Modernising Undergraduate Renewable Energy Education:
EU Experience for Jordan
MUREE
Solar Thermal energy
Module and Course Description
May 15, 2015
Solar Thermal Energy
Module Title:
CP (ECTS):
Acronym: Major field:
Solar Thermal Energy
5
0402
Responsible for Module:
Secretary:
E ‐ mail:
Prof. Handri Ammari
TBD
hanamm@mutah.edu.jo
Renewable Energy
Module Description
1. Qualification Goals
An introduction to state of the art of solar thermal energy technologies, their advantages and shortcomings as well
as their implementation fields and potentials, will be provided to the students. An overview of the individual
components, forming the solar thermal systems as well as an explanation of their design and function will also be
provided. These components include solar thermal collectors and concentrating solar collectors. Furthermore,
students are provided with information on quality criteria and are made familiar with the criteria important for
selecting individual components or whole systems.
The modulde also covers knowledge on solar thermal passive or active heating systems, and the layout of their
technologies and their applications in addition to solar cooling systems.
Economics of solar thermal systems will be introduced following the payback period and life-cycle cost methods.
Factors affecting the costs and benefits of such systems will be discussed.
The module imparts predominantly the following competence:
Technical 40%
Methodical 30%
Systematical 30%
2. Contents
Mandatory course. Contents:
 Solar Radiation
 Solar Thermal Collectors
 Concentrating Solar Power Systems
 Solar Water Heating: Active and Passive
 Solar Cooling
 Economics of Solar Thermal Energy Systems
Solar Thermal Energy
Social 0%
Module Title:
CP (ECTS):
Acronym: Major field:
Solar Thermal Energy
5
0402
Renewable Energy
3. Expected outcomes
Students will be expected to develop the following skills/understanding upon the successful completion of the
course. They will be able to:
1. Understand solar thermal radiation in regards to their types on ground surfaces and their estimation on
horizontal and tilted surfaces. Distinguish between solar radiations measurement techniques.
2. Identify diverse solar thermal technologies, their physical functionality, applications and main
components.
3. Comprehend all current types of concentrating solar collectors, their layout, applications and economics.
4. Understand the physical mechanisms involved in the solar thermal generation of heating, cooling and
power.
5. Correctly assess their implementation potentials in their fields of application according to requirements
as well as physical and economic constraints.
6. Make economic analysis of solar thermal systems including the simple payback period and life-cycle cost
analysis to take into account while designing a solar thermal system.
4. Condition for Participation
Prerequisites by Course:
1.
2.
Thermodynamics I and II
Heat Transfer I
Prerequisites by Topic:
1.
2.
3.
First Law of Thermodynamics (Energy Conservation Equation)
Power Cycles
Modes of Heat Transfer
5. Literature and Script
The following list aims at providing some access points to relevant literature or other resources.
The main references are the following text books:
12345


J. A.Duffie and W.A. Beckman (2013): Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes. 4th ed. John Wiley &
Sons
Y.A. Çengel and R. H. Turner (2005) : Fundamentals of Thermal-Fluid Sciences, second edition, McGrawHill
D.Y.Goswami, F.Kreith, J.F. Kreider (2000): Principles of Solar Engineering. Second edition. Philadelphia:
Taylor & Francis.
The DESERTEC Concept for Energy, Water and Climate Security (2009), White Book, 4th Edition, ISBN:
978-3-929118-67-4, Protext Verlag, Bonn
Solarpaces/Estela/Greenpeace (2009): Concentrating Solar Power. Global Outlook 09.
Power point presentations will be distributed to the students at the beginning of the semester.
Other printed and/or electronic scripts will be given to the students as announced in the lectures.
Software that will be used during the course are ; PVSYST, PVGIZ, and NASA for solar data, and POLYSUN
and TRANSIS for installations of solar thermal fields.
Solar Thermal Energy
Module Title:
CP (ECTS):
Acronym: Major field:
Solar Thermal Energy
5
0402
Renewable Energy
6. Activities Plan
Topic
Solar Radiation
Solar Thermal Collectors
Med-Term Exam
Concentrating Solar Power Systems
Solar Water Heating: Active and Passive
Solar Cooling
Continuous evaluation 1 (presentations of group projects)
Economics of Solar Thermal Energy Systems
Final exam
iii
Typei
VL
VL
SWHii
6
12
CP
0.6
1.2
C/E/COiv
C
C
week
2
3-6
VL
L
VL
SE
VL
12
6
6
1.2
0.6
0.6
C
C
C
7-10
11-12
13-14
6
0.6
C
15-16
7. Specific topic information
Topic






