REVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY RESOURCES
Sandeep Verma
B.S., Pune University, India 2000
PROJECT
Submitted in partial satisfaction of
the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE
in
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
at
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO
FALL
2011
REVIEW OF SUSTAINBABLE ENERGY RESOURCES
A Project
by
Sandeep Verma
Approved by:
___________________________Committee Chair
Dongmei Zhou, Ph.D.
__________________
Date
ii
Student: Sandeep Verma
I certify that this student has met the requirements for format contained in the University
format manual, and that this project is suitable for shelving in the Library and credit is to
be awarded for the project.
__________________________Graduate Coordinator
Akihiko Kumagai, Ph.D.
Department of Mechanical Engineering
iii
___________________
Date
Abstract
of
“REVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY RESOURCES”
by Sandeep Verma
Energy is one of the essential needs of a functional society. The resources that supply energy are
essential to human survival. The intense exploitation of these resources has enabled the
development of highly technological societies in the world wealthier countries. With the benefits
of energy comes a dilemma. How can we keep providing mankind with energy derived
advantages without damaging the environment affecting societal stability or threatening the
wellbeing of future generations? The resolution of this dilemma involves finding sustainable
energy resources. Many experts view our energy use pathway as unsustainable for long term
future, if present growth trends continue. A better future might depend strongly on how individual
and institutions choose amongst diverse and potentially contradicting technical, sociological,
geopolitical and environmental options and how we set priorities for changing our present
courses. Energy production or utilization is often intertwined with consumption of other precious
natural resources, such as mineral, forest, water, food and land. Further the everyday use of
energy can damage human health and earth’s ecosystem over wide length and timescale. Yet in
the developed countries the availability of stable supplies of energy at manageable prices has
propelled has propelled economic development and enfranchised most of the populace with
mobility and a host of life style which were unimaginable a century ago. Development countries
are now dramatically expanding there to extend economic prosperity within their borders. At the
same time continued dominance of the world’s energy by fossil fuels is expected to be challenged
not by the red herring of scarcity but by concern that emission of fossil derived CO2 and fugitive
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CH4 to the atmosphere will cause serious global climatic modifications. For more sustainable
energy future we need to develop a rich set of energy technology and technology intensive policy
options. These options include increased efficiency of energy production and use, reduced
consumption, a new generation of renewable energy technologies, nuclear options that can retain
public acceptance, and means to use fossil fuels in a climate friendly way. If fossil fuel prices rise
to include cost of carbon management, consumers may also modify their consumption patterns.
Environmental and ethical concerns may also contribute to new attitudes about unconstrained
economic growth patterns. Sustainability concepts provide a framework to focus the evaluation of
energy technology and policy options and their tradeoffs and to guide the decision making on
energy futures. The key to these concepts right is to develop a solid understanding of the multi
facet technological, geopolitical, sociological, and the economic impacts of energy use and abuse.
This research basically is a review of the “Sustainable Energy Resources” mainly focused on Biomass, Hydro-power, Solar and Wind Energy mainly summarizing how is that resources used in
energy production, what has been done till now in that field of development and what is the
research which is going on in that field of development for future. It also details the meaning of
Sustainable and Renewable resources.
_______________________, Committee Chair
Dongmei Zhou, Ph.D.
___________________
Date
v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Dongmei Zhou for her guidance in
completion of my project. I would have never completed it without her immense support.
I would like to thank my friend Meghana, who has helped me in completing the project
on time. Lastly, I would like to thank the Department of Mechanical Engineering at
California State University, Sacramento for the encouragement and help to complete my
Masters in Mechanical Engineering.
