Academic Year/course:
2023/24
571 - Degree in Environmental Sciences
25222 - Clean technologies. Renewable energies
Syllabus Information
Academic year:
2023/24
Subject:
25222 - Clean technologies. Renewable energies
Faculty / School:
201 - Escuela Politécnica Superior
Degree:
571 - Degree in Environmental Sciences
ECTS:
6.0
Year:
3
Semester:
Second Four-month period
Subject type:
Compulsory
Module:
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1. General information
The aim of this subject is to introduce students to energy issues, with special emphasis on the environmental effects inherent to a specific energy technology. At the same time, it is also intended that students will be able to compare technological alternatives and propose corrective measures to reduce the environmental impact and/or improve the efficiency of a given energy transformation system.
The approach and objectives of the subject are aligned with some of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, of the 2030 Agenda:
- Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
- Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, secure, sustainable and modern energy.
It is recommended to have previously taken the subject "Bases of Environmental Engineering".
2. Learning results
Upon completion of the subject, the student will be able to:
1. -Identify the most important aspects related to energy issues and specify the environmental problems specific to each energy technology studied.
2. -Identify the operating variables that most affect the combustion process and synthesize the most important characteristics of the different types of combustors.
3. -Solve questions or problems related to the emission of pollutant gases (SO2, NOx etc.) that take place in a thermal conversion process.
4. -Analyse and evaluate information on different energy systems taking into account the geographical location.
5. -Dimension energy generation processes from fossil and renewable resources, and propose strategies for the energy efficiency of these processes
6. -Prepare and present orally the reports corresponding to the assigned work in a collaborative way.
3. Syllabus
Block I: renewable energies
Topic 1. Introduction: basic energy concepts, current energy context and energy planning.
Topic 2. Photovoltaic Solar Energy: semiconductors, photovoltaic panels, accumulation subsystems, regulation and power adaptation, sizing.
Topic 3. Solar thermal energy: applications, parabolic trough collectors, characteristic parameters, solar tower power plants
Topic 4. Wind energy: wind resources, power produced by a wind turbine, wind machines, components of a wind turbine, applications and environmental impact.
Block II: clean technologies
Topic 5. Heat transfer (HT) mechanisms: overall HT coefficient, heat exchangers, heat loss quantification.
Topic 6. Energy and climate change: greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Topic 7. Power generation from fossil resources: coal combustion, types of combustors, steam cycles and combined cycles, pollutant emission control, clean coal technologies.
Topic 8. Biomass as a renewable energy source: thermal conversion (combustion, pyrolysis and gasification), biofuels.
4. Academic activities
Theoretical classes (30 h) for the development of the contents of the proposed topics.
Practical sessions (20 h) related to the theoretical contents, where problems will be solved in a computer classroom.
Collaborative work (20 h), to be done in groups of 2-3 students and focused on the analysis of energy sources in a given system
Technical visits (4 h), subject to the budget available for their realization.
Personal study (70 h).
Assessment tests (6 h).
5. Assessment system
The subject will be evaluated in the global evaluation modality by means of the following activities:
1. Individual written test (70% of the final grade; minimum of 4 out of 10 points), consisting of a theory test (40% of the test grade) and a problem-solving test (60% of the test grade). The evaluation criteria will be: approach, numerical solution, conceptual mastery and argumentative justification.
2. Evaluation of the cooperative work (30% of the final grade, minimum of 4 out of 10 points). During the last school days of the semester, the teams will be able to deliver the report of the work and make the oral presentation of the same during class time. The grade of the paper will be determined according to the quality of the written report and oral presentation, taking into account the following weights: 50% content, 30% presentation and defence, and 20% formal aspects . Students not evaluated in this activity - in the first or second call- will deliver the report and the presentation of the work through Moodle, with a deadline that will coincide with the official call. In justified cases, students may carry out the activity in the individual mode.
The detailed definition of the evaluation system will be explained in the presentation of the subject.
Success rates in previous years: 2019-20 (63,0%); 2020-21 (52,0%); 2021-22 (47,5%).