LEARNING OUTCOMES

Provide general knowledge on energy conversion systems from renewable sources, with particular reference to the technologies and methodologies related to the conversion of energy from wind power, hydraulic and engine plants based on the technology of gas turbines. Provide the operative tools for the dimensioning of plants and machines for energy conversion from renewable energy sources. Hydraulic and Wind Energy and distributed Cogeneration from fossil fuel or biofuel by means of micro gas turbines. Provide tools for calculating energy producibility from wind farms, hydraulic and micro gas turbine. Provide knowledge for economic and financial analysis simplified to compare different energy conversion systems.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the unit, the student is expected to be able to:

• apply theoretical basis and operating principles for the analysis of different power plants;
• select and and compare different power production systems taking into account technical and economic aspects;
• apply the fundamental equations and basic principles for the analysis of different turbomachines in order to evaluate the flow behaviour and the corresponding turbomachine performance;
• provide preliminary dimensioning of plants and machines for energy conversion from renewable energy sources.

TEACHING METHODS

54 hours of lectures, including discussions of technical issues, selection of topics for detailed analysis on available literature, preparation of presentations for seminars in classroom.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Energy conversion from renewable energy sources, environmental and economic sustainability.
Fundamentals concepts of turbomachines for energy conversion.
Hydraulic Energy:
Hydroelectric power plants. Components of hydroelectric power plants.
Classification of hydraulic turbines. Main components of hydraulic turbines.
Dimensioning of hydraulic turbines.
Wind Energy:
Wind energy application.
Classification of wind turbines. Main components of wind turbines.
Wind speed measurements, probability density function.
Wind energy conversion. Turbine performance.
One dimensional theory for wind turbines.
Wind turbine control.
Distributed cogeneration with Micro Gas turbines:
Distributed cogeneration and fields of application of energy conversion by means of micro gas turbines.
Rigenerative gas turbine cycles.
Component efficiency effects on global gas turbine efficiency.
Main components of micro gas turbines with regeneration.
High efficiency radial turbomachinery. Low emission combustion.
Thermo-mechanical characteristics of micro gas turbines.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Detailed notes on the different topics discussed in lectures will be provided by the teacher through the Aulaweb page. Therefore, all registered students will access documents to prepare the exam. It is recommended to attend the lectures.

F. Kreith, J. Kreider: “ Principles of Sustainable Energy” CRC Press, USA, 2011.
E. Hau, "Wind Turbines: Fundamentals, Technologies, Application, Economics", Springer, 2013
H. Cohen, GFC. Rogers, HH. Saravanamuttoo; “ Gas Turbine Theory”, Varun Blatt, 2012.