LANDMARK UNIVERSITY, OMU-ARAN

COURSE COMPACT
COLLEGE: SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT: PHYSICAL SCIENCES
PROGRAMME: PHYSICS
COURSE COMPACT FOR: 2019/2020 ACADEMIC SESSION

Course
Course code: PHY 432
Course title (credit unit): Energy Conversion and Storage
Credit unit: 2
Course status: Compulsory

Lecturer Data
Lecturer’s name:
Qualifications: B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc., Ph.D.
Unit: Physics
Department: Physical Sciences
College: College of Science and Technology
E-mail: adeniyi.john@lmu.edu.ng;
Office Location: Room A00(First college building)
Consultation Hours: Tuesday (2–4pm); Friday (10am–12noon)

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

Course Description
This course offers introduction to energy, its different forms, sources and generation. The
course will also discuss energy conversion or generation from one form to another, its storage
and transmission. The tranditional and modern storage methods will be juxtaposed and
discussed

Course Justification
The goal of this course is to expose students to the fundamentals of energy
generation/conversion, storage and transmission. Students will also be exposed to
classification of storage technologies and the implications for several energy-dependent
applications.

Course objectives
At the end of the course, students should be able to
 Evaluate the importance of electricity in today’s world with regards to economic,
health, and environmental data.
 Appreciate energy stored in the nature as one of the best gift to man.
 Understand the fundamental forms of storing energy.
 Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
 Identify the pros and cons of the different forms of storing energy.
 Understand the theory of modern energy conversion.
 Understand the process of generation of electrical energy from nuclear reactors.

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  Understand the process of generation of electrical energy from geothermal sources.
 Understand the process of generation of electrical energy from tidal power sources
and others.
 Understand the concept of energy transmission and storage; minimizing losses and
preventing wastage during period of excessive generation.
 Identify the characteristics of energy storage devices.
 Consideration of the characteristics for different energy storage devices.
 Understand the applications of the energy storage technologies.

Course Content
Theory of modern energy conversion, electrical energy from nuclear reactors. Energy in the
future: breeder reactors, fusion power, geothermal power and tidal power, etc-promise and
problems, transmission and storage methods: windmills, heat engines, classical engines,
Ocean, thermal energy converters, thermoelectric, thermion, fuel cells.
Course Expectations:
S/N GRADING SCORE (%)
1. Continuous Assessments
 C.A. I 7%
 C.A. II (Mid-semester) 15%
 C.A. III 8%
2. Final Examination 70%
3. Total 100

Course Delivery Strategies

Lecture and demonstration methods, one-on-one tutoring of the students and PowerPoint
presentation.

Course Duration: 15 weeks

LECTURE CONTENT
MODULE 1: ENERGY CONVERSION
WEEK 1: Energy conversion
Objectives: At the end of the lecture, students should be able to:
(i) evaluate the importance of energy to man and particularly electrical energy.
(ii) appreciate nature’s stored energy as one of the best gift to man and the need
for proper harnessing and management of this resources.
(ii) classify energy storage into different forms.
(ii)classify difference energy sources into renewable/non-renewable.
Description:
First Hour: Concept of Energy. Principle of conversion of energy. Theory of modern
energy conversion.
Second Hour: Energy harnessing, its need/purposes, conversion, and storage.
Study Questions:
1. Review the principle of conversion of energy.
2. What is/are the difference(s) between renewable and non-renewable
energy sources; give two examples each.
3. What are the forms of energy storage? Succintly differentiate between
them.

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 4. Is energy always available whenever needed?
5. Why the need for energy storage technology?

WEEK 2: The Sun as the largest source of energy

Objectives: At the end of the lecture, students should be able to
(i) Describe the nature the Sun, its different parts.
(ii) Explain the origin of the Sun’s energy, and transmission to the planets
(such as the Earth).
(iii) Discuss the natural way of solar energy storage.
(iv) Distinguish between the different types of solar cells.
Description:
First Hour: The Sun as a benevolent near-Earth star. The Sun as a source of natural
fusion process. The solar interior and energy generation.
Second Hour: Transmission of solar energy from the Sun surface to the Earth
surface. The importance of solar energy to life and storage of solar energy as biomass.
Study Questions:
1. Describe the Sun.
2. The Sun and the Earth: Which one revolves round the other? Justify your
answer.
3. Describe the solar interior.
4. Why is the Sun regarded as renewable source of energy? Name other
renewable sources that you know.
5. Can solar energy be stored? Explain.
6. How is solar energy converted stored as biomass?

