MSc Renewable Energy and Clean Technology / Course details

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIT

This unit will cover: An introduction to wind turbines, tidal systems and wave energy systems, economic assessment methods applicable to offshore renewables and emerging technologies, wind energy resource, momentum theory and limits to wind power output (Betz limit), blade element momentum theory, tidal stream resource & conversion of flow to mechanical power, wave energy resource description, wave energy devices and wave energy device simulation.

Two supervised computational laboratory exercises will be undertaken. The first will use an industry standard wind-turbine design software to compute power output of a given turbine design. The second will look at the effects of blockage on a tidal stream turbine array. Both computational exercises will build on the material in the lecture series by solving the system of equations that are derived in class.

The unit aims to: Provide an introduction to renewable technologies, with particular focus on the design of wind-turbines, tidal stream devices and wave devices. This will include both the design of these three types of renewable energy device and to model the conversion of environmental flows to mechanical power.

On successful completion of the course, a student will be able to:

ILO 1: Develop models of the underlying natural resources such as wind, tide and waves including statistical and time-series techniques.

ILO 2: Compare and contrast systems for energy extraction from renewable sources, identifying the advantages and disadvantages of each.

ILO 3: Employ physical principles to derive mathematical models of energy extraction systems appropriate for the wind, tidal stream, and wave energy resources.

ILO 4: Apply these mathematical models to relevant calculations (both hand calculations and those using industry standard software) to establish loading and power supply

ILO 5: Identify environmental impacts (both positive and negative).

ILO 6: Explain and contrast alternative  methods for regulation of  power output.

Brief description of the Learning and Teaching process 

Coursework

• Course Work 1 – Written/hand calculations and analysis of data obtained using QBlade software. The assessed tutorial work will be 3 hours in total. The assessed tutorial work forms 15% of the overall unit assessment
• Course Work 2 - technical report based on analysis of device performance and proposing a design for a marine energy farm considering energy yield, economic issues and other factors. Laboratory written report forms 15% of the overall unit assessment

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