HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY

MSc in Energy
MSc in Renewable Energy Engineering
MSc in Renewable Energy & Distributed Generation
MSc in Materials for Sustainable & Renewable Energy
MSc in Photonics
BSc Physics with Environmental Sciences
MEng Mechanical Engineering & Energy Engineering

School of Engineering and Physical Sciences

B51GE1: Renewable Energy Technologies

Tuesday 14 December 2010
09.30 - 11.30

Instructions to Candidates:
Answer ALL questions from Section A, each weighted at 4 marks
Answer ONE question from Section B, weighted at 40 marks
Answer ONE question from Section C, weighted at 40 marks
List of Data Tables:
For all questions, use the supplied data sheet. Where no information is given in the data
sheet, make sensible assumptions and explain or justify those assumptions in your answer.

B51GE1 Renewable Energy Technologies

2 out of 8

SECTION A
ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

[20 marks]

A1. Evaluate whether a prototype wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 5 m is likely to
produce an output of 7.5 kW at a wind speed of 10 m/s. For this purpose use typical
values for the mechanical and electrical efficiency of the machine as well as for the air
density.
[4 marks]
A2. A beam of light with intensity of 3 mW and a wavelength of 743 nm is striking a
Sunpower solar cell. The solar cell has an efficiency of 22%. Estimate the number
of photons incident on the cell. Ignore any loss mechanism during the process.
[4 marks]
A3: A dry Granite rock is situated at a depth of 7km with a temperature gradient of
40Ckm-1. The minimum useful temperature is 140K above the surface temperature
and the density and specific heat of the rock is 2700kgm-3 and 820 Jkg-1K-1
respectively.
(a)

Calculate the useful heat content per square kilometre of dry rock.

(b)

[2 marks]
Also calculate the useful heat extraction rate initially and after 10 years of operation?
[2 marks]

A4. A flat plate collector of area 2m2 has been installed in Edinburgh. The collector
manufacturer has provided the following equation (overall efficiency) in steady-state
condition:
0.8 8

Tfi Ta
G

Calculate the useful heat which will be collected by the solar collector during four
hours of a day assuming that the following parameters are constant: incident solar
irradiance on collector surface 650 W/m2, collector water inlet temperature 20C and
ambient temperature 15C.
[4 marks]
A5. The Wave Dragon is a focussing and over-topping wave energy converter with a wave
capturing width of 300 m, reducing it to a width of 100 m at the reservoir. It is placed
in a sea of energy period 6 s and a significant wave height of 3.5 m.
(a)
(b)

Assuming no losses, estimate the wave height at the reservoir

Calculate its efficiency, if it produces an output of 7 MW from this sea.

[2 marks]
[2 marks]

B51GE1 Renewable Energy Technologies

3 out of 8

SECTION B
ANSWER ONE QUESTION
[40 marks]
B1
A remote cottage located at Exeter, England (5043`N, 332`W) has the loads listed in the
table given below.
Appliance type
Lamps
Television
Computer
Radio
Water pump

No
5
1
1
1
1

Type
DC
AC
AC
DC
AC

Oven

AC

Power (W)
11W each
75W
160W
25W
60W (6A
start
current
)
1200W

Daytime run (hour)

0
2
4
3
1

Night time run (Hour)

5
4
3
1
1

The yearly average solar radiation availability on PV plane in Exeter is 1200kWhm-2year-1.

The energy for this cottage is powered by a string of batteries each having 12V and 125Ah
supply when charged fully. The following properties are applied:
The battery efficiency is 73% with a depth of discharge of 70%
Each PV panel (dimension of 1m 1m) produces 80Watts when incident solar
radiation intensity is 1000Wm-2.
Each PV system has the same efficiency of 18% and is temperature independent.
Each PV panel has open circuit voltage (Voc) of 16V and operating voltage at load is
80% of the Voc.
Short circuit current of each PV panel is 5.5A
Daily average sunshine hours are 5 hours
The system operating voltage is 24V
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

(e)
(f)

