Department of Mechanical Engineering

16915 / ME909 Energy Resources & Policy

Friday 15 January 2010

10 am 12 pm (2 hours)

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS in Section A and TWO from Section B

Calculators must not be used to store text and/or formulae nor be capable of communication. Invigilators may require calculators to be reset.

Section A
Q.1 (a) Consider the following renewable energy sources: - the tides, onshore wind energy, hydro-electric power and ocean thermal energy. Put them in order of their potential scale for further exploitation, (i) in the United Kingdom, and (ii) globally. (6 marks)

(b) Which has the higher efficiency, a coal-fired electricity generating station or a nuclear power plant? Give reasons for your answer. (4 marks) What could be done to utilise a greater proportion of the energy produced? Discuss briefly. (4 marks)

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Q.2 (a) The power extracted by a wind turbine is given by 1 AV V 2 Ve 2 , 2 where V = V (1 a ) and Ve = V (1 2a ) , is the air density and A is the rotor swept area. Show that the maximum possible value of the turbine power coefficient is 16 / 27. (8 marks) Why is this value so much less than 1? Explain briefly. (3 marks)

(b) The average Scottish household consumes 3 kW, so a 1 kW rated wind turbine will provide one-third of its needs. Briefly discuss the validity of this statement. (7 marks)

Q.3 (a) Describe the main difference between direct and diffuse solar radiation. (4 marks)

(b) Describe two instruments that can be used to measure direct and diffuse solar radiation, respectively. (4 marks)

(c) With the aid of a diagram describe the operation of a Trombe wall and give one advantage and one disadvantage of such a device. (6 marks)

(d) Explain why the bandgap energy of a semi-conductor material places a fundamental limitation on the efficiency of photovoltaic devices. (4 marks)
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Section B
Q4 (a) In a small hydro-electric scheme, a pipeline 90 m long and 0.25 m in diameter delivers water to a Pelton Wheel turbine. The exit nozzle for the turbine lies 26 m below the reservoir free surface. The pipe friction coefficient is 0.006. At maximum permissible flow-rate, the pipeline transmission efficiency is 70%. Determine the power delivered to the turbine, and the required water jet diameter at nozzle exit. (12 marks)

(b) The smallest permissible flow-rate for the system is 25% of the above maximum value. What is the pipeline transmission efficiency in this case? And how much power is delivered to the turbine? (9 marks)

(c) To maintain a high efficiency over a range of flow-rates, a Pelton Wheel uses a variable nozzle or Spear Valve to control the diameter of the water jet. Explain briefly how this works. (4 marks)

Q.5

Transport is seen as perhaps the most intractable sector of energy use, with heavy dependence on fossil fuels and inexorable growth in recent years even in developed countries such as the UK. How can we progress globally to a low-carbon transport sector in the 21st century? Your discussion should consider such issues as: The role which hydrogen might play as a transport fuel, with reference to the efficiencies and costs of the processes involved; The extent to which bio-fuels might replace fossil fuels; The extent to which personal travel and the transportation of goods might be reduced in the future, and the socio-economic implications of such a change.

Finally, you should make a series of recommendations for future transport policy, on land, sea and in the air. (25 marks)
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Q.6 (a) A prototype horizontal-axis marine current turbine has rotor diameter 6 m. At a site where current velocity V varies according to the equation V = 2.5 sin t , over a cycle with period 12 hours 25 minutes, determine the energy captured per cycle in kWh. Assume a water density of 1025 kg/m3 and a power coefficient of 0.41 for the turbine, which remains constant throughout the cycle. Note that

sin

t =

1 1 3 3 cos t

cos t .
(15 marks)

(b) The estimated capital cost of the turbine, including all the foundations and electrical connections, is 250 000. If this money is borrowed from a bank, the annual repayment required is given by the formula C r (1 + r)n (1 + r)n - 1 , where C is the value of the capital loan, n is the number of years to complete the repayment, and r is the rate of interest on the loan. Assuming annual maintenance costs of 3% of the capital cost of the turbine, calculate the cost of energy production, in pence per kWh. Assume n = 15 years and r = 6% = 0.06. (10 marks)

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Q.7 (a) Calculate the total solar radiation intensity (W/m2) falling on the south-east facing roof of a house in Glasgow (56oN 4oW). Use the following data: Roof Tilt Date Time Direct Solar Diffuse Solar Declination 60o 21 March 09.00 375 W/m2 65 W/m2 0o

(20 marks)

(b) A photovoltaic array consisting of 20 panels is located on the roof of the house, using the test data below (which is for a single panel), and the calculation of total solar radiation intensity from Q7(a) calculate the total power output from the array.
PSTC (25 C, 1000W/m ) 180W 0.002 o Array Temperature 60 C
o 2

(5 marks)

END OF PAPER A D Grant, N J Kelly

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