ELE2212

MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

Department of Electrical and Computer

Engineering
College of Engineering, Design Art and Technology

ELE2212: Electrical Energy Systems

15 May 2019

Three hours
14:00-17:00

 Answer only four questions.

 All numerical answers must be given to the appropriate number of significant figures.
 Electronic calculators may be used, provided that they cannot store text.

Question 1
a) The finite nature of fossil and nuclear fuel materials coupled with the adverse
effects of these sources of energy implies that there is need to explore
alternative and renewable sources of energy. Briefly explain what you
understand by the term renewable energy.

Renewable energy is a term used to refer to forms of energy that are naturally
obtained from the environment and from sources that can be replenished
naturally.

[2 marks]

b) Explain two advantages of using renewable sources of energy. [4 marks]

 Less maintenance cost as most sources entail few or no moving parts,

hence, less mechanical damages.
 They are economical and can cut costs spent on fossil fuel.
 They emit little or no waste in the environment.
 Renewable energy sources do not deplete. Therefore, these have a better
prospect for the future.
Any two @ 2 marks with explanation.

c) Despite the fact that the use of fossil fuels results in high carbon emissions
and its associated harmful effects, they are still the energy source of choice for
many countries. Discuss briefly why this is so. [5 marks]
 high energy density;
 readily available (in short-term);
 cheaper production of electrical energy;
 health considerations not treated as a major issue;
 not possible to generate sufficient electrical energy without it;
 many transport systems rely on fossil fuels;
 power stations can be built close to energy source;

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[5 max, 1 mark each]

These marking points are not an exhaustive list. Do not allow repetitions
or vague statements they should be clear and precise.

d) What is climate change? [2 marks]

Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical
distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to
millions of years.

e) Elaborate at length the impacts of climate change on our planet today? [4

marks]
The clearest present-day impacts of climate change are seen in the natural
environment, and are associated with warming temperatures and increases in
the number, duration and severity of heatwaves, draughts, floods, hurricanes,
and other such extreme weather events.
These impacts include changes in the growth and distribution of plants, animals
and insects; poleward shifts in the distribution of marine species; and increases
in coral bleaching.
Climate warming causes land and ocean life to migrate away from areas that
have become too warm, and towards areas that previously were too cool303. In
many places, climate change is likely to lead to invasion by new species and
extinctions of some existing species that will have nowhere to migrate.
Rise sea levels as a result of the continued melting of the polar ice caps and
glaciers.
Affected food security due to prolonged draughts
Impact health of people from heat stress and increase in vector spread diseases
such as malaria, dengue fever, etc.
Greater stress on infrastructure to withstand storms, floods, increased demand
for electricity for cooling and heating in extreme temperatures.

Any discussion touching on four major issues in any of the above 4 marks

f) What do scientists say are the options to address human-induced climate

change? [4 mark]
Managing the risks from future human-induced climate change will necessarily
be based on some combination of four broad strategies:
 Emissions reduction: reducing climate change by reducing greenhouse
gas emissions.
 Sequestration: removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere into
permanent geological, biological or oceanic reservoirs.
 Adaptation: responding to and coping with climate change as it occurs, in
either a planned or unplanned way.
 Solar geoengineering: large-scale engineered modifications to limit the
amount of sunlight reaching the earth, in an attempt to offset the effects of
ongoing
g) Describe two recent environmental changes that provide evidence for global
warming in East Africa. [ 4 marks]
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 Reduction in the ice glaciers coverage on the peaks of mountains such

Rwenzori, Kilimanjaro and Kenya.
 The severe and prolonged draughts in the cattle corridors of East Africa.

Any two, 2 marks each

These marking points are not an exhaustive list.

Total [25 marks]

Question 2
a) What is Biomass Energy? [2 marks]
Biomass is a low-carbon fuel or energy source that comes from plant material such as
wood, corn, sugar cane and grasses. It can be burned to generate electricity and heat,
digested to produce bio-methane, and converted into liquid biofuels, bio-chemicals
and bio-plastics.

b) Explain briefly why Biomass is classified as a renewable and carbon-neutral

energy source. [6 marks]
Biomass is renewable because a new crop can be grown after each harvest. The
reason that biomass is a low carbon fuel is because biomass breathes carbon dioxide
(extracted from the atmosphere) and stores it in its tissue. Yes, when biomass is
burned, it emits carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, when it regrows, it
absorbs exactly the same amount of carbon dioxide in the process of photosynthesis,
and this cycle is carbon neutral.

c) Mention any two primary requirements that a biomass crop must satisfy to be
considered a viable source of green energy. [2 marks]

 No conflict with food-crop acreage or food-supply chain

 Scalability to meet demand for large amounts of electrical energy, biofuels,
biogas, and other green energy products
 Continuity of supply with consistent quality
 Low and predictable cost for the 20+ year life of a biomass power plant or biofuel
refinery
Any two, 1 mark@

d) Briefly discuss how electricity is generated from each of the three types of Ocean
technologies. [9 marks]
Ocean wave
The back-and-forth or up-and-down movement of waves can be used to generate
energy by driving a piston or spinning a turbine which in turn powers a generator.
These systems require wave energy converters to generate energy.
They range from 70kW to a few MW and can be cascaded to form a wave farm.
Due to the variability of this resource, energy storage systems are required to smooth
the output.