MODULE 2: ELECTRICAL ENERGY GENERATION FROM NUCLEAR

REACTORS
WEEK 3: Electrical energy from nuclear fission reactors
Objectives: At the end of the lecture, students should:
(i) be able to identify a nuclear reactor and its different components.
(ii) know the function of each of these components.
(iii) Be able to differentiate between nuclear fission and fusion.
(iv) understand the risk involved in the use of nuclear reactors.
(v) Identify nuclear fuels and their properties.
(vi) review electricity generation from nuclear reactor.
(vii) Identify the challenges with the present nuclear reactors.
Description:
First Hour: Advantages and disadvantages of Nuclear Energy. Nuclear fuel and
fission process in a nuclear reactor.
Second Hour: Electrical energy generation process from the reactor. Nuclear waste
management and other environmental issues.

Study Questions:
1. Sketch the diagram of a nuclear reactor, label your diagram and highlight
the function of each labelled part.
2. Mention any two nuclear fission fuels and state their properties.
3. Describe electricity generation from nuclear reactor.
4. Give the advantages and disadvantages of energy generation from nuclear
source.

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MODULE 3: ENERGY IN THE FUTURE
WEEK 4: Electrical energy from future reactors; fusion power
Objectives: At the end of the lecture, students should:
(i) Know the consideration for future reactors.
(ii) Know the advantages of the different types of future reactors.
(iii) Understand fusion reaction and how it differs from fission reaction.
(iv)Identify the advantages of fusion over fission in energy generation.
(v) Identify fusion reactor fuels, their characteristics and production.
Description:
First Hour: Other environmental factors on Nuclear waste. Consideration of future
nuclear reactors and processes.
Second Hour: The nuclear fusion fuels. Projected advantages of nuclear fusion over
nuclear fission processes.
Study Questions:
1. Why the consideration of future reactors to replace the present ones?
2. What are the advantages of nuclear fusion over fission processes?
3. Highlight some nuclear fusion fuels.

WEEK 5: Energy from Geothermal and Ocean sources

Objectives: At the end of the lecture, students should be able to
(i) explain what geothermal energy is.
(ii) know the sources of geothermal energy.
(iii) know the present use of geothermal energy worldwide.
(iv)understand the challenges facing the optimization of geothermal energy.
(v) identify the different potential sources of energy generation from the
ocean.
(vi)enumerate the challengesin optimizing ocean energy potentials.
Description:
First Hour: Sources of geothermal energy. Use of geothermal energy. Material and
other challenegs limiting the maximization of geothermal energy.
Second Hour: The ocean as a renewable source of energy. Different energy potentials
from the ocean. Challenges in the utilization of the full ocean energy potentials.
Study Questions:
1. What are the sources of geothermal energy?
2. List the potential energy sources from the ocean.
3. What are the factors limiting the full exploitation of geothermal and ocean
energy?

MODULE 4: ENERGY TRANSMISSION AND STORAGE

WEEK 6: Energy transmission and device parameters for Energy storage
technologies
Objectives: At the end of the lecture, students should be able to
(i) categorize energy storage technologies based on certain parameters.
(ii) highlight the principal factors considered in applications of the Energy
storage technology.
Description:
First Hour: Energy transmission from generating station to the users.
Second Hour: Characteristics of energy storage devices and the applications of the
energy storage technologies.
Study Questions:

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 1. Describe the following: self-discharge time, unit size, cycle life, energy
density.
2. Enumerate the principal factors in the applications of different energy
storage technology.

MODULE 5: ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES

WEEK 7: Energy storage electrochemically and mechanically
Objectives: At the end of the lecture, students should be able to list and discuss the
different electrochemical and mechanical storage devices.
Description:
First Hour: Secondary batteries, lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries, nickel-
cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, sodium-sulfur batteries, zebra
batteries, flow batteries, and electrolyte hydrogen.
Second Hour: Pumped hydro as one of the oldest storage method. Compressed air as a
new method of energy storage. Flywheel as a storage device and its challenges.
Study Questions:
1. Give three characteristics of flow batteries.
2. Distinguish between the three types of Lead-acid batteries.
3. Write a short note on secondary batteries, use diagram where necessary.
4. Using diagram, explain the concept of energy storage in pumped hydro.
5. Describe the flywheel as an energy storage device.

