MODULE DESCRIPTOR
MECHG020 – New and Renewable Engineering Systems
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MECHG020
MECHM020
New and Renewable Engineering Systems
M
15/6
September
March
Dr R. Bucknall (Module Coordinator)
Dr C. Nightingale
Dr K. Drake
Various Guest Lecturers
Prerequisites
Mathematics to second year undergraduate level to include complex number theory, ordinary differential
equations linear, non-linear 1st order and linear 2nd order homogenous with constant coefficients. Applied scientific
or engineering undergraduate academic background.
Course Aims
To achieve competency in using analytical methods for understanding the design and behaviour of new and
renewable energy systems – design, operational and integration issues. To provide technical knowledge in
renewable technologies so as to appreciate the design features for different systems on land and at sea.
Students having successfully completed the course will have the ability to:

Appreciate the range of renewable and alternative power systems and understand why different designs are
used in different power applications and appreciate their technical limits.

Analyse renewable power systems so as to calculate and relate key parameters such as fluid flow, torque,
speed, efficiency, and power under steady-state conditions, etc.

Understand the ‘state of the art’ in renewable power systems and appreciate advances in new technologies
that will influence future designs.
Method of Instruction
Levelling (2 hrs); Classroom lectures (24 hrs); Classroom tutorials (6 hrs); Revision (2 hrs).
Assessment
The course has the following assessment components:
 Written Examination (2 hours, 65%) to be sat in March.
 2 piece of coursework (10 hours 35%) TBA
The examination rubric is:
Answer THREE questions (from eight offered) in 2 hours.
The coursework rubic:
Assignment 1 is ‘Show how a chosen country could move to 50% renewables by 2030’ counting for 33.3% of
available marks and Assignment 2 is ‘Feasibility study of Wind Farm/Solar Farm/Tidal Scheme/Wave Harvesting’
for 66.7%. In each assignment students need to collect data and use analytical methods to determine a viable
solution.
Tutorial sheets: There will be six tutorial sheets handed at regular intervals during the lecture course. Each
sheet will contain a number of problems based on recent lecture material. Time will be taken during some
lecture/tutorial periods to work through a few of the problems, leaving students to tackle the remainder in their
own time. There will be additional tutorials schedules for approximately two weeks before the examination
(timing to be agreed).
Additional tutorials: Students lacking a background in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics may benefit from
additional tutorials. These will be possible and the need, or otherwise, will be discussed as the course develops.
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Resources
Laboratory fuel cell and various computer based simulation packages.
Additional Information
None
Content
Introductory lectures on current main sources of energy: Oil, coal, gas, nuclear. Current contribution of each,
known reserves, threats and future predictions. Hubbert model for predicting future usage. Carbon Capture
technology and applications should be mentioned somewhere.
Solar Energy: Brief revision of radiant heat transfer. Prediction of solar energy falling on an inclined surface
(vector derivation and path length equation). Shading. Types of thermal solar collector and typical installations.
Solar thermal e.g. Solar Tres Operation of photovoltaic cells, their characteristics and equivalent circuits. Interface
with electrical systems both micro-grid and national grid.
Wind Energy: Types of wind turbine, including descriptions of typical modern horizontal axis machines.
Challenges of offshore installations. Wind speed distribution characteristics. Influences of height and terrain.
Site selection. Calculation of Betz limit. Blade design of horizontal axis wind turbines. Lift, drag and power
coefficient characteristics. Blade and machine matching. Synchronous and asynchronous generator
characteristics and methods of connecting to grid. Sources of wind data. Subsea transmission and
interconnection issues for offshore wind energy.
Hydro, Tide and Wave Energy: Description of the tidal mechanism. Descriptions of marine current devices.
Selection of suitable sites. Dimensional analysis applied to marine current turbines. Hydroelectric and tidal
barrage turbines: installation of turbines, blade calculations for Impulse, Francis and Kaplan designs. Tidal
barrage scheme strategies. Wave energy devices. Calculation of wave energy. Wave energy maps. Osmotic
power.
Geothermal Energy: Geology of suitable sites. Description of electrical power generating cycles. Geothermal
heating systems. Ground-source heat pumps.
Fuel Cells: Historical development of alkaline fuel cell. Modern fuel cell applications. Ideal fuel cell calculations.
Variation of Gibbs Function. Fuel cell efficiency. Brief description of main types of fuel cell. More detailed
description of Proton Exchange Membrane and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and their characteristics. Modelling of fuel
cell losses. Fuel cells in combined cycle applications. Domestic cogeneration fuel cell systems.
Alternative Fuels (mainly hydrogen): Fuelling requirements for fuel cells. Steam and other reforming reactions for
hydrogen. Desulphuriation and carbon monoxide removal. Direct oxidation of natural gas in a fuel cell. Hydrogen
production by electrolysis. Biological production of hydrogen. Methods of storing hydrogen. Comparison of
properties of alternative fuels. Combustion of hydrogen. Production of methanol and ethanol. Combustion of
methanol and ethanol. Biodiesel production and environmental impact. Combustion of biodiesel.
Other Renewable Energy Sources: Brief discussions of: biomass; ocean thermal energy conversion; topical new
schemes.
Energy Storage Systems: Comparison of mechanical energy storage systems. Applications where energy
storage is required. Flywheel systems and their applications. Calculations of flywheel energy storage.
