Form No: I

KIGALI INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING & ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY

END OF SEMESTER II EXAMINATIONS

ACADEMIC YEAR: 2012-2013 EXAMINATION PERIOD: Dec 2012

YEAR OF STUDY: 3 SEMESTER: I Programme: Full Time Part Time

SUBJECT CODE & NAME: WEE 3315- ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

NO. OF STUDENTS: 50 DURATION: 2hrs MAX. MARKS: 60

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 18 Nov 2012

NAME OF INTERNAL EXAMINER: Dr Kabera Telesphore

TEL: 0786419012 E-MAIL: kaberacris@yahoo.fr

SIGNATURE:

Submitted
(i) Main Exam Qns. (ii) Marking scheme (iii) Syllabus (iv) Supp exam Qns.

Head of Department: date:

Course Description
The course aims to provide an overview of the forms, purpose, principles, types of alternative energy
sources and their end use technologies as applied to engineering practice. It covers alternative energy
sources available in Rwanda these include solar energy, biomass energy, biogas technology, wind
energy, geothermal energy and hydro power as well as other biomass energy conversion
technologies like bio fuel, alcohol fuels production, gasification, pyrolysis and carbonisation.

Student Learning Objectives

Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and
understanding of:
o Solar energy systems,
o Wind energy systems
o Biogas systems
o Energy saving cooking stoves
o Hydro power systems
Evaluation

Two continuous assessment tests (CATs), Quizzes, Assignment and one final exam, the CATs,
Quizzes as well as Assignment count 40% whereas the final exam counts 60% of the total marks.
 MAIN EXAM

KIGALI INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

INSTITUT DES SCIENCES ET TECHNOLOGIE DE KIGALI
Avenue de l'Armée, B.P. 3900 Kigali, Rwanda

INSTITUTE EXAMINATIONS-SEM: I
ACADEMIC YEAR 2012-2013

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT: CIVIL ENGINEERING & ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY

YEAR: 3 SEMESTER: I GROUP: WEE

MODULE: WEE 3315- ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

DATE: / 11 /2012 TIME: 2hours

MAXIMUM MARKS = 60

MAIN EXAM

INSTRUCTIONS

1. This paper contains FOUR (4) questions.

2. Answer THREE (3) Questions:
Question ONE (1) from Section “A” is Compulsory and Answer any TWO (2)
from Section “B”
3. All questions carry equal marks.
4. No written materials allowed.
5. Do not forget to write your Registration Number.
6. Write all your answers in the booklet provided
7. Do not write any answers on this questions paper.
8. Start the questions in NEW pages
SECTION A

QUESTION 1

a) The biomass gasification process is a result of complex reactions, which are not still
completely known in a whole. However, in an introductory way and in theoretical terms, it
can be divided in several stages. Give chemical equations explaining the mentioned stages (6
Marks).

b) Explain mechanism of direct conversion of solar energy into electric current in case of
photovoltaic cells (3.5 Marks).
c) What is Betz Limit?( 1 Mark)
d) Scaling of gasholder (4 Marks)
Calculate the gasholder size of the following characteristics:
Daily gas production: 2400 l
Hourly gas production: 2400 -:- 24 = 100 l/h
Gas consumption
from 0600 to 0800 hrs =2h
from 1200 to 1400 hrs =2h
from 1900 to 2100 hrs =2h
Duration of gas consumption: 6 h
Assumption : Uniform gas consumption is assumed

e) One of the three main types of simple biogas plants is Floating-Drum Plant, Give the sketch
showing its different parts (5.5 marks)
 SECTION B

QUESTION 2:
a. By sketch differentiate the three types of hydroelectric installation (7 Marks)
b. Consider a mountain stream with an effective head of 25 meters (m) and a flow rate
of 600 liters (ℓ) per minute. How much power could a hydro plant generate? Assume
plant efficiency () of 83%. (2 Marks)
c. How much energy (E) will the hydro plant generate each year?(1 Mark)
d. About how many people will this energy support (assume approximately 3,000 kWh /
person)?(1 Mark)
e. Consider a second site with an effective head of 100 m and a flow rate of 6,000
cubic meters per second Answer the same questions. (3 Marks)
f. What are the Factors affecting the Solar intensity? (4 Marks)
g. Give at least two advantages of using solar energy (2 Marks)

QUESTION 3:
a) What makes air move during windy weather? Discuss in brief the spectra distribution of extra
terrestrial solar radiation graphically.(12 Marks)
b) What are the Ecological Impacts from Hydropower? (8 Marks)

QUESTION 4:
a) What is solar constant? Intensity of solar energy received on earth surface is much less than
the intensity with which it is beamed from surface of sun. Discuss various possible factors
responsible for that loss. (9 Marks)
b) What do you understand by Photovoltaic (2 marks)
c) Define following terms with neat sketch: (6 Marks)
(i) Zenith angle (ii) Solar azimuth angle (iii) Altitude

d) Differentiate Active cooling to passive cooling (1 Mark)

e) What are the types of solar thermal power plant (2 Marks)