Department: Engineering & Technology
Discipline: Engineering
Subject Code: GREN
Course #: 125
Course Title: Distributed Generation & Storage I
HARRISBURG AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
FORM 335
Course Form 335 must be updated at least every five years per AP 765 to include, at
a minimum, the following elements. [§335.2]
1.
Digital Description:
Credit hours:
Lecture hours:
Lab hours:
4.0
2.0
4.0
Approved Online/Blended Face-to-Face Instruction Ratios:
[__] 25/75% [__] 33/67% [__] 50/50% [__] 67/33% [__] 75/25%
(Note: The first number indicates the percentage of online instruction. The second number indicates the percentage of
in-class instruction.)
2.
Maximum Enrollment (Insert new/revised maximum enrollments below):
In-Class Instruction: 16
Lab Instruction:
(Note: It is assumed that maximum enrollments for blended courses are the same as those identified for in-class
instruction. Maximum enrollments for Virtual Learning courses are to be 75% of in-class instruction, as per the SGP
on Maximum Class Size):
3.
Catalog Description:
Prepares students to work in the alternative energy industry. This course covers
alternative energy systems (fuel cell, kinetic, capacitor, batteries) and their
interface with the Smart Grid or stand-alone. In addition, construction of energy
systems are covered along with efficiencies, inspections, maintenance, reliability,
and comparative analyses. Students design systems, calculate output, construct
and measure power quality with comparative insight, analyze costs, and calculate
environmental benefits - greenhouse-gas offset and local resource availability.
Emphasis on the use of safe practices for operating basic electrical tools and
related monitoring/testing equipment is also covered. A course fee is required.
4.
Prerequisites: ELOC 153
Corequisites:
Minimum Grade Required
C
None
Other: Or, permission of the Instructor or Program Coordinator.
5.
Learning Outcomes
[These outcomes are necessary to enable students to attain the essential
12/1/04
Form Template Reviewed & Updated: 10/26/07; 1/11/08; 1/16/09; 7/14/09; 7/14/11
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Department: Engineering & Technology
Discipline: Engineering
Subject Code: GREN
Course #: 125
Course Title: Distributed Generation & Storage I
knowledge and skills embodied in the program’s educational objectives.]
Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
 Read and comprehend electrical plans and specifications
 Calculate branch circuits
 Determine wire sizes
 Select correct overcurrent devices
 Install switches, power sources, and loads to create electrical systems
 Explain utility “tie-in”
 Cite national electrical code references to wiring systems
 Define energy terminology
 Calculate and construct distributed energy systems
 Select and properly use monitoring/testing equipment
 Interpret measurements for energy consumption, loss, output, power
quality, and efficiency
 Explain the basic functions of transformers and make transformer
connections
 Evaluate load calculating energy management software
 Interpret power quality and methods for improvement
 Discuss market pricing of energy, tariffs, and incentives
 Outline customer-owned generation and interconnection requirements
 Explain off-peak energy storage and load-shedding strategies
6.
Planned Sequence of Instruction
[These must be designed to help students achieve the learning outcomes.]
 Basic electricity, ohms law, power, resistence. Discuss safety, tools,
monitoring/testing procedures, construct basic electrical circuits, calculate
output, define measurements desired, validity of tests, build circuit.
Demonstrate ability to use measurement tools, interpret measurements
(voltage, amperage, watts or VA) and evaluate measurements, validate
measurements for accuracy, demonstrate proper job site safety,
organization and cleanliness
 Capacitance, inductance, transformers, power triangle and power factor,
PF correction, magnetic fields, energy losses in ferrous materials, induced
voltage on wire.
AC Lab: induction, capacitance and resistance exercise. Measure how
adding capacitance to an inductive circuit lowers current and improves PF.
 Transformers, single and three-phase power, power quality, harmonics,
distortion and compensation (over sized neutrals, transformers, traps).
Transformer Lab: change the tap(s) on a multi-tap transformer and retake
voltage measurements. Next, hook-up a transformer backwards. Discuss
current protection on the primary and secondary sides.
 Early power distribution, grids, transmission and distribution, regulatory
side of electric power, deregulation, emergence of competitive markets,
12/1/04
Form Template Reviewed & Updated: 10/26/07; 1/11/08; 1/16/09; 7/14/09; 7/14/11
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Department: Engineering & Technology
Discipline: Engineering
Subject Code: GREN
Course #: 125
Course Title: Distributed Generation & Storage I
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technology motivating restructuring, electrical energy in transition, policy
incentives, smart grid.
Overview of Distributed Energy Technologies (fossil fuels, concentrating
solar power, biomass, micro-hydro, solar PV, wind, fuel cells, kinetic,
capacitor batteries). DG vs. traditional power systems, how power is
brought to us, load curves, network congestion. Back-up power, demand
reduction, alternative power, and utility interface.
Utility rate structures (RS, TOU, GS1, GS3) demand charges, demand
charges with a ratchet adjustment, load factor, real time pricing. Study a
copy of a commercial utility bill. Do a comparative analysis of rate
structures for similar load. Understand types of three phases and single
phase power and voltage options.
Planning-Finding the best alternative. Short and long range planning.