Compressed air storage systems and schemes to mitigate energy loss. Hydraulic energy storage systems and
associated calculations. Pumped water storage. Flow batteries. Storage of heat, Supercapacitors, SMES,
Battery Technologies (lead acid, LiPol, etc)
Integration: Supply and demand characteristics. Base load provision. Grid limitations. Methods of controlling
demand. AC/DC transmission. Variation in demand daily, weekly, expected, unexpected events.
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Learning Outcomes1 MECHG020 Alternative and Renewable Power Engineering
General Learning Outcomes
Ability to develop, monitor & update a plan, to reflect a changing operating environment
N/A
Ability to monitor and adjust a personal program of work on an on-going basis, and to learn independently
As with all taught modules on the programme a significant amount of self learning is expected.
The ability to exercise initiative and personal responsibility, which may be as a team member or leader
N/A
The ability to learn new theories, concepts and methods etc and apply these in unfamiliar situations
The module is designed to present new subject matter at M level understanding of which is then tested by
an exam and a small project and a laboratory write up.
Specific Learning Outcomes
Underpinning science & Mathematics
A comprehensive understanding of the relevant scientific principles of the specialisation
Although many students will have studied some aspects of alternative and renewable technologies at
undergraduate level the module is designed to introduce new subject matter. Specifically students study
renewable technologies including wind, wave, current, geothermal, OTEC power generation systems and
new technologies such as advanced energy storage systems such as advanced battery technology, flywheel
energy storage, alternative fuels such as Hydrogen and fuel cell cells. In each the relevant scientific principles
are taught building on fundamental theory.
A critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront
of the specialisation.
The whole subject area is rapidly developing and the module strives to keep up to date with latest
developments feeding in output from the department’s research where appropriate. Examples of how this is
conveyed to students is through dissemination of research activities in renewable energy e.g. offshore wind
farm reliability, availability and maintainability studies and the fuel cell performance studies. Furthermore
students are exposed to industrial projects through visits e.g. to a wind farm as part of the course. This
dissemination process is through lectures but also through student coursework assignments the students are
expected to undertake directed and general reading in support.
An understanding of concepts relevant to the discipline, some from outside engineering, and the ability to
critically evaluate and apply them effectively.
The module is designed to present new subject matter at M level, understanding of which is then tested by
an exam and a small project. Lectures, in addition to theory, cover case studies and in these lectures
reference is made to influence of outside pressures including differing opinions on the balance of
conventional, renewable and nuclear power. Students are encouraged to keep abreast of current affairs with
respect to power system developments of all types.
1
EAB website http://www.enoab.oro.uk/documentation document Accreditation Of Masters Degrees Other Than
MEng last accessed 10 Aril 2012
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Engineering Analysis
Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies
The module strives to keep abreast of the state of the art and provide students with the tools to
understand these and appreciate advances in technology and control that are influencing future designs.
Ability to apply appropriate models for solving problems in engineering and the ability to assess the
limitations of particular cases;
N/A
The ability to collect and analyse research data and use appropriate engineering tools to tackle unfamiliar
problems, such as those with uncertain or incomplete data or specifications, by the appropriate innovation,
use or adaptation of engineering analytical methods.
This aspect is tested in student coursework assignments. Assignment 1 is ‘Show how a chosen country
could move to 50% renewables by 2030’ counting for a third of available marks and Assignment 2 is
‘Feasibility study of Wind Farm/Solar Farm/Tidal Scheme/Wave Harvesting’ for two thirds. In each
assignment students need to collect data and use analytical methods to determine a viable solution.
Design
The ability to apply original thought to the development of practical solutions for products, systems,
components or processes
N/A
Economic, Social and Environmental Context
Knowledge and understanding of management and business practices, and their limitations,
and how these may be applied appropriately, in the context of the particular specialisation
N/A
The ability to make general evaluations of risks through some understanding of the basis of such
risks N/A
Engineering Practice
A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations, and some appreciation of likely
new developments
Students become aware of current practice and limitations of energy systems through the lecture series whilst
studying each technology and reinforced through discussion of current and future projects where opportunities
and constraints are identified. Furthermore students undertake assignments which are designed to encourage
them to examine current practice and new developments through their own research activities.
Advanced level knowledge and understanding of a wide range of engineering materials and
components N/A
The ability to apply engineering techniques taking account of a range of commercial and industrial constraints
Students undertake a coursework focusing on the ‘Feasibility study of Wind Farm/Solar Farm/Tidal Scheme/Wave
Harvesting’ when they apply their engineering knowledge to a power generation problem and in doing so identify
commercial and industrial constraints e.g. cost of generated electricity and any infrastructure limitations.
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