101

NON­CONVENTIONAL ENERY RESOURCES Semester 7th

Course Code BME755D CIE Marks 50
Teaching Hours/Week (L:T:P: S) 03 SEE Marks 50
Total Hours of Pedagogy 40 Total Marks 100
Credits 03 Exam Hours 03
Examination type (SEE) Theory
Course objectives:
To introduce the concepts of solar energy, its radiation, collection, storage and application.
To introduce the concepts and applications of Wind energy, Biomass energy, Geothermal
energy and Ocean energy as alternative energy sources.
To explore society’s present needs and future energy demands.
To examine energy sources and systems, including fossil fuels and nuclear energy, and then
focus on alternate, renewable energy sources such as solar, biomass (conversions), wind
power, geothermal, etc.
To get exposed to energy conservation methods.
Module­1
Introduction:
Energy source, India’s production and reserves of commercial energy sources, need for non­
conventional energy sources, energy alternatives, solar, thermal, photovoltaic. Waterpower, wind
biomass, ocean temperature difference, tidal and waves, geothermal, tar sands and oil shale, nuclear
(Brief descriptions); advantages and disadvantages, comparison (Qualitative and Quantitative).
Solar Radiation Measurement of Solar Radiation
Solar Radiation: Extra­Terrestrial radiation, spectral distribution of extra­terrestrial radiation, solar
constant, solar radiation at the earth’s surface, beam, diffuse and global radiation, solar radiation data.
Measurement of Solar Radiation: Pyrometer, shading ring pyrheliometer, sunshine recorder,
schematic diagrams and principle of working.
Module­2
Solar Radiation Geometry: Flux on a plane surface, latitude, declination angle, surface azimuth
angle, hour angle, zenith angle, solar altitude angle expression for the angle between the incident
beam and the normal to a plane surface (No derivation) local apparent time. Apparent motion of sum,
day length, numerical examples.
Radiation Flux on a Tilted Surface Solar Thermal Conversion
Radiation Flux on a Tilted Surface: Beam, diffuse and reflected radiation, expression for flux on a
tilted surface (no derivations) numerical example. Solar Thermal Conversion: Collection and storage,
thermal collection devices, liquid flat plate collectors, solar air heaters concentrating collectors
(cylindrical, parabolic, paraboloid) (Quantitative analysis); sensible heat storage, latent heat storage,
application of solar energy water heating. Space heating and cooling, active and passive systems,
power generation, refrigeration. Distillation (Qualitative analysis) solar pond, principle of working,
operational problems.
Module­3
Performance Analysis of Liquid Flat Plate Collectors
General description, collector geometry, selective surface (qualitative discussion) basic energy­
balance equation, stagnation temperature, transmissivity of the cover system, transmissivity –
absorptivity product, numerical examples. The overall loss coefficient, correlation for the top loss
coefficient, bottom and side loss coefficient, problems (all correlations to be provided). Temperature
distribution between the collector tubes, collector heat removal factor, collector efficiency factor and
collector flow factor, mean plate temperature, instantaneous efficiency (all expressions to be
provided). Effect of various parameters on the collector performance; collector orientation, selective
surface, fluid inlet temperature, number covers, dust.
Photovoltaic Conversion
Photovoltaic Conversion: Description, principle of working and characteristics, applications.
 102