Estimate the average daily load and the peak power to be satisfied by the PV system.
[10 marks]
Calculate the number of batteries required for the cottage.
[4 marks]
Calculate the number of PV panels required for this cottage.
[6 marks]
Draw a suitable I-V curve of one PV panel and indicate the short circuit current, open
circuit voltage, current at maximum power point, voltage at maximum power point.
Calculate the fill factor of this PV panel when the solar radiation intensity is
1000Wm-2. Also draw the I-V curve for two panels (only outline drawing in the same
scale is required) connected in series.
[12 marks]
Calculate how many batteries will be connected in series and how many batteries will
be connected in parallel.
[3 marks]
Estimate number of PV panels will be connected in series and parallel respectively
[3 marks]

B51GE1 Renewable Energy Technologies

4 out of 8

B2
A wind-based stand-alone system is used for the satisfaction of a remote consumer who is
unable to obtain grid connection. The energy produced by the wind turbine (rated power
20kW) is used so as to satisfy a constant 10-hour electrical load of 12kW (from 5.00 to
15.00) as well as a constant 3-hour electrical load of 15kW (00.00-3.00) (see also Table 1),
while the rest of the energy production, after being rectified, is stored in a battery bank of
48Volts. The electrical power output of the existing wind turbine is given by the nondimensional power curve (Figure 1), based on the mean wind speed measurements provided
for the day of study, given in Table 1.
In this context, you are asked to:
(a)

Present the main components of a typical wind-based stand-alone system and describe
the operational principles of the configuration.
[10 marks]

(b)

Present the daily electricity production and electricity consumption profile of the
system examined on an hourly basis for the entire day, i.e. 24 hours and estimate the
capacity factor of the wind turbine.
[10 marks]

(c)

Estimate the energy stored (in Ah) during the day in the battery bank (48Volts) if the
overall efficiency of the storage branch is equal to 80%.
[10 marks]

(d)

Check whether the satisfaction of the same electrical loads is possible for the day after
as well, if a calm-spell period of 24 hours occurs. For this purpose you should check if
the energy stored in the battery bank is adequate, taking into account that the
discharge efficiency of the batteries is equal to 90%.
[10 marks]
Non Dimensional Power Curve of a 20-kW WT
Non-Dimensional Power Output

1,2
1
0,8
0,6
0,4
0,2
0
0

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

Wind Speed (m/sec)

Figure 1: The non-dimensional power curve of the wind turbine

Table 1: Mean Hourly Wind Speed and Load Consumption for the Day of Study
Hour of the Day

0 to 3

3 to 5

5 to 10

10 to 15 15 to 19 19 to 24

Mean Wind Speed (m/s)

10

10

Consumption Load (kW)

15

12

12

B51GE1 Renewable Energy Technologies

5 out of 8

B3
One of the main industries of a small island is sugar production. It exports annually
400 000 tonnes of sugar (sucrose: C12H22O11 ) but has to import 300 000 tonnes of
petroleum based fuels, of which 2/3 are used for transportation and 1/3 for power generation
in diesel generators
Calorific values of
-

petroleum fuels: hf =48 GJ per tonne.

Bioethanol (C2H5OH): he = 30 GJ per tonne
Biogas: hg =x * 50 GJ/tonne, where x is the methane content of biogas by mass.
(NB: tonne is the SI tonne = 1000 kg)

(a)

Derive a chemical reaction equation for the fermentation of sucrose with water to
ethanol and carbon dioxide, and calculate how much (tonnes) bioethanol could be
obtained from fermenting one tonne of sugar.
[8 marks]

(b)

Derive a chemical reaction equation for converting sucrose and water into biogas and
determine how much energy (GJ/tonne) could be obtained from one tonne of sugar in
the form of biogas.
[8 marks]

(c)

Estimate by how much the fuel imports can be replaced by local bioethanol and
biogas production. Use the following assumptions:
- 1 tonne of bioethanol can replace 0.8 tonnes of petroleum fuels
- Biogas can be used in gas turbines to replace diesel generators
i.

Calculate energy equivalence between bioethanol and petroleum fuels (i.e.

compare the replacement value given in mass terms with a replacement value
given in GJ) and explain differences.
[4 marks]

ii.

(d)

Derive an equation for tonne of fossil fuel replaced as a function tonne of sugar
used and ratio of conversion to bioethanol over biogas. [10 marks]

Propose a solution to minimise the fuel imports.