Solar Radiation
Solar Thermal Collectors
Concentrating Solar Power Systems
Solar Water Heating: Active and Passive
Solar Cooling
Economics of Solar Thermal Energy Systems
Lecturer
Handri Ammari
Handri Ammari
Handri Ammari
Handri Ammari
Handri Ammari
Handri Ammari
Language
English
English
English
English
English
English
8. Description of Teaching Mode
Illustrations to all calculations will be presented in classes. Students are expected to carry out analysis of real solar
data using software for the country. It is also expected that the students will choose different types of solar
thermal systems and carry out the calculations to estimate their performance and the economics of these systems
in specific sites. They will solve several light homework problems tackling the different specific issues addressed in
the class. But, at least one of these projects should be done within teamwork.
Solar Thermal Energy
Module Title:
CP (ECTS):
Acronym: Major field:
Solar Thermal Energy
5
0402
Renewable Energy
9. Effort and Credit Points
Lectures: 48 hours contact, 20 hours post ‐ processing and homework, 22 hours reading, 30 hours preparation
for examination/assignment
Exercises: 0 hours contact, 20 hours preparation, 10 hours documentation, 0 hours preparation for
examination/assignment
Total: 150 hours = 5 CP (30 hours = 1 CP = 1 ECTS).
10. Evaluation, Examination and Grades
Continuous Evaluation:
The subject would have two continuous evaluation grades that will be added to the total course grade.
Examination:
Med term exam in the seventh week and a final exam at the end of the semester
Prerequisites for admission to oral/written examination:
Registration of course is only for senior undergraduate students with fifth year standing.
Grading:
Grading of the course will be as follows:
Med Term Exam 30%
Home-works and/or Quizzes: 10%
Projects (two projects): 20%
Final exam: 40%
Assessment:
Students must solve and submit solutions to homework problems within one week of assignment
announcement. Students should expect a Pop quiz during any class. The weighting of these assignments will be
10% for the homework and quiz during the classes.
Minimum of two projects will be assigned during the course. One of them is a team project where each team
should select the proper solar thermal system and evaluate its performance and economics over a given site.
The marking of each student in the team work will be assessed based on individual and group contributions.
Students should present one of the projects in the class in week 14. The weighting of these projects will be 20%.
11. Duration of Course
The course will be performed within one semester.
12. Number of Participants
Courses are limited to 30 students.
13. Inscription Formalities
Registration at the subject is only for 5th year standing students.
Dates and deadlines will be announced ahead of semester.
Solar Thermal Energy
Annex: Content Development
Solar Radiation
 Introduction
 Sun–Earth Geometric Relationship
 Structure of the Sun
 Solar Spectral Distribution
 Solar Constant
 Extraterrestrial Solar Radiation
 Terrestrial Solar Radiation
 Measurement of Terrestrial Solar Radiation
 Terrestrial Insolation on Tilted Surfaces
Solar Thermal Collectors
 Solar Collectors
 Flat-Plate Collectors
 Collector Overall Heat Loss Coefficient
 Collector Heat Removal Factor and Flow Factor
 Air Heaters
 Measurements of Collector Performance
 Evacuated-Tube Solar Collectors
Concentrating Solar Power Systems
 Thermal Performance of Concentrating Collectors
 Optical Performance of Concentrating Collectors
 Parabolic Trough Technology
 Linear Fresnel Technology
 Solar Dish Technology
 Solar Tower technology
Solar Water Heating: Active and Passive
 Water Heating Systems
 Forced-Circulation Systems

Natural-Circulation Systems
 Water Heating in Space Heating
 Economics of Solar Water Heating
 Swimming Pool Heating
Solar Cooling
 Solar Absorption Cooling
 Applications of Solar Absorption Air Conditioning
 Solar Desiccant Cooling
 Solar-Mechanical Cooling
 Solar-Related Air Conditioning
Economics of Solar Thermal Energy System
 Costs of Solar Systems
 Economic Analysis
 Simple Payback
 Cost of Energy
 Life Cycle Cost
 Present Value and Levelized Costs
 Uncertainties in Economic Analyses
Solar Thermal Energy
GPE – Glossary
I-
VL – Lecture
The lecturer, usually a professor, gives presentations and imparts theoretical technical knowledge.
Group size can vary widely and students participate through listening and asking questions.
I-
UE – Exercise
Knowledge from lectures is shaped out and detailed by analytical, design, or experimental examples
supervised by an assistant. Medium‐size groups of students learn to solve problems by working on
example tasks and case studies.
I-
SE – Seminar
Small or medium‐size groups of students will learn to work self‐dependently on selected topics with
supervision of a professor or assistant. Discussions, presentations or written papers may be applied.
I-
Integrated course
Various instruction forms take turns in one course without clear methodological distinction.
II-
SWH: Lecture Hours per Semester
(4 SWH is four hours a week in one semester OR two hours a week in two semesters. Exercises require
equivalent time additionally).
III-
CP – ECTS:
Credit point according to the European Credit Transfer System.
IV-
C/E/CO:
C = compulsory ; E = elective; CO = compulsory option
Meaning: by choosing the module the corresponding courses are mostly compulsory.
Solar Thermal Energy