Energy Resources

Dr: Mervat A. Abdel_Kawi

Chemical Engineering
Associated Professor
in
Environmental Studies Department

Lecture 3
1st term
Solar Energy

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What is solar energy?

• Scientifically solar energy is Electromagnetic energy

transmitted from the sun (solar radiation).

• How it works:
There are three main ways that we use the Sun's energy:-

1- Solar Cells.
2 - Solar water heating.
3- Solar Furnaces

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1- Solar Cells
• Solar cells (really called "photovoltaic",
"PV" or "photoelectric" cells) that
convert light directly into electricity.

• In a sunny climate, you can get enough

power to run a 100W light bulb from
just one square meter of solar panel.

• Solar cells provide the energy to run

satellites. These give us satellite TV,
telephones, weather forecasting, the
internet and all manner of other
facilities.

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2 - Solar water heating,

• Solar water heating, where heat from

the Sun is used to heat water in glass
panels on your roof.

• This means you don't need to use so

much gas or electricity to heat your
water at home.

• Water is pumped through pipes in the

panel. The pipes are painted black,
so they get hotter when the Sun
shines on them. The water is
pumped in at the bottom so that
convection helps the flow of hot
water out of the top.
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3- Solar Furnaces

• Solar furnaces use a huge array of

mirrors to concentrate the Sun's
energy into a small space and
produce very high temperatures.

• Solar furnaces are basically huge

"solar cookers".

• A solar cooker can be used in hot

countries to cook food.

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• The general idea of a
solar power tower is to
collect the light from
many reflectors at a
central point to achieve
high power density and
high temperature.

• In California, the solar

one power station uses
the Sun's heat to make
steam, and drive a
generator to make
electricity.

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 Advantages and disadvantages of solar energy
Advantages
1. Solar energy is free - it needs no
fuel and produces no waste or
pollution.
2. In sunny countries, solar power can
be used where there is no easy
way to get electricity to a remote
place.
3. Handy for low-power uses such as
solar powered garden lights and
battery chargers
Disadvantages
1. Doesn't work at night.
1. Very expensive to build solar
power stations.
Solar cells cost a great deal
compared to the amount of
electricity they'll produce in their
lifetime.
2. Can be unreliable unless you're in
a very sunny climate.
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Complete the following sentences:

a. …………. that convert light directly into electricity

b. Solar energy can be used in many applications
as…………….,………..,………
c. ………….use a huge array of mirrors to concentrate the
Sun's energy into a small space
d. solar energy is ……………..energy transmitted from the
sun to the earth.

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Hydroelectricity

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▪ What is Hydropower?
◼ Hydropower ( from hydro meaning water) is energy that comes
from the force moving water. The fall and movement of water
is part of a continuous natural cycle called the water cycle.
▪ Energy from the sun evaporates water in the earth’s oceans and
rivers and draws it upward as water vapor. When the water
vapor reaches the cooler air in the atmosphere, it condenses
and forms clouds. The moisture eventually falls to the earth as
rain or snow, replenishing the water in the oceans and rivers.

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Production of electricity from hydropower:
✓ Water at high pressure from behind a dam is directed
through a channel containing the turbine blades. The
motion of the turbine turns a shaft that turns the
generator armature, rotating in the magnetic field of the
stator.

✓ The electrical power generated is the rate at which the

stored potential energy of the water is converted to
electrical energy.

✓ Hydropower is called a renewable energy source

because the water on the earth is continuously
replenished by precipitation. As long as the water cycle
continues, we won’t run out of this energy source.
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▪ The power available at a particular hydroelectric plant
depends on the amount of drop the water makes between
the reservoir surface and the generator; this distance is
called the head.

▪ In a high-head reservoir the water has more potential

energy than in a low-head system, so that for the former
less water discharge is required to generate a given
amount of electrical energy.

▪ This means smaller diameter turbine blades are required

and therefore, less expensive system can be build.

▪ Aswan High Dam is an example of dam having high head

reservoirs.

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• Hydropower energy in Egypt
• The majority of Egypt's electricity supply is generated from
thermal and hydropower stations. The four main
hydroelectric generating stations currently operating in
Egypt are the Aswan Low Dam, the Esna Dam, the Aswan
High Dam, the Naga Hamady Barrages, and The Asyut
Barrage hydropower plant .