[10 marks]

B51GE1 Renewable Energy Technologies

6 out of 8

SECTION C
ANSWER ONE QUESTION
[40 marks]
C1.
There is an increased scientific interest demonstrated during the recent years for the energy
evaluation of RES-based configurations on a life-cycle basis, including also wind energy
technology. Although a lot of research work has been carried out in the field of gridconnected wind turbines, wind stand-alone systems used for the satisfaction of remote
consumers have not yet been evaluated in depth.
(a)

Present the various stages that should according to your opinion be considered for the
estimation of the life-cycle energy requirements of a wind farm as well as any other
environmental impacts accruing from its installation and operation.
[5 marks]

(b)

Estimate the life-cycle energy requirements (20-year operation) of a representative

wind stand-alone system (neglecting the energy content of the balance of system
components) using the information provided in the following table and compare this
with the respective results for a typical diesel engine set used to satisfy the same
remote consumer on an annual basis (both the diesel and the fuel embodied energy
should be considered).
[10 marks]

(c)

Accordingly estimate the energy payback period of the wind stand-alone system (i.e.
the ratio of primary energy requirements on a life-cycle basis to the annual energy
production of the system). Note that for this to be achieved, the electrical energy
production should be converted into primary (for this purpose one should use the
electricity conversion efficiency of the alternative conventional energy solution that is
currently corresponding to the diesel engine set).
[10 marks]

(d)

Re-estimate the energy payback period of the system adopting the useful energy
production of the wind stand-alone the system, i.e. the amount of energy that is
actually consumed by the remote consumer.
[5 marks]

(e)

Comment on the results obtained and discuss on the sustainable character of big scale
grid connected plants and small scale stand-alone systems based on RES. [10 marks]

B51GE1 Renewable Energy Technologies

7 out of 8

Wind Stand-alone

Diesel Engine

Remote Consumer

Embodied Energy Coefficients

WT rated power:
8.5 kW
Battery capacity:
15000 Ah
WT service period:
20 years
Battery service period:
5 years
WT capacity factor:
35%

Rated power:
4 kW

Peak load demand:

3.5 kW
Energy consumption:
4.7 MWh /year

WT:
3000 kWh/kW
Battery:
4.5 kWh/Ah
Diesel:
600 kWh/kW (without the fuel)

Efficiency: 25%
Service period:
5 years

C2.
(a) Discuss the role which solar energy might play towards the renewable energy targets
in the European Union. Identify high solar radiation areas and low solar radiation
areas in the EU and identify key technologies to be applied, such as Photovoltaic
power generation, solar thermal power generation, building integrated Photovoltaics
and domestic hot water systems.
[25 marks]
(b)

The UK is known to be cloudy with maritime climatic conditions. Identify key

renewable sources to be applied to meet the UKs renewable energy target by 2020.
Discuss the possibilities of solar thermal technologys role in these climatic
conditions. Calculate the area of solar energy devices required to contribute 20% of
UKs total energy demand (assume the UKs annual energy demand is 400 TWh and
the efficiency of typical solar energy devices is 20% and the average solar radiation is
1000 kWm-2year-1).
[15 marks]

C3. A headline in The Guardian (UK) from 18 October 2010 is:Severn barrage
ditched as new nuclear plants get green light. The article continues with: The
UK government today dropped plans to build a 10-mile barrage across the
Severn estuary to generate green energy from tides.
(a)

Describe the principle of tidal (range) power generation and common components in
a tidal power station.
[5 marks]

(b)

Taking an available head of 10 m, an optimum flow rate of 40 000 m3/s and a

nondimensional specific speed of suitable turbines (rotating at 93.75 rpm) of 4.0 for
the Severn barrage, estimate

i.

The power generation potential from the site,

ii.

the power output from one turbine and the number of turbines required to match the
generation potential.
[3 marks]

[2 marks]

B51GE1 Renewable Energy Technologies

iii.

8 out of 8

Assuming a capacity factor of 30%, the electricity generated in a year.

[2 marks]

iv.

Compare this to the installed capacity and expected annual electricity production
from a current typical nuclear power plant with installed capacity of 1.4 GW and a
load factor or 90%.
[3 marks]

(c)

Discuss advantages and disadvantages associated with building and operating a tidal
barrage.
[15 marks]

(d)

Describe and discuss alternative approaches to generating power from tides other
than large barrages.
[10 marks]
---------- End of Paper ----------