Objectives and competences
After the completed course, the student shall be able to recognise the potential sources of renewable energy in the environment, estimate their energy potentials, select appropriate technology and predict techno-economic parameters of renewable energy conversion.
Content (Syllabus outline)
Introduction: direct and non-direct energy conversion; conventional and non-conventional renewable energy sources.
Solar radiation energy: solar radiation, direct and un-direct conversion of solar radiation into electric energy.
Wind energy: global and local winds and their distribution in the Earth atmosphere; design and operation of wind turbines.
Biomass: potential biomass sources, fuel production from biomass, characteristics of bio-fuels, their application and environmental impact.
Geothermal energy: vapour dominated and liquid dominated hydrothermal systems, exploitation of petrothermal systems, environmental impacts.
Hydroelectricity: harvesting the potential energy of water. Low, medium and high head hydroelectric installation with or without water accumulation. Turbine type and operation.
Energy from the oceans: harvesting the kinetic energy of ocean currents and potential tidal energy. Wave energy and the devices for its conversion. Ocean temperature differences and the technologies for its harvesting.
Learning and teaching methods
• lectures,
• homework assignments,
• tutorials,
• practical laboratory work,
• seminar work.
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
Student learns to:
• Predict energy potential of the selected Renewable Energy Source (RES),
• Describe design, operation and characteristics of any RES device,
• Select the appropriate RES technology for the selected environment,
• Determine techno-economic parameters of the selected RES technology,
• Predict the environmental impact of the selected RES technology.
Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes
• knowledge of potentials for sustainable energy production.
Readings
• Obvezni / Compulsory:
• A. Hribernik, Obnovljivi viri energije, FS Maribor, 2010
• G. Boyle, Renewable energy, Oxford University Press, 2004
• Priporočljivi / Recommended:
• M. M. El-Wakil: Powerplant technology; McGraw-Hill, 2001
Prerequisits
No prerequisites
Additional information on implementation and assessment • completed homework assignments, 15%
• completed seminar work, 25%
• written theoretical examination. 60%
Written examination can be substituted with successful tests of theoretical knowledge (2 or 3 tests). Tests average has to be at least 51%, while each test has to be graded at least 40%.
The students are obliged to successfully complete laboratory work, homework and seminar work before taking the examination!
Criteria for passing the exam:
A student has to attain at least one half of the required percentages at each type of assessment.