WEEK 8: Energy in direct thermal storage form and direct electric storage devices
Objectives: At the end of the lecture, students should be able to discuss each of the energy
storage devices.
Description:
First Hour: Ultracapacitors and its advantage over traditional capacitors,
superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES);
Second Hour: Storage of energy as sensible heat and latent heat.
Study Questions:
1. Differentiate between the traditional capacitor and ultracapacitor.
2. Discuss the superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES). Which
application of the energy storage technology is it best suited?
3. Discuss sensible heat as a form of direct thermal storage of energy

WEEK 9: Mid-semester Examination

Objectives: To examine students in what has been taught in the course so far and evaluate
their preparation towards the end of the semester examination.

WEEK 10: Energy in thermochemical storage devices; Windmills

Objectives: At the end of the lecture, students should be able to discuss each of the
thermochemical energy storage devices.
Descriptions:
First Hour: Energy storage in biomass solids. Production of ethanol, biodiesel, and
syngas as energy source for industrial applications.
Second Hour: Wind as one of the renewable energy sources. Wind energy resources.
Study Questions:
1. Write short note on Syngas.
2. Succintly differentiate between ethanol and biodiesel.

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 3. Arrange the following in order of increasing efficiency: flywheels,
ultracapacitors, biomass solids, sensible heat.

WEEK 11: Windmills (cont’d)

Objectives: At the end of the lecture, students should be able to
(i) Explain methods of wind energy harvesting and conversion.
(ii) List the average requirements for a successful wind energy harvest and
utilization
(iii) Highlight the advantages and challenges of wind energy generation
(iv)List and describe the parts of a wind turbine
(v) Mention the characteristics of materials used in the design of
windmills
(vi) Identify the challenges of designing windmills
(vii) Highlight causes of wind turbine failures
Descriptions:
First Hour: Wind energy harvesting and challenges. Advantages and disadvantages of
wind energy generation.
Second Hour: Windmill design and materials. Wind turbine failures. Limitations to
the optimization of wind energy for electricity generation.
Study Questions:
1. Briefly enumerate the process of harvesting & conversion of wind energy.
2. Sketch a well-labelled diagram of a windmill.
3. What are the factors that causes turbine failure? How can they be
prevented?

WEEK 12: Thermoelectric Energy

Objectives: At the end of the lecture, students should be able to:
(i) State the thermoelectric energy conversion principle.
(ii) Enumerate the inherent potentials in thermoelectric energy.
(iii) Mention areas of application of thermoelectric energy.
(iv) Explain the two basic effects used in thermoelectric power generation.
(v) Highlight methods of thermoelectric material processing
Description:
First Hour: Thermoelectric energy conversion principles. Thermoelectric energy
potentials and applications.
Second Hour: Consideration and comparison of low-temperature, moderate-
temperature and high-temperature thermoelectric materials. Processing methods of
thermoelectric materials.
Study Questions:
1. State the thermoelectric energy conversion principle.
2. Differentiate between the Seebeck effect and the Peltier effect.
3. Highlight the characteristics of the three temperature classified
thermoelectric materials.

WEEK 13: Fuel cells

Objectives: At the end of the lecture, students should be able to
(i) Describe what fuel cells are and their similarity with traditional
electrochemical cells.
(ii) Identify the differences between fuel cells and traditional electrochemical
cells

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 (iii) Enumerate the characteristics and applications of fuel cells
(iv)Highlight the different categories of fuel cells and describe each
Description:
First Hour: Fuel cells: Characteristics and applications.
Second Hour: Categories of fuel cells: Alkaline, Proton Exchange Membrane, Direct
Methanol, Phosphoric Acid, Molten Carbonate, Solid Oxide – development, cathodes,
anodes, and electrolytes.
Study Questions:
1. What are fuel cells?
2. List all categories of fuel cells and describe any three.
3. Describe each categories of fuel cells with respect to their electrolyte and
operating temperature.
4. State the application of each categories of fuel cells.
5. What are the limitations in the wide adaptation of fuel cells storage
technology?
6. What are the advantages of fuel cells over batteries?

WEEK 14: Revision

WEEK 15: Examination

Reading List:
1. Lecturer’s lecture notes.
2. Lu K. (2014), “Materials in Energy Conversion, Harvesting, and Storage”, John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, USA, ISBN 978-1-118-88910-7
3. Demirel Y. (2012), “Energy: Production, Conversion, Storage, Conservation, and
Coupling”, Springer-Verlag, London Ltd., ISBN 978-1-4471-2371-2
4. Kreith F. and Goswami D.Y. (Ed.) (2007), “Handbook of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy”, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL33487-
2742
5. Grigsby L.L. (Ed.) (2012) (3rd Edition), CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group,6000
Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL33487-2742, ISBN 978-1-
4398-5637-6

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