NON-CONVENTIONAL POWER SOURCES

1. SOLAR POWER PLANT

- Is the conversion of the energy of the sun’s radiation to useful work
Types of Solar Collectors:
a. Flat plate
b. Concentrating
c. Focusing
Photovoltaic Cell – a device which converts solar energy to electrical energy.
Solar energy received at earth’s surface = Qs(1-i)A ; kcal/hr
Where:
Qs = solar energy without atmosphere interference
= 1200 kcal/hr-m2
i = atmospheric interference, usually expressed in percent
A = surface area of solar collector, m2
Qsun = Qw +PE +Qloss
Where: Qw = mCpw Δtw PE = mgh

Example:
1. A solar collecting panel 20m2 in area receives solar energy at the rate of 750 W/m2. It is estimated
that 35% of the incident energy is lost to surrounding; water enters the panel at steady flow rate of
0.05 kg/s at 15 °C. Calculate the temperature of water leaving the collecting panel. Change in
elevation is 2 meters.
Solution:
Qsun = Qw +PE +Qloss eqn 1
Where: Qs = 750 W/m2 x 20m2 = 15,000 watts
Qw = mCw Δtw
= (0.05 kg/s)(4.187 KJ/kg-°C)((to – 15)(1000 W/KW)
= 209.35 (to – 15)
Qloss = 35% (15,000) = 5,250 W
PE = mgh = (0.05 kg/s) (9.81m/s2) (2m) = 0.981 W
From eqn 1:
15,000 watts = 209.35 (to – 15) + 0.981 W + 5,250 W
t = 61.56°C
2. The sun generates an average of 2 KW/ m2 when tapped as source of energy where in a flat plat
collector with an area of 1.5 m2 is used. Flow rate of water inside the collector is 40 liters/hr.
Calculate for the temperature rise of the working fluid in °C.
Solution:
Q = mCp Δt eqn. 1
Where: Q = 2 KW/m2 x 1.5m2 = 3 KW
L 1 hr
m = ρV = 1 kg/L ( 40 )( ¿ = 0.011 kg/s
hr 3600 sec
Cp = 4.187 KJ/kg-°C
From eqn 1:
3 KW = 0.011 kg/s (4.187 KJ/kg-°C) (Δt)
Δt = 65.14 °C
 2. WIND POWER PLANT
Windmills are any various mechanisms, such as mill, pump or electric generator, operated by the force
of wind against vanes or sails radiating about a horizontal shafts.

Typical uses of wind power

a. To drive water pumps
b. To drive rice and corn mills
c. To charge batteries
d. To generate power

Types of windmills
a. Turbine type
b. Rotor type
c. Propeller type
d. Dutch sail type
e. Panemone type
** insert typical layout of a wind power plant***

Performance of Wind Power Plant

1. Pump power, Wp
γQH
Wp = where: γ = specific weight of water = 9.81 KN/m3
ŋp
Q = volume flow rate
H = net head
Ŋp = pump efficiency
2. Kinetic Energy, KE
KE = ½ maVa2 Where: ma = mass flow rate
Va = volume of air
3. Volume of air, Va
ma R a T a
Va = P
a

if Wind velocity is given:

Volume = Area x velocity
π D2
Va = x velocity
4
4. Aerodynamic Efficiency, ŋa
γQH
ŋa = K . E .

Other non-conventional power sources

1. Tidal power
- Basically hydro-electric power utilizing the difference in elevation between
high and low tide to produce energy. A basin is required to catch the sea
water during high tide while water drives a turbine.
2. Thermoionic converter
- Is a device which converts heat energy directly to electrical energy.
3. Fuel cell
- A device which converts chemical energy to electrical energy.
4. Low thermal head plant
- Otherwise known as Ocean thermal energy conversion, makes use of the
temperature difference between the ocean surface water and the water at the
sea bottom. Surface water which is at relatively high temperature is
pumped to an evaporator where the water evaporates into saturated steam.
This steam drives a single stage turbine thereby producing electricity, and
exhaust to a jet condenser maintained at the saturation pressure of the
subsurface water temperature pumped from the sea bottom.
5. Magneto hydrodynamic plant
- In a magneto hydrodynamic generator, combustion gases produced in a
combustion chamber at high pressure and temperature and seeded with
metal vapor to increase its electrical conductivity, is passed through an
expansion tube lined with a strong magnetic field. This induces an electric
voltage in the gas conductor and effects the flow of electrons through the
electrodes along the magnetic field, thereby generating electricity.