Vel Tech High Tech Dr.Rangarajan Dr.

Sakunthala Engineering College

Department of Chemical Engineering
ORR551 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Unit I

Part I

1. Name the common types of conventional energy sources we encounter.

Energy that has been used from ancient times is known as conventional energy. Coal, natural gas, oil, and
firewood are examples of conventional energy sources.

2. Name the characteristics of Renewable energy sources.

The biotic resources developed as a result of photosynthetic activity of green plants are renewable in
nature. But its productivity is limited by availability of water nutrients and environmental conditions.
Although enormous quantity of water is present in our planet for fresh water life depends on precipitation
which too is an available infinite quantity annually, it should be known that replenishment resources are
dependent upon non-renewable resources for their replenishment e.g. production of agricultural crops
(renewable resources) depends on iron, copper and other metals as well as phosphate and other fertilizer
components (non-renewableresources).
3. What are primary and secondary energy sources?
Primary energy sources can be defined as sources which provide a net supply of energy. Ex. Coal, oil,
natural gas etc. Secondary energy sources do not provide net energy. Ex. Solar energy, tidal energy,
water energy etc.
4. What is meant by solar energy option?
Solar Energy Options offers solar power solutions, equipment and services for all who want to fully
harvest free energy from the sun.
5. What are the disadvantages of solar energy?
Solar power disadvantages are actually not so plentiful. The disadvantage is that the sun doesn't shine
24 hours a day. When the sun goes down or is heavily shaded, solar PV panels stop producing electricity.
6. What is meant by physics of sun?
Solar physics is the study of the fundamental processes occurring in the sun. Primarily this is related
to the dynamics of plasmas and their interplay with the sun's magnetic fields, and how these processes
vary in different regions of thesun, from its core to the surrounding corona.
7. How does sun work?
Essentially, this constant motion of high-temperature causes a nuclear reaction. In the core of the Sun,
hydrogen turns into helium and causes a fusion – which moves to the surface of the Sun, escaping into
space as electromagnetic radiation, a blinding light, and incredible levels of solar heat.
8. What type of star is the sun?
The Sun is a typical G2 star. G stars are classified as having a temperature in the range of 5000 to
6000 K, and a color ranging from white to yellow. Spectrally, G stars show most predominantly the lines
of ionized calcium. Lines from ionized and neutral metals are present. Lines from ionized hydrogen show
up weakly.
 Vel Tech High Tech Dr.Rangarajan Dr.Sakunthala Engineering College
Department of Chemical Engineering
ORR551 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

9. What kind of light does the Sun emit?

The light or photons emitted from the Sun cover a broad spectrum from very long wavelengths such as
radio to very short wavelengths such as xray. Long term exposure to UV and xrays are very damaging.
So, it is a good thing the Earth's atmosphere shields us from the harmful portions of the Suns photons,
otherwise there would be very little life on Earth.

10. What is the Sun made of?

The Sun is made of hot gases, containing many of the same materials we find here on the Earth. These
materials, called elements, include hydrogen, helium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, and iron.

11. What is meant by solar constant?

The solar constant is a flux density measuring mean solar electromagnetic radiation per unit area. It is
measured on a surface perpendicular to the rays, one astronomical unit from the Sun. The solar constant
includes all types of solar radiation, not just the visible light.

12. What is extra-terrestrial solar radiation?

The extraterrestrial radiation is the radiation which is incident outside the earth's surface.
The extraterrestrial radiation is 1367 watts/m2. Due to the change in distance between earth and sun, there
is a seasonal variation in the extraterrestrialrate.

13. What is terrestrial solar radiation?

Terrestrial radiation is a term used to describe infrared radiation emitted from the atmosphere.
14. What is the meaning of terrestrial radiation?

Long-wave electromagnetic radiation originating from Earth and its atmosphere. It is

the radiation emitted by naturally radioactive materials on Earth including uranium, thorium, and radon.

