Subject Name: Non-Conventional Energy Resources

Time: 03 Hours Max. Marks: 70

Note: (a) Attempt any five questions from Section A.

(b) Section B is compulsory.

Section-A
(10×5=50)
1. What are primary and secondary energy resources? What are the advantages and
limitations of non-conventional energy resources over conventional energy resources?
2. How are electron-hole pairs generated when solar radiation is directed on semiconductor
material? List the advantages of direct energy conversion system over conventional
power generation system.
3. Classify different type of solar collectors and show the constructional details of a flat
plate collector and write its main advantages?
4. Draw a schematic diagram of solar pond based electric power plant with cooling tower
and explain its working.
5. What is a fuel cell? What are its main advantages and its potential applications?
6. What is MHD power plant. With the help of schematic diagram explain the working
principle of MHD power plant.
7. Explain the working principle of thermoionic generators. What properties are required in
a material for thermoionic conversion? Give some example of thermoionic materials.
8. Sketch the diagram of HAWT (Horizontal axis wind turbine) and explain the functions of
its main components
9. Explain the process of production of biogas from biomass. What are the main advantages
of anaerobic digestion of biomass?
10. Briefly explain the principle of OTEC systems. What are the environmental impacts of
OTEC?

Section-B

(1×20=20)
11. Global warming would lead to
a) Increase in agriculture production
b) Acid rains
c) Change of climatic pattern and diversity
d) Increase the efficiency of heat engines
12. Which year is said to be starting point of large scale planning of renewable energy
globally?
a) 1973
b) 1942
c) 1990
d) 1982
13. A solar thermal collector
a) Collects the solar energy and reflects it back
b) Absorbs the solar radiation and dissipate it to the ambient
c) Collects and converts the solar energy into electrical energy
d) Collects and converts the solar energy into thermal energy and delivers it to the
next stage of the system
14. The main concern of solar pond is
a) Maintenance of salt gradient
b) Extraction of heat
c) Replenishment of lost water
d) Handling of hot brine
15. A solar cell is basically
a) A voltage source
b) A current source
c) Both of the above
d) None
16. The efficiency of commercial solar cell lies in the range of
a) 0-10%
b) 10-20%
c) 20-30%
 d) 50-60%
17. Which process is responsible for production of energy in the sun?
a) Nuclear fission
b) Nuclear fusion
c) Chemical reaction
d) None
18. Which of the following statement is not true for geothermal energy system?
a) It is reliable and cheap source of energy
b) It is available 24 hours per day
c) It has no inherent storage feature, so storage facility is required
d) The system is modular in nature
19. The temperature in the crust increases with the depth at a rate of
a) 300°C/Km
b) 10°C/Km
c) 1°C/Km
d) 30°C/Km
20. The zone of likely geothermal sites corresponds roughly to
a) Cold, hilly regions
b) Hot, flat regions
c) Tropical regions
d) The regions of seismic and volcanic activities
21. The working fluid used in MHD generator coupled with fast breeder reactor is a
a) Hot flue gases
b) Seeded inert gases
c) Liquid metal only
d) Liquid metal inert gas mixture
22. A fuel cell is basically
a) An electromechanical energy conversion device
b) An electrostatic conversion device
c) An electrochemical conversion device
d) A thermoelectric conversion device
23. With pure hydrogen and pure oxygen as input the exhaust from fuel cell contains
a) Water vapour, CO, NO2 and CO2
b) Water vapour, CO, CO2
c) Water vapor and CO2
d) Water vapour only
24. Widespread use of fuel cell is hindered mainly due to
a) Its high cost
b) Its high weight and size
c) Its high efficiency
d) Non-availability of hydrogen
25. In practical MHD system, the exhaust of MHD generator
a) Used as hot air for combustion in a furnace
b) Let off to atmosphere
c) Used as input to a gas turbine to generate additional power
d) None
26. The biggest advantage of thermos-electric power generator is
a) It is cheap and compact
b) It is cheap and bulky
c) It has lowest maintenance and ability to use high grade energy
d) It has lowest maintenance and ability to use low grade energy
27. The principle used to maintain cold and hot chambers in service cart used in aeroplane
a) Seebeck effect
b) Peltier effect
c) Avto effect
d) Tunneling effect
28. Biogas is predominantly
a) Hydrogen
b) Carbon dioxide
c) Carbon
d) Methane
29. Storage of biomass energy is
 a) Very difficult
b) Inbuilt feature
c) Expensive
d) Impossible
30. OTEC is characterized as having
a) High efficiency and low installation cost
b) Low efficiency and high installation cost
c) Low efficiency and low installation cost
d) High efficiency and high installation cost