Roll Number: Thapar University Patiala Department of Chemical Engineering BE- EST (Free Elective) UCH-715: Alternate Energy Sources May 2013 ‘Time: 03 Hours; MM: 50 Faculty: Dr. Sudhir Kr. Singh Note: Attempt all questions. Answer sheet will be shown on June 4 between #~ SPM. QL (a) It has been observed that distance between Earth and sun varies throughout the year. Hence, the intensity of solar radiation that reaches to the Earth produces a typical variation. What is your opinion about this solar intensity variation? [2 Marks] (b) What is insolation at a given surface and how does it differ from solar constant? [2 Marks} (©) The distance travel by sun rays through the atmosphere is of extreme importance in affecting the solar radiation at Earth’s surface. How does this distance affected by sun’s altitude angle? [1 Marks} (a) Average solar radiation on horizontal surface is given by the following expression: Hy. = Ho [a+b (a (NJ; where, a and 6 are constants depending upon the location on earth, 2 and N are average and maximum daily hours respectively for bright sunshine, and Ho is the average monthly insolation at the top of the atmosphere given by following relation: He [240 2). lg [(140.033c0s(360n/365))x(cospcosdsine,}+(2n o/360)singsind)}; where, I is the solar constant (1353 watt/m’), n is day of the year, @, is sunrise hour angle given by ‘cos’'(~ tang. tand); where dis solar declination angle given by the Cooper's equation; remaining symbols have their usual meaning. Determine the average value of solar radiation on a horizontal surface for ‘today’ at the latitude of 10 degree north. Assume the value of constants @ and b as 0.30 and 0.51 respectively, and the ratio wt / N= 0.55 [7 Marks} Q2 (a) An inventor claims that she has designed a horizontal axis aeroturbine such that, for a given wind speed if she doubles rotor diameter then maximum available power from wind increases by four fold: on the other hand, for a given rotor diameter if wind speed doubles then maximum available power from wind increases by eight fold. Justify her claim with proper reason. [4 Marks} (b) The physical conditions in a horizontal axis wind turbine are such that, as the free wind stream encounters and passes through a rotor, the wind transfers some of its kinetic energy to the rotor and the speed of wind decrease to a minimum in the rotor wake. Hence, only a fraction of the total available wind power can be converted into useful power. Show that for a horizontal Page 1 of 2axis wind turbine, the maximum theoretical value of rotor power = (16/27) * total power available in the wind, [6 Marks} Qs. 7 (a) Anaerobic biodigestion is a way to produce the biogas from organic wastes. Discuss the effect of temperature, H” concentration, seeding, nutrients and toxicity in digester on biogas production, [4 Marks} (b) In double stage continuous biodigester, acidogenic and methanogenic stages are physically separated into two chambers, Describe the working and advantages of having two chambers with proper schematic layout. [4 Marks] (©) The following data are given for a single stage biogas digester unit: the retention time in digester is 20days, temperature 30°C, mass of dry organic input to the digester per day = 10kg, density of dry material in the digester slurry = 50kg/m’ and the biogas yield is 0.24m’/kg dry input. The combustion efficiency of biogas burner is 60% and the methane proportion in biogas is 80%. Assume the heat of combustion of methane = 28MJ/m’, at the prevailing condition. Calculate: (i) the volume of biogas digester unit and (ii) the thermal power available from the digester in *kilo Watt” [5 Marks} a4 (a) Geothermal energy source occurs when the immense heat energy in the core of earth rises closer to the surface of earth due to cracks or faults in the crust and heats the surrounded rock. What are different kinds of geothermal energy sources depending upon geological and hydrological conditions and how they are utilized? [3 Marks} (b) Write a brief note on potential of geothermal energy resources in India [2 Marks} (©) A tidal power plant of the simple single basin type has a basin area of 30*10° m’, The tide has a range of 12m. The turbine, however, stops operating when the head on it falls below 3m. Calculate: (i) theoretical power generated during basin emptying process; (ii) if the turbine generator efficiency is 73% then estimate the actual average power generated during emptying process. Assume that the total time for emptying process is 6 hr & 12.5 minutes and average density of sea water as 1025 kg/m’ [5 Marks] Qs. (a) List out the major types of fuel cells depending upon fuel used. Also, describe the working principle of hydrogen fuel cell with proper schematic. [3 Marks} (b) What do you mean by ‘reaction rate losses’ and ‘resistance losses’ in a fuel cell and how these losses can be minimized? (2 Marks} Page 2 of 2