15. Write few important applications of SolarEnergy.

Architecture applications, Solar cells, solar panels, Industrial uses, Rural vacation homes, Water heating
and pumping.(UV) radiation into DC electricity. Photovoltaic cells are an integral part of solar-electric
energy systems, which are becoming increasingly important as alternative sources of utility power.

16. Define solardistillation.

Solar distillation is the use of solar energy to evaporate water and collect its condensate within the same
closed system. Unlike other forms of water purification, it can turn salt or brackish water into fresh
drinking water.

17. What are the instruments available to measure the solar radiations from sun?
 Pyrheliometer is used to measure direct beam radiation at normal incidence.
 Pyranometer is used to measure total hemispherical radiation - beam plus diffuse - on a horizontal
surface.
 Photoelectric sunshine recorder.
 Vel Tech High Tech Dr.Rangarajan Dr.Sakunthala Engineering College
Department of Chemical Engineering
ORR551 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

18. What is solar radiation data?

Solar radiation, or the electromagnetic energy emitted by the sun, can be captured and converted into
useful forms of energy such as heat and electricity.

19. What is solar radiation and why is it important?

Solar radiation provides heat, light, and energy necessary for all living organisms.Infrared radiation
supplies heat to all habitats, on land and in the water 24. Without solar radiation, Earth's surface would be
about 32°C colder 25. Solar radiation provides the necessary heat and light for life on Earth.

20. What is global solar radiation?

Global solar radiation is the sum of direct, diffuse, and reflected solar radiation. Direct solar
radiation passes directly through the atmosphere to the Earth's surface, diffuse solar radiation is scattered
in the atmosphere, and reflected solar radiation reaches a surface and is reflected to adjacent surfaces.

Part B
1. Discuss in detail the Role and potential of new and renewable source.
2. What is meant by renewable energy resources? Explain in brief.
3. Write notes on physics of sun.
4. Discuss about solar constant.
5. Why is Extraterrestrial solar radiation important?
6. Why is terrestrial solar radiation important?
7. Discuss about the instruments for measuring solar radiation and sun shine.
8. Discuss briefly about solar energy production and explain solar collectionsystems.

Unit II
Part A
1. How does flat plate collector works?
A typical flat-plate collector is a metal box with a glass or plastic cover (called glazing) on top and a
dark-colored absorber plate on the bottom. ... Sunlight passes through the glazing and strikes the
absorber plate, which heats up, changing solar energy into heat energy.

