the world. Ocean energy. - sea waves, tides, ocean currents, temperature gradient between different depths, osmotic processes, thermal energy, etc.
• Biomass. Biomass for energy uses - purposely grown biomass, waste. EROEI. The methods of extracting energy from biomass. Thermal processes - combustion, gasification, pyrolysis. Biotechnological processes - anaerobic digestion and ethanol fermentation. Chemical processes - biodiesel.
• Geothermal energy. Geothermal gradient, heat flow. Geothermal resources. Geothermal power plants.
• Heat pumps. Principle, COP. Refrigerants for HP. Types of heat pumps: air - air, air - water, water - water, ground - water. The environmental aspect in the application of heat pumps.
• Nuclear energy. Energy from nuclear reactions. Ways to control the chain reaction. Nuclear reactor. Nuclear power plants. Fusion energy.
• Hydrogen technologies. Production of hydrogen from fossil fuels, electrolysis of water.
• Fuel cells. The principle, types - A, PEM, PA, MC, SO. Development and application of FC.
• Energy storage - electromechanical, thermal, chemical.
Recommended or Required Reading
Required Reading:
[1] MICHAELIDES, E. Alternative Energy Sources. Heidelberg. Springer, 2012. ISBN 978-3-642-20950-5.
[2] LIENHARD IV, J. H., LIENHARD V, J. H. A Heat Transfer Textbook. 4th ed. Cambridge: Phlogiston Press, 2012.
[3] GASCH, R., TWELE, J. Wind Power Plants: Fundamentals, Design, Construction and Operation. 2nd ed. Heidelberg: Springer, 2012. ISBN 978-3-642-22937-4.
[4] MacKAY, D. J. C. Sustainable Energy - without the hot air. Cambridge: UIT, 2008. ISBN 978-0-9544529-3-3.
[1] PŘÍHODA, M. Alternativní energetické zdroje. Ostrava: VŠB-TUO, 2013. e-learningová skripta.
[2] BRESTOVIČ, T., ČARNOGURSKÁ, M. Zdroje a premeny energie. Košice: TU v Košicích, 2012. ISBN 978-80-553-1013-8.
[3] AUGUSTA, P. et al. Velká kniha o energii. Praha: L.A.Consulting Agency, 2001. ISBN 80-238-6578-1.
[4] ROGOFF, M.J.; SCREVE, F. Waste-to-Energy: Technologies and Project Implementation. 2. vydání. Oxford: Elsevier, 2011. ISBN 978-1-4377-7871-7.
Recommended Reading:
[1] GASCH, R., TWELE, J. Wind Power Plants: Fundamentals, Design, Construction and Operation. 2nd ed. Heidelberg: Springer, 2012. ISBN 978-3-642-22937-4.
[2] Časopisy: Power in Europe, GWI, Renewable Energy Focus.
[3] www.renewableenergyworld.com.
[1] Časopisy: Alternativní energie, Energie, Svět energetiky, Energetika.
[2] PŘÍHODA, M., RÉDR, M. Sdílení tepla a proudění. 2. vyd. Ostrava: VŠB-TU Ostrava, 2008. ISBN 978-80-248-1748-4.
[3] BAŠTA, J. et al. Topenářská příručka: 120 let topenářství v Čechách a na Moravě. Svazek 1. 1. vyd. Praha: GAS, 2001. ISBN 80-86176-82-7.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Lectures, Tutorials
Assesment methods and criteria
Task TitleTask TypeMaximum Number of Points
(Act. for Subtasks)
Minimum Number of Points for Task Passing
Credit and ExaminationCredit and Examination100 (100)51
        CreditCredit25 15
        ExaminationExamination75 36