Module­4
Wind Energy:
Properties of wind, availability of wind energy in India, wind velocity and power from wind; major
problems associated with wind power, wind machines; Types of wind machines and their
characteristics, horizontal and vertical axis windmills, elementary design principles; coefficient of
performance of a windmill rotor, aerodynamic considerations of windmill design, numerical
examples.
Tidal Power:
Tides and waves as energy suppliers and their mechanics; fundamental characteristics of tidal power,
harnessing tidal energy, limitations.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion:
Principle of working, Rankine cycle, OTEC power stations in the world, problems associated with
OTEC.
Module­5
Hydrogen Energy:
Properties of Hydrogen with respected to its utilization as a renewable form of energy, sources of
hydrogen, production of hydrogen, electrolysis of water, thermal decomposition of water, thermo
chemical production bio­chemical production. Storage & Transportation Methods: Gaseous, cryogenic
and metal hydrides, application of hydrogen, domestic and industrial safe burning of hydrogen.
Geothermal Energy Conversion:
Principle of working, types of geothermal station with schematic diagram, geothermal plants in the
world, problems associated with geothermal conversion, scope of geothermal energy.
Energy from Biomass:
Photosynthesis, photosynthetic oxygen production, energy plantation, biogas production from
organic wastes by anaerobic fermentation, description of bio­gas plants, transportation of biogas,
problems involved with bio­gas production, application of bio­gas, application of bio­gas in engines,
advantages.
Course outcome (Course Skill Set)
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Describe the environmental aspects of non­conventional energy resources in Comparison with
various conventional energy systems, their prospects and limitations, the need of renewable
energy resources, historical and latest developments.
2. Describe the use of solar energy and the various components used in the energy production
with respect to applications like­heating, cooling, desalination, power generation, drying,
cooking etc.
3. Explain the need of Wind Energy and the various components used in energy generation and
know the classifications.
4. Understand the concept of Biomass energy resources and their classification, types of biogas
Plants­ applications.
5. Compare the working principles of fuel cells, wave power, tidal power and geothermal
principles and applications.
Assessment Details (both CIE and SEE)
The weightage of Continuous Internal Evaluation (CIE) is 50% and for Semester End Exam (SEE) is 50%.
The minimum passing mark for the CIE is 40% of the maximum marks (20 marks out of 50) and for the
SEE minimum passing mark is 35% of the maximum marks (18 out of 50 marks). A student shall be
deemed to have satisfied the academic requirements and earned the credits allotted to each subject/ course if
the student secures a minimum of 40% (40 marks out of 100) in the sum total of the CIE (Continuous
Internal Evaluation) and SEE (Semester End Examination) taken together.
Continuous Internal Evaluation:
The CIE is the sum of Average of Two Internal Assessment Tests each of 25 marks and Any two
Assessment methods for 25 marks.
The first test will be administered after 40­50% of the syllabus has been covered, and the
 103

second test will be administered after 85­90% of the syllabus has been covered
Any two assessment methods mentioned in the 22OB , if an assignment is project­based then
only one assignment for the course shall be planned. The teacher should not conduct two
assignments at the end of the semester if two assignments are planned.
For the course, CIE marks will be based on a scaled­down sum of two tests and other methods of
assessment for a total of 50 marks.
Internal Assessment Test question paper is designed to attain the different levels of Bloom’s
taxonomy as per the outcome defined for the course.

Semester­End Examination:
Theory SEE will be conducted by University as per the scheduled timetable, with common question
papers for the course (duration 03 hours).
1. The question paper will have ten questions. Each question is set for 20 marks.
2. There will be 2 questions from each module. Each of the two questions under a module (with a
maximum of 3 sub­questions), should have a mix of topics under that module.
3. The students have to answer 5 full questions, selecting one full question from each module.
4. Marks scored shall be proportionally reduced to 50 marks.
Suggested Learning Resources:
Books
1. Non­Convention Energy Resources by B H Khan, 3rd Edition ,McGraw Hill Education (India) Pvt.
Ltd.
2. Non­Conventional Energy Sources by G.D Rai, Khanna Publishers (2003).
3. Solar Energy by Subhas P Sukhatme, 2nd Edition Tata Mcgraw Hill (1996).
4. Renewable energy sources and Conversion technology by [Link], Manfred Kleeman and
Mechael Meliss, Tata Mcgraw Hill (2004).

Web links and Video Lectures (e­Resources):

[Link]
[Link]
[Link] Fundamentals of Photovoltaics
[Link] This lecture explores factors that affect
the amount of sunlight reaching Earth's surface: e.g. orbit and tilt, scattering in the
atmosphere, weather, and diffuse vs. direct sunlight.
Activity Based Learning (Suggested Activities in Class)/ Practical Based learning
Visit to Nearby power Plants, Solar Plants , Wind Mills etc
Case studies and Quiz.
Topic Seminar presentation.