2. What are the components of a Flat-Plate Solar Collector

A flat plate collector, as shown in the image to the right, consists of the following components:
1) An absorber plate, treated with a selective surface coating to increase the fraction of incoming
radiation absorbed.
2) A transparent cover, or glazing, which limits the radiation and convection heat losses.
3. What does solar collector do?
Solar Collectors. A solar collector is basically a flat box and are composed of three main parts, a
transparent cover, tubes which carry a coolant and an insulated back plate. The solar collector is usually
insulated to avoid heat losses.
4. What are concentrating collector?
 Vel Tech High Tech Dr.Rangarajan Dr.Sakunthala Engineering College
Department of Chemical Engineering
ORR551 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Concentrating solarcollector. A solar collector that uses reflective surfaces toconcentrate sunlight onto a
small area, where it is absorbed and converted to heat or, in the case of solar photovoltaic (PV) devices,
into electricity. Concentrators can increase the power flux of sunlight hundreds of times.
5. What are solar collectors and what are they used for?
Solar thermal air collectors. Solar air heaters are mostly used for space heating and can be both glazed
and unglazed. They are among the most efficient and economical solar thermal technologies available
and are mostly used in the commercial sector.
6. What are the types of solar collectors?
 Evacuated tube collectors are the most efficient but most costly type of hot water solar collectors.
 Batch solar water heaters, also called integral collector-storage systems, have storage tanks or tubes
inside an insulated box, the south side of which is glazed to capture the sun's energy.
7. What is the concentration ratio in solar collectors?
The concentration ratio is used to describe the intensity of energy concentration achieved by a
given collector. There are two different definitions frequently used. The maximum and optimum
operating temperatures for the solar receiver increase with the concentration ratio.
8. Which mirror is used in solar concentrator?
The first mirror (collector) reflects the incoming rays of sunlight to a focal point in the second
(concentrator) mirror, which is smaller. The concentrator then directs the sun rays into the middle of
the reflector mirror where the solar cell is located.
9. How efficient is concentrated solar power?
Concentrated solar power efficiency. The solar-to-electricity efficiency of a CSP system depends on
many factors, including the type of CSP system, the receiver, and the engine. Most CSP technologies will
have an efficiencysomewhere between 7 and 25 percent.
10. Which mirrors are used in solar devices?
Concave mirrors are used in solar devices. Concave mirrors are used in solar devices to collect heat and
radiations
11. What is a compound parabolic collector ?
A compound parabolic collector is another trough-type technology that concentrates solar energy onto a
tube receiver. The reflector geometry is built by the combination of two symmetric parabolic segments
with different focal lengths.
12. For what is a parabolic trough used for?
A parabolic trough is a type of solar thermal collector that is straight in one dimension and curved as
a parabola in the other two, lined with a polished metal mirror.
13. What is evacuated tube collector?
Evacuated tube collectors are flat devises which consist of cylindrical absorbing surfaces or tubes with
internal fins installed in anevacuated tube to reduce the convection losses.
14. How do evacuated tube collectors work?
Air between the gap of two glass tubes is evacuated. It results in high level of vacuum, which acts as the
best insulation to minimize the heat loss from inner tube. The black coating on the inner tube absorbs the
solar energy and transfers it to the water.
15. What are the classifications of solar aircollectors?
 Glazed flat-plate collectors
 Unglazed flat-plate collectors
 Unglazed perforated plate collector
 Vel Tech High Tech Dr.Rangarajan Dr.Sakunthala Engineering College
Department of Chemical Engineering
ORR551 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

 Evacuated-tube collectors
 Liquid-based collectors
 Air-based collectors
 Concentrating collectors
 Batch Collectors
16. Mention the temperature range of solar flat plate collector and evacuated plate collector.
 Solar flat plate collector: 20 – 80
 Solar evacuated plate collector: 20 -120
17. Define altitude angle (solaraltitude)
The angle between a line from a point on the Earth's surface to the center of the solar disk, and a line
extending horizontally from the point.

Part B
1. With the help of a neat sketch, describe tower concept for solar thermal powergeneration.
2. Discuss briefly about solar energy production
3. Explain solar collectionsystems.
4. Explain the working of low temperature solar system for power generation.
5. Sketch and explain the principle involved in working of solar pond.
6. How solar air collectors classified?
7. What are the main components of a flat plate solar collector, explain the function of each?
8. List the advantages and disadvantages of concentrating collector over flat plate collector
9. What are the components of solar focusing collector? Explain the functions of eachcomponent.
10. Explain about classification of concentrating collectors.

Unit III
Part A
1. Write few important applications of SolarEnergy.
Architecture applications, Solar cells, solar panels, Industrial uses, Rural vacation homes, Water
heating and pumping.(UV) radiation into DC electricity. Photovoltaic cells are an integral part of solar-
electric energy systems, which are becoming increasingly important as alternative sources of utility
power.
2. Define solardistillation.
Solar distillation is the use of solar energy to evaporate water and collect its condensate within the
same closed system. Unlike other forms of water purification, it can turn salt or brackish water into fresh
drinking water.
3. What are solarponds
A pool of very salty water in which convection is inhibited, allowing accumulation of energy from
solar radiation in the lower layers.
1. How can solar energy be stored?
Storing Photovoltaic Energy. Solar panels cannot produce energy at night or during cloudy periods.
But rechargeable batteries can store electricity. The photovoltaic panels charge the battery during the day,
and this power can be drawn upon in the evening.
2. What is the best way to store electricity?
Energy can be stored in a variety of ways, including:
 Pumped hydroelectric. Electricity is used to pump water up to a reservoir.
 Compressed air. Electricity is used to compress air at up to 1,000 pounds per square inch and store it,
often in underground caverns.
 Flywheels.
 Batteries.
 Thermal energy storage
 Vel Tech High Tech Dr.Rangarajan Dr.Sakunthala Engineering College
Department of Chemical Engineering
ORR551 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