Sandeep Verma
B.S.MechanicalEngineering
Pune University, 2000
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Acknowledgments..................................................................................................................vi
List of Tables .........................................................................................................................x
List of Figures ........................................................................................................................xi
Chapter
1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................1
1.1 Background....................................................................................................................1
1.2 Objective .......................................................................................................................3
1.3 Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 4
2. OVERVIEW ON CRUCIAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ................................................5
2.1 What is Sustainable Energy?................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Defining Energy- Scientific and Energy Foundation .............................................................. 6
2.2.1. What is Energy? .......................................................................................................6
2.3. What is Renewable Energy? .................................................................................................. 11
2.4. Kinds of Renewable Energy .................................................................................................. 12
2.5. Bio-Mass Energy ................................................................................................................... 12
2.5.1 Bio-Mass Relevance to Energy Production ......................................................................... 14
2.5.2 Conversion of Bio-Mass to Fuels......................................................................................... 14
2.5.3 Bioconversion ...................................................................................................................... 15
2.5.4 Bio-Gas ................................................................................................................................ 16
2.5.5 Bio-Gas Grid Injection ......................................................................................................... 17
2.5.6 Environmental Issues of Bio-Mass Energy .......................................................................... 18
2.5.7 Summary .............................................................................................................................. 19
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2.6 Hydro-Power ........................................................................................................................... 19
2.6.1 Basic Energy Conversion Principles .................................................................................... 20
2.6.2 Types of Hydro- Power System ........................................................................................... 20
2.6.3 Principle ............................................................................................................................... 23
2.6.4 Conversion Equipment and Civil Engineering Operations .................................................. 24
2.6.5 Potential for Growth ............................................................................................................ 26
2.7 Solar Energy............................................................................................................................ 29
2.7.1 Resource Assessment ........................................................................................................... 29
2.7.2 Passive and Active Solar Thermal Energy for the Buildings ............................................... 36
2.7.3 Recent Patents in Solar Energy Collectors .......................................................................... 43
2.7.4 Recent Patents of Tracking Mechanism............................................................................... 46
2.7.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 48
3. WIND ENERGY ........................................................................................................................... 50
3.1 What is Wind Energy? ............................................................................................................ 50
3.2 Wind Resources ...................................................................................................................... 51
3.3 Wind Machinery and Generating System ............................................................................... 62
3.4 Turbine .................................................................................................................................... 71
3.5 Types of Wind Turbines ......................................................................................................... 73
3.6 Environmental Impact of Wind Turbine ................................................................................. 82
3.7 Current Status and Future Prospects ....................................................................................... 84
3.8 Energy Generation in Tall Buildings ...................................................................................... 86
3.8a Introduction and Background ................................................................................................ 82
3.9 Practical Usage of Electrical Output ....................................................................................... 89
3.10 Parameters for Implementation of Wind Turbine on Buildings............................................ 90
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3.11 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 102
4. CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................. 110
References .......................................................................................................................................... 115
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LIST OF TABLES
Page
1. Table 2.5 Schematic of overall process chemistry for production of biogas by anaerobic
digestion of wet bio- mass ................................................................................................................. 16
2. Table 2.8 Yearly solar fluxes and human energy consumption ................................................... 31
3. Table 3.1 Graphical representation of wind speed versus hours .................................................. 56
x
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
1. Figure 2.1 Gasification process...................................................................................................... 15
2. Figure 2.2 SCADA system for pipe lines ...................................................................................... 17
3. Figure 2.3 An Impoundment hydro-power plant dam, water in a reservoir.................................. 21
4. Figure 2.4 The Tazimina project in Alaska.................................................................................... 22
5. Figure 2.5The characteristics component of hydroelectric plant ................................................... 25
6. Figure 2.6 Schematic of Incoming solar energy ............................................................................ 31
7. Figure 2.7 Sun’s Position Vector ................................................................................................... 34
8. Figure 2.8 Collector reference frame ............................................................................................. 35
9. Figure 2.9 Modified Trombe Wall ................................................................................................. 38
10. Figure 2.10 Transpired Collector ................................................................................................. 39
11. Figure 2.11 Solar Hot Water System ........................................................................................... 41
12. Figure 3.1 Wind Resources and Transmission lines .................................................................... 53
13. Figure 3.2 Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine ................................................................................... 61
14. Figure 3.3 Principle elements of a wind turbine electric generator ............................................. 72
15. Figure 3.4 World tallest Darrius wind turbine in Quebec Canada ............................................... 78
16 .Figure 3.5 Digital Model of Project WEB ................................................................................... 88
17. Figure 3.6 Mean Velocity Profiles for Various types of Environments....................................... 93
18. Figure 3.7 Wind flow around the Tall Building........................................................................... 95
19. Figure 3.8 Design of the Bahrain World Trade Center ................................................................ 96
20. Figure 3.9 Pearl River Tower....................................................................................................... 97
21. Figure 3.10 A 1986 scale model of terrain installed in a boundary layer wind tunnel to
evaluate the optimum placement of wind turbines ............................................................................ 102
22. Figure 3.11 Photograph of a scale model installed in a atmospheric boundary layer wind
tunnel to evaluate the potential for building ...................................................................................... 103
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23. Figure 3.12: CFD Images by Ramboll showing airflow patterns near towers, simulated at the
level of the top turbine for different free, undisturbed wind incidence angles with respect to an ’x’
axis (i.e. horizontal line connecting towers........................................................................................ 106
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