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Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages Disadvantages
▪ Hydropower is a renewable Reservoir created by dams may have adverse
energy effects;
▪ Not produce green house ▪ They may destroy unique flora and fauna.
gases in the production of ▪ Occupy useful land.
electricity ▪ Reduce stream flow and seasonal flooding
(as in Aswan dam)
▪ All streams carry silt that is deposited
behind the reservoir, reducing its water
holding capacity.
▪ The utility of any dam site may be only 50
to 200 years.
▪ Many hydroelectric facilities have been
built in arid regions. Creating large water
surfaces in such areas must, over the long
term, force climatological change, perhaps
desirable, perhaps not.
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Answer the following questions
1. Complete the following:
a. The power available at a particular hydroelectric plant depends
on……………………………………….
b. …………………………………is an example of dam having high head
reservoirs.
c. Reservoir created by dams may have adverse effects
as………………………………
d. The main hydroelectric generating stations currently operating in
Egypt are………

2. Write the advantages and disadvantages of hydropower dams

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Tidal Energy

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➢ The tides are generated by the rotation of the earth within
the gravitational fields of the moon and sun. The relative
motions of these bodies cause the surface of the oceans to
be raised and lowered periodically, according to a number
of interacting cycles.
➢ What is tidal energy? Tidal energy is a form of power
produced by the natural rise and fall of tides caused by the
gravitational interaction between Earth, the sun, and the
moon.

➢ At new moon and full moon, resulting in maximum tides .

➢ At quarter phases of the moon, resulting in minimum tides.

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N.G processing

The physical principles of this process:

o To generation of electric energy by the

conversion of potential energy of stored
water requires only a reservoir for that
water. We have considered only
stream-flow reservoirs; another means
exists to obtain the water for storage:
tidal basins.

o In some areas of the world very large

tidal ranges are found; that is, the
difference between low tide and high
tide is very large, as much as 10 m.

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Tidal energy in Egypt
There is no ability for this types of energy in
Egypt as the maximum tidal height difference
is 2 meters In Gulf of Suez and the minimum
difference can be economically used is 5
meters

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Advantages of tidal power:

➢ Tidal power produces no waste by- products and consumes

no irreplaceable mineral resources.
➢ It does little damage to the ecological or scenic environment.

Disadvantages of tidal power:

➢ The amount of energy is small compared with the fossil

fuels.
➢ It is suitable for certain areas in the world.

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1. Complete the following:
a. The tides are generated from …………………………………………………
b. The impact of tidal energy on the environment…………………………
c. ……… tides occur at new moon and full moon, but…… tides
occur at quarter phases of the moon.
d. When moon and sun are perpendicular to each other ………tides
are occur
e. There is no ability for Tidal energy in Egypt because………
f. …………. and …………..are different types of Tidal Energy
Systems

2. Write the advantages and disadvantages of tidal energy

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Wind Power

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Historical Overview

• Energy contained in the wind was used to power ships and to turn
mills, recently to generate electricity.

• First large scale wind power generator was build during the world
war II at Vermont, US. The tower was very small consist of two
blades. It worked for several weeks generating almost 62 MWh till
one of the blades broken. Repairs could not been done due to the
war efforts.

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What Makes Wind

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Wind Energy - What is it?
▪ Wind results from the movement of air due to
atmospheric pressure gradients.
▪ Wind flows from regions of higher pressure to regions of
lower pressure.

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The physical principles of this process:
o A wind power generator converts the kinetic energy of the
wind into rotational energy of the propeller and generator
shaft and then to electrical energy.

o The power output “ the maximum rate of wind energy

conversion” is proportional to:
- the area of the intercepting blades
- the third power of the wind velocity
P/m2 = 6.1 x 10-4 v3
P: power m: area of the windmill
V: wind velocity
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▪ In choosing a site for a windmill, the constancy of a good
wind throughout the day and throughout the year is more
important than occasionally high peak speeds.

▪ Detailed wind measurements over a number of years are

needed to help make a proper selection of a site.

▪ The wind speed profile with height above the ground shows
that the speed generally increases substantially with height
and depends on surface features such as buildings and
trees. Ideally, it would be best to avoid such surface
features and to situate the windmill at a very high level.

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Offshore and onshore wind farm

Offshore wind farms Onshore wind farms

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As offshore wind farm can be defined as a power plant that contains all the
facilities needed to capture the wind power, transform it into electricity and
supply it to the main electricity network. ... The main parts of an offshore
wind farm are the wind turbines, the cables, and the substations

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 Advantageous of wind power systems:

➢ Wind power produces no waste by- products and consumes no

irreplaceable mineral resources.

Disadvantageous of wind power systems:

➢ Variability of the wind speeds that must be overcome by system

design.
➢ The differential pressure gradients around the wind turbines can be a
problem for birds.
➢ The noise affects both people and animals
➢ The unsightly appearance of mile after mile of wind machines with
necessary transmission lines is of concern to the public.

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• Wind Energy in Egypt

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Complete the following:

a. Wind results from the movement of air due ………………..

b. Wind flows from regions of …….. pressure to regions of
………pressure.
c. The wind speed profile with height above the ground shows that
…………………………
d. The onshore wind farms are located in…….. , but offshore wind
farms are located in …………………..
e. Egypt enjoys excellent wind regimes as in ……………...

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