3. What is the most efficient energy storage?

Compressed air energy storage system : It has got efficiency more than 70% when energy released in
compression of air is used for heating the same prior to expansion in the gas turbine. According to one
research it is most economical for storing high energy followed by hydrogen.
4. Define sensible heat?
Sensible heat is heat exchanged by a body or thermodynamic system in which the exchange of heat
changes the temperature of the body or system, and some macroscopic variables of the body or system,
but leaves unchanged certain other macroscopic variables of the body or system, such as volume or
pressure.
5. What is the difference between latent heat and sensible heat?
Latent and sensible heat are types of energy released or absorbed in theatmosphere. Latent heat is
related to changes in phase between liquids, gases, and solids. Sensible heat is related to changes in
temperature of a gas or object with no change in phase.
6. What is an example of latent heat?
Examples are latent heat of fusion and latent heat of vaporization involved in phase changes, i.e. a
substance condensing or vaporizing at a specified temperature and pressure.
7. Define latent heat.
The heat required to convert a solid into a liquid or vapour, or a liquid into a vapour, without change
of temperature.
8. Which of the following refers to latent heat?
Latent heat, energy absorbed or released by a substance during a change in its physical state (phase)
that occurs without changing its temperature. Latent heat arises from the work required to overcome the
forces that hold together atoms or molecules in a material.
9. What is stratified storage?
Layered or stratified charge storage is hot water storage tank, typically for solar thermal energy. The
warmest storage layer is the top storage cylinder and below this there are colder storage layers through
natural layering.
10. Where heat energy is stored?
If energy is stored, it cannot be called heat. It becomes thermal energy. Thermal energy can
be stored by taking a substance and using the energy to heat it and then placing it in a thermally insulated
container. This energy will be stored and will cause an increase in the temperature of the substance.

Part B
1. Discuss about the different methods available for energy storage.
2. How does a solar pond work?
3. Discuss in detail about solar pond
4. Discuss about convecting solar pond
5. Explain in detail about non conducting solar pond

UNIT-IV
PART A

1. List out the processes involved in the biochemical energy conversion processes. Photosynthesis,
glycolysis, nitrogen fixation and fermentation processes
2. Define the power coefficient of wind power.
The ratio of power produced by a wind energy conversion device to the power in a reference area of the
free Windstream
 Vel Tech High Tech Dr.Rangarajan Dr.Sakunthala Engineering College
Department of Chemical Engineering
ORR551 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

3. What id bio gasification?

Biomass gasification is a process of converting solid biomass fuel into a gaseous combustibleas (called
producer gas) through a sequence of thermo-chemical reactions. The gas is a low-heating value fuel, with
a calorific value between 1000- 1200 kcal/Nm3 (kilo calorie per normal cubic meter).
4. What is biodiesel?

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel similar to conventional or 'fossil' diesel. Biodiesel can be produced from
straight vegetable oil, animal oil/fats, tallow and waste cooking oil. The process used to convert these oils
to Biodiesel is called transesterification
5. Define the forms of Biomass conversion
Thermal conversion: It is the use of heat, with or without the presence of oxygen to convert biomass
materials or feedstocks into other forms of energy. Thermal conversion technologies include direct
combustion, pyrolysis and Torre faction.

Thermochemical conversion: It is the application of heat and chemical processes in the production of
energy products from biomass. A key thermochemical conversion process if gasification.

Biochemical conversion: It involves use of enzyme, bacteria or other microorganism to break down
biomass into liquid fuels and includes anaerobic digestion and fermentation.

