FE402 Applied Exercises in Energy Transitions

Contents and structure

Through a series of lectures and laboratories, the students will gain an understanding for various forms of renewable energy technology: biofuels, solar energy, wind energy, wind resources, electrolysis, and fuel cells.  The laboratories will be performed in groups of 3-5, with each group submitting one lab report. 

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

• Learning the basic principles of chemistry, physics, and biology relevant to the technologies: biofuels, solar energy, wind energy, wind resources, electrolysis, and fuel cells.
• Learning how to prepare for and perform scientific laboratories, and report and discuss the results and conclusions in a scientific manner.

Skills

• Assemble and use scientific equipment by performing the laboratory exercises.
• Measure and record results in an organized, consistent and clear manner.
• Follow health and safety rules
• Report and communicate complex procedures and results to a broader public.
• Group/team work.

Competence

• Produce hydrogen gas by means of electrolysis, and convert the hydrogen gas to electricity with the use of fuel cells.
• Based on historic wind data, determine and discuss the potential for wind energy production.
• In a small-scale wind tunnel, determine the effects of: turbine blade profile, wind turbine blade pitch, and wind turbine solidity on energy production.
• Using PV solar cells, determine the effects that panel orientation and meteorological effects have on energy production.  Calculate the direct solar radiation for a specific location and compare this with both actual measured data and commercial software calculations. 
• Produce the most common biofuel in Europe (RME biodiesel), and determine the environmental impacts of production.

Entry requirements

No

Recommended previous knowledge

FY400, FE405 and FE407

Teaching methods

Lectures, laboratories

Compulsory learning activities

Active student participation in laboratory exercises and tasks, in addition to the submission of laboratory rapports.

Assessment

Writen exam, 4 hours, character grading

Examination support material

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