EAS 517: Solar Energy
Course Title |
Solar Energy |
Course Code |
EAS 517 |
Course Type |
Elective |
Level |
PhD |
Instructor’s Name |
Manuel Blanco, Costas N. Papanicolas, Victor Grigoriev, Kypros Milidonis, Evgeny Votyakov, Constantinos Marakkos, Alaric Montenon |
ECTS |
10 |
Lectures / week |
1 (2.5h) |
Laboratories / week |
- |
Course Purpose and Objectives |
Solar thermal energy is one of the most promising modalities for converting solar energy into electricity. This course provides an in depth overview of the principles of heat transfer as well as advanced thermodynamics to understand the limits of the conversion processes. The engineering architecture of concentrating solar thermal (CST) power plants is also analyzed. In depth analysis of solar harvesting systems, solar energy receivers, and thermal energy storage systems will be performed, with design and modelling studies on each system. The objective of the course is to give the students a deeper understanding of the phenomena and processes involved in a solar thermal power plant, and provide them with advanced techniques to model plant behavior. The seminar will also provide opportunities for the students to get actively engaged through presentations and reviews of literature provided throughout the course. |
Learning Outcomes |
Upon completion of this course the student should be obtain a good understanding of: The fundamentals of the thermal conversion of solar energy into power.
The state-of-the-art tools that are publically available to facilitate the preliminary screening and sizing of CST power plants for a specific location and set of boundary conditions, both technical and economic. |
Prerequisites |
None |
Background Requirements |
Basic knowledge of Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer |
Course Content |
The Sun as an energy source Overview of CST power plants. The Role of Modelling at the different stages of a CST power plant project Simulation tools Assignment of design projects Parabolic troughs technology Linear Fresnel technology Solar tower technology Presentation of design projects. |
Teaching Methodology |
Lectures. Seminars. Case studies. Short Projects. |
Bibliography |
Concentrating Solar Power Technology: Principles, Developments and Applications (Woodhead Publishing Series in Energy Book 21) 1st Edition. K. Lovegrove (Editor), W. Stein (Editor). Woodhead Publishing; 2012. ASIN: B00HEMSUAO Advances in Concentrating Solar Thermal Research and Technology (Woodhead Publishing Series in Energy) 1st Edition. Manuel Blanco (Editor), Lourdes Ramirez Santigosa (Editor). Woodhead Publishing Series in Energy, 2016. ISBN-13: 978-0081005163. Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics 4th Edition. Adrian Bejan. Wiley 2016. ISBN: 1119052092. Thermal Design and Optimization 1st Edition. Adrian Bejan, George Tsatsaronis, Michael J. Moran. Wiley-Interscience; 1 edition (November 28, 1995). ISBN-13: 978-0471584674. |
Assessment |
Coursework, oral presentation, exam |
Language |
English |