Ocean Tidal
The extraction of energy from this resource is similar to generating energy from low
head hydropower. It involves trapping water at high tide and then capturing its energy
as it rushes out and drops in its change to low tide.
There are basically two methodologies for creating tidal power: The use of tidal dams
or ocean currents. Dams are based on using a barrage at a bay or estuary with a large
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tidal range.

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

An OTEC system uses temperature differences between deep and surface waters
to extract energy from the flow of heat between the two.
Warm water from the surface and cold water pumped from deeper depths can be
utilized by three types of OTEC systems.
Open-cycle OTEC uses the seawater itself as the working fluid by boiling it at low
pressures.
This produces low-pressure steam that passes through a turbine generator to
produce electricity. The cold water is used to condense the vapour back to a liquid.
Closed-cycle OTEC uses warm surface water to vaporize a low-boiling point
working fluid, such as ammonia.
The expanding vapour of the working fluid drives a turbine generator to produce
electricity. The cold water is used to condense the vapour back to a liquid, which is
recycled by the system.
Hybrid systems employ both closed-cycle and open-cycle systems.

3 marks for each type of technology as long as proper and brief description is
provided.

[9 marks]

e) State two advantages of ocean energy over wind energy. [2 marks]

 Ocean energy is preferable to wind because of its constant tides and
predictability.
 The water’s natural density also requires fewer turbines than are needed to
produce the same amount of wind power.

f) Explain two constraints to the development of ocean energy technologies today.

[4 marks]
 high cost of demonstration plants
 complex legal and administrative framework
 high maintenance costs
 environmental concerns
 understanding the long-term viability of these devices is still uncertain
any two, 2 marks @ with a good explanation
Total [25 marks]

Question 3

a) Photovoltaic technology utilizes two technologies; crystalline form and the

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amorphous silicon. The amorphous is still a new exploration and may take longer to
achieve optimal performance. Describe five performance characteristics of
amorphous thin-film PV cells. [5 marks]
 They are much cheaper than both the crystalline forms.

 They are flexible. Thus, they should have a movable mounting to best utilize this feature.
However, the shape of the surface should accommodate the panel for safety purposes.

 Less susceptible to power loss due to shedding of cells. In addition, they are more
powerful at a dimly lit environment.

 Less durable. They gradually degenerate in terms of power production especially for the
first month before gaining stability.

 Least efficient in power production and therefore cover larger space

 The new technology makes it possible for the panel to be mounted on windowpanes and
curved surfaces.

Any 5, 1 mark @

b) Hydropower plants can be categorised in terms of their sizes. State the three
classifications of Hydropower plants and their respective capacities in kW or MW. [6
marks]
 Large plants : capacity >30 MW
 Small Plants : capacity between 100 kW to 30 MW
 Micro Plants : capacity up to 100 kW
2 marks@
c) Discuss any two negative environmental impacts of Hydropower plants. [4 marks]
 The loss of land under the reservoir. A large area is taken up in the form of a
reservoir in case of large dams.This leads to reduction in fertile rich soil in the
flood plains, forests and even mineral deposits.
 Interference with the transport of sediment by the dam. Rivers carry a lot of
sediments. Creation of a dam results in the deposition of sediments on the
bottom of the reservoir.
 Climatic and Seismic effects. It is believed that large reservoirs induce or have
the potential to induce earthquakes. In tropics, existence of man-made lakes
decreases the convective activity and reduces cloud cover. In temperate regions,
fog forms over the lake and along the shores when the temperature falls to zero
and thus increases humidity in the nearby area.
 Many fishes require flowing water for reproduction and cannot adapt to stagnant
resulting in the reduction in its population.
 Heating of the reservoirs may lead to decrease in the dissolved oxygen levels.
 Other water-borne diseases like malaria, river blindness become prevalent.
Any 2, 2 marks each with clearly explanation
d) In reference to wind turbines, explain the significance of each of the following
parameters: Cut-in wind speed, average wind speed, Betz coefficient, and cut-out
wind speed. [4 marks]
 The Betz coefficient (or Betz’ Law) specifies the theoretical maximum power
efficiency of any design of a wind turbine
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 Cut-in wind speed is the minimum wind speed at which the turbine blades
overcome friction and begin to rotate.
 Cut-out wind speed is the speed at which the turbine blades are brought to
rest to avoid damage from high winds.
 Average wind speed is the speed at which the turbine generates its rated
power output.
[4 marks]

e) Derive the formula for the power extracted from a wind turbine at a given wind
speed. [4 marks]