Chemical conversion: It involve use of chemical agents to convert biomass into liquid fuels
6. What is bio crude?
Pyrolysis oil, sometimes also known as bio crude or bio oil, is a synthetic fuel under investigationas
substitute for petroleum. It is extracted by biomass to liquid technology of destructive distillation from
dried biomass in a reactor at temperature of about 500 °C with subsequent cooling
7. What is bio crude?
Pyrolysis oil, sometimes also known as bio crude or bio oil, is a synthetic fuel under investigation as
substitute for petroleum. It is extracted by biomass to liquid technology of destructive distillation from
dried biomass in a reactor at temperature of about 500 °C with subsequent cooling.
8. Define Gasification.
The word gasification implies converting a solid or liquid into a gaseous fuel without leaving any solid
carbonaceous residue
9. Define pyrolysis.

Pyrolysis is a general term used for all the processes whereby organic material is heated or partially
combusted to produce secondary fuels and chemical products
10. Define combustion.
It is the process of rapid chemical combination of oxygen with the combustible portions of the fuels
in heat release
11. How wind turbine generators are classified?
According to Size and Design
1.Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT)
 Vel Tech High Tech Dr.Rangarajan Dr.Sakunthala Engineering College
Department of Chemical Engineering
ORR551 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

2.Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT)

12. What are the different types of wind rotors?
-- With
With horizontal axis
vertical axis
- Hybrid
Moreover, wind rotors can be classified into:
RESISTANCE SYSTEMS: where the blade offers resistance to the wind which presses on it making it
move and generating mechanical energy.

LIFT SYSTEMS: where the blade, of aerodynamic form, exploits the lift principle, i.e. the air flow
(wind) which allows it to move generating mechanical energy

13. What are the factors that determine the output from a wind energy converter?
The power output of a wind turbine is dependent on the efficiency of the blades, gear assembly,
alternator/dynamo, as well as wind speed and wind consistency. The power output of taller wind turbines
is greater due to the fact that wind speeds are greater at higher altitudes. Some of the factors affecting
wind turbine performance include blade weight, strength, and shape.

14. What is the theoretical conversion efficiency for wind energy?

Energy conversion efficiency is the ratio between the useful output of an energyconversion machine and
the input, in energy terms. The useful output may be electricpower, mechanical work, or heat.
15. What is the difference between bio-mass and bio-gas?

Biomass is the amount of living matter in a given habitat, expressed either as the weight of organisms per
unit area or as the volume of organisms per unit volume of habitat.
Biogas is any gas fuel derived from the decay of organic matter, as the mixture of methane and carbon
dioxide produced by the bacterial decomposition of sewage, manure, garbage, or plant crops.
PART B
1. Classify and explain the biomass gasifier with neat sketches.
2. Write a short note on
(i)Hydrolysis
(ii)Hydrogeneration
(iii)Solvolysis
(iv)Biodiesel
3. Discuss the biomass gasification methods with a neat diagram and write the merits and demerits of
each method.
4. Describe the working of floating drum and fixed dome type biogas plant with a neat diagram and
discuss the factors affecting the production of biogas
5. Discuss in detail, the production of fuel from biomass
6. Explain about IC engine.
 Vel Tech High Tech Dr.Rangarajan Dr.Sakunthala Engineering College
Department of Chemical Engineering
ORR551 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