[4 marks]

f) What are the advantages of offshore wind turbines over onshore wind turbines?
 An offshore wind turbine is stronger than an onshore turbine. It lasts around
25 to 30years
 Offshore turbines produce about 50 % more energy than onshore turbines.
 Higher and more constant wind speed
 Large towers of wind turbines do not destroy the view of the landscape unlike
onshore wind turbines.
Any two, 1 mark each

[2 marks]
Total [25 marks]

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Question 4
(a) List two reasons why power system operators need to perform load flow
calculations.
 To make sure the network is operated safely and securely
 To plan the network against future load/generation growth
 For policy making e.g. to determine network charges
Any two similar to the above, 1 mark each
[2 marks]
(b) Explain two reasons why a slack bus is necessary for iterative load flow
analysis. [2 marks]
 To balance active and reactive power in the network;
 To provide a reference voltage (magnitude and angle).
(c) What are the advantages of the Newton Raphson method of load flow
study in comparison to the Gauss method?
 Newton-Raphson method demonstrates faster convergence
than the Gauss method
 More efficient and reliable for large power systems

[2 marks]

(d) Fig 1 shows the single line diagram for a 3-bus power system whose
data is given in Tables 1 and 2.
(i) Using the Gauss-Seidel method, determine the phasor values of
the voltage at buses 2 and 3. (Perform two iterations only).
(ii) Find the slack bus real and reactive power after the second
iteration.

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Solution (d) (i)

4 marks, 1 mark @

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6 marks, -1 mark for each wrong value in the Y-bus

1 mark for correct formula

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2 marks, 1 mark @

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2 marks, 1 mark @

Solution (d) (ii)

2 marks

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2 marks
[15, 4 marks]
Total [25 marks]

Question 5
(a) In control of power systems, what do the acronyms SCADA and EMS
stand for? [2 marks]
SCADA: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
EMS: Energy Management System

(b) Prove using equations, diagrams or otherwise that apparent power is voltage
multiplied by the conjugate of the current. i.e., 𝑺 = 𝑽𝑰∗ [3 marks]

(c) State two advantages of transmitting electricity as High Voltage DC. [2

marks]
 Greater power per conductor.
 Simpler line construction.
 Ground return can be used.
 Hence each conductor can be operated as an independent circuit.
 No charging current.
 No Skin effect.
 Cables can be worked at a higher voltage gradient.

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 Line power factor is always unity: line does not require reactive
compensation.
 Less corona loss and radio interference, especially in foul weather, for a
certain conductor diameter and rms voltage.
 Synchronous operation is not required.
 Hence distance is not limited by stability.
 May interconnect A.C systems of different frequencies.
 Low short-circuit current on D.C line.
 Does not contribute to short-circuit current of an A.C system.
 Tie-line power is easily controlled.

Any 2, 1 mark @

(d) Name three techniques by which electrical energy can be stored for an
electrical power network? [3 marks]
 SMEs super conducting magnetic coil
 Flywheels
 Compressed air
 Batteries
Any 3, 1mark @

(e) Graphene, the well-publicised and now famous two-dimensional carbon

allotrope, is as versatile a material as any discovered on Earth. State any
one property that makes graphene the next big thing in engineering and
physics today. [1 marks]
 Graphene is a zero-overlap semimetal (with both holes and
electrons as charge carriers) with very high electrical conductivity .
Graphene’s Fermi level can further be changed by doping (with
electrons or holes) to create a material that is potentially (13
times) better at conducting electricity than, for example, copper at
room temperature.
 Graphene is the strongest material ever discovered, with an
ultimate tensile strength greater than that of Steel and Aramid
(Kevlar).
 It is harder than Diamond
 It is very light. Lighter than aluminium.
 It has high elasticity better than rubber
 It has 100x higher electron mobility than silicon.
 it absorbs only 2.3% of reflecting light
 it is impervious so that even the smallest atom (helium) can't pass
through a defect-free monolayer graphene sheet
 its high surface area of 2630 square meters per gram means that
with less than 3 grams you could cover an entire soccer field
any 1, 1 mark

(f) The network in the figure below is of a simple three phase power system.

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Synchronous generator G1: 75MVA, 11.8kV, sync reactance Xd = j1.83 p.u.

Generator transformer T1: 75MVA, 11.8kV/145kV, X = j0.125 p.u.
132kV transmission line L1: Z = (0.18 + j0.40) Ω/km, length = 25km.
Step-down transformer T2: 45MVA, 132kV/11kV, X = j0.125 p.u.
Load ZL connected at 11kV bus 3: 10MVA, cos  = 0.8 (lagging).

Assuming a base power 100 MVA and 132kV (in zone 2 of the 132kV
line) are chosen. Using per-unit quantities, calculate:
i) the current received by the load in per-unit and in kA,

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2 marks

2 marks

2 marks
ii) the voltage at bus 3 in kV

4 marks
iii) and the power in kW received by the load.

4 marks
[6, 4, 4 marks]
Total [25 marks]

END

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