UNIT V
PART A

1. What do you mean by hydro -electricity?

Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical
power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used
form of renewable energy
2. What is meant by Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
An energy technology that converts solar radiation to electric power. OTEC systems use the ocean's
natural thermal gradient - the ocean's layers of water have different temperatures—to drive a power-
producing cycle. As long as the temperature between the warm surface water and the cold deep water
differs by about 20°C (36°F), an OTEC system can produce a significant amount of power.
3. What are the benefits of OTEC
 Helps produce fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol
 Produces electrical energy
 Produces desalinated water for industrial, agricultural, and residential uses
 Is a resource for on-shore and near-shore mariculture operations
 Provides air-conditioning for buildings
 Provides moderate-temperature refrigeration
 Has significant potential to provide clean, cost-effective electricity for the future.
4. List The applications of OTEC
OTEC can be used to :
 Generate electricity. Desalinate water.
 Support deep-water mariculture.
 Provide refrigeration and air-conditioning.
 Aid in crop growth and mineral extraction.
5. What are the main types of OTEC power plants?
 Open-Cycle OTEC System
 Modified Open-Cycle OTEC System
 Closed-Cycle OTEC System
6. What are the disadvantages of tidal power
 A barrage across an estuary is very expensive to build, and affects a very wide area - the environment
is changed for many miles upstream and downstream. Many birds rely on the tide uncovering the mud
flats so that they can feed. Fish can't migrate, unless "fish ladders" are installed.
 Only provides power for around 10 hours each day, when the tide is actually moving in or out.
 There are few suitable sites for tidal barrages
7. List the advantages of tidal Power.
 Once you've built it, tidal power is free.
 It produces no greenhouse gases or other waste.
 It needs no fuel.
 Vel Tech High Tech Dr.Rangarajan Dr.Sakunthala Engineering College
Department of Chemical Engineering
ORR551 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

 It produces electricity reliably

 Not expensive to maintain.
 Tides are totally predictable.
 Offshore turbines and vertical-axis turbines are not ruinously expensive to build and do not have a
large environmental impact.
8. What are the limitations of OTEC
 The process is not efficient.
 It is not feasible economically.
 Construction & maintenance is difficult & expensive.
9. Write briefly about Geothermal energy.
Temperature of the earth increases at the rate of 20 – 75oC per Km, when we move down the earth’s
surface. High temperature and pressure fields exists below the earth’s surface in many places. The energy
harnessed from the high temperature present inside the earth is called geothermal energy
10. Name the negative impacts of Geothermal Energy
The big problem is that there are not many places where you can build a geothermal power station. You
need hot rocks of a suitable type, at a depth where we can drill down to them.The type of rock above is
also important; it must be of a type that we can easily drill through. Sometimes a geothermal site may
"run out of steam", perhaps for decades. Hazardous gases and minerals may come up from underground,
and can be difficult to safely dispose of.

11. Define theoretical conversion efficiency for tidal energy.

Energy conversion efficiency is the ratio between the useful output of an energy conversion machine and
the input, in energy terms. The useful output may be electric power, mechanical work, or heat.
12. Discuss the Types of geothermal power plants

There are three basic types of geothermal power plants:

Dry steam plants use steam directly from a geothermal reservoir to turn generator turbines. The first
geothermal power plant was built in 1904 in Tuscany, Italy, where natural steam erupted from the earth.

Flash steam plants take high-pressure hot water from deep inside the earth and convert it to steam to
drive generator turbines. When the steam cools, it condenses to water and is injected back into the ground
to be used again. Most geothermal power plants are flash steam plants.

Binary cycle power plants transfer the heat from geothermal hot water to another liquid. The heat
causes the second liquid to turn to steam, which is used to drive a generator turbine.

13. What is the need for Direct Energy conversion

No conversion of energy into mechanical and to electrical

Less loses in conversion process
More efficient process
Cost also reduced
 Vel Tech High Tech Dr.Rangarajan Dr.Sakunthala Engineering College
Department of Chemical Engineering
ORR551 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

14. How Direct Energy conversion is achieved through Carnot cycle

The carnot cycle has the maximum efficiency possible of the engine based on the assumption of the
absence of incidental wasteful process such as friction and no conduction of heat between the different
parts of the engine at different temperatures

PART –B

1. Explain about hydro power plant, its efficiency, merit and demerits
2. With a neat diagram explain the production of hydroelectricity and discuss its advantages and
disadvantages.
3. What are the main types of OTEC power plants? Describe their working in brief.

4. With a neat diagram explain the production of geothermal energy and discuss its advantages and
disadvantages.
5. What are the different methods for Energy conversion