Decision-making philosophies. Incentives. Cost-effectiveness evaluation
Energy economics (simple payback, rate-of-return, w/ fuel escalation,
annualizing the investment, cash-flow analysis, using DG for peak
demand high value energy. Down load a PP&L Interconnection
Application Agreement Form, Part I and fill out as much as you can using
yor home or apartment and the connection point. How is carbon
capture/carbon pricing going to affect DG and storage.
Energy Auditing Software Lab: Become familiar with software, data
inputs and outputs. Create a simple audit with graphs and interpret
findings.
Combined heat and power, design strategies for CHP, cogeneration,
cooling, heating and cogeneration, compressive refrigeration, absorption
cooling, desiccant dehumidification. Describe a refrigeration cycle and
efficiencies in heat transfer. Environmental uses of waste heat (facility
heating, green houses). Emissions issues.
Reciprocating piston DG, gas turbine DG, generator types, cooling
methods, Laws of thermodynamics, enthalpy, and entropy.
Fuel cell DG. Historical development, basic operation, thermodynamics:
enthalpy, entropy and theoretical efficiencies of fuel cells, electrical output
of an ideal cell, electrical characteristics of a fuel cell, Types: Proton
Exchange membrane, phosphoric acid, molten carbonate, and solid oxide.
Fuel cell lab exercise. Discuss safety, tools, monitoring/testing
procedures, calculate output, define measurements desired, validity of
tests, build circuit, demonstrate ability to use measurement tools, interpret
measurements (voltage, amperage, watts or VA) and evaluate
measurements, validate measurements for accuracy, demonstrate proper
job site safety, organization and cleanliness.
Energy storage for use with DG systems, intro, energy storage, battery
storage, superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES), capacitor
storage, mechanical storage (flywheel, pumped hydro and compressed
fluids and air). Off-peak conservation measures (ice, chilled water
production, heat storage, “Muddy Run”, hydrogen production, compressed
air, battery storage. Each has cost, efficiencies and readiness of
12/1/04
Form Template Reviewed & Updated: 10/26/07; 1/11/08; 1/16/09; 7/14/09; 7/14/11
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Department: Engineering & Technology
Discipline: Engineering
Subject Code: GREN
Course #: 125
Course Title: Distributed Generation & Storage I
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7.
deployment, flatten supply/demand. Potential Energy Storage Systems
(PESS) use commercial property on hydraulic fluid to store energy.
Reliability issues of utilities/distributed generation. Load calculating
software for design. Understand load changes throughout day and year,
load shedding, capacitor bank uses. Ways customers reduce liabilities to
outages. Advantages of DG: reduce electric bill, improve system
reliability, selling power, producing environmentally friendly power.
Batteries, types, sizes, load calculation sizing, maintenance for specific
types, wiring, as back-up, as UPS system, inverter, code requirements for
storage and usage, over current protection disposal. Lab: design and
connect a number of batteries in series, parallel and combination. Use safe
practices in handling batteries. Measure voltage across each battery, each
string and each total output. Calculate total voltage, current available and
read current when batteries are under load. Describe A/Hr and cold
cranking power. Explain the differences between normal and deep-cycle
batteries.
Lab: Calculate the voltage and AHr rating to maintain a specific load for
30 minutes and another for eight hours using an inverter. Draw a string
diagram and price out the battery cost for each system. Modular
Stationary Power System (MSPS) uses.
Battery Lab: Uninstall and install batteries in a UPS system, check battery
electrolyte using a hydrometer, describe the method to calculate a battery
load test and perform a load test on one battery. Measure individual
battery voltage outputs and record and measure total voltage output.
Calculate load support time of battery system. Describe ways to increase
load time and the cost effectiveness. Describe why some facilities
managers are hesitant to perform a load test on their back-up systems.
Discuss how charging works, charging methods used, types of charging
protection and damage caused by improper charging. Dispersed energy
storage with electric vehicles.
DG systems-planning and comparison, planning methods, comparison of
various types, projection of future fossil fuel costs
Interconnection options – operating schedule impacts fuel efficiency,
scheduling operation for efficiency
Reliability, maintenance, availability of parts. Probability of outage
analysis, reliability when combining T & D and DG systems, using
screening, static and simulations studies.
Design a distributed energy system with storage for specific location.
Analyze the site for the best DG system and explain why. Design the
energy system. Select equipment considering compatibility. Calculate
daily resource consumption, output and efficiency. List the environmental
impact and greenhouse effects. Draw a one-line and layout drawings.
Calculate payback, for marketing and financing.
Assessment of Student Learning
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Form Template Reviewed & Updated: 10/26/07; 1/11/08; 1/16/09; 7/14/09; 7/14/11
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Department: Engineering & Technology
Discipline: Engineering
Subject Code: GREN
Course #: 125
Course Title: Distributed Generation & Storage I
[Methods of assessment should be appropriate for Learning Outcomes listed
above.]
Assessment of student learning outcomes for the course, as required by AP 765, is
part of regular curriculum maintenance and/or improvement. The specific plan
has been determined by the pertinent faculty involved and is maintained in the
College’s assessment management system.
8.
List of Texts, References, Selected Library Resources or other Learning
Materials (code each item based on instructional use): C-Lecture/Laboratory,
A-Lecture, B-Laboratory, LC-Lecture/Clinical, CLN-Clinical, I-Online,
BL-Blended, D-Independent Study, P-Private Lessons, E-Internship,
F-Cooperative Work-Study, FE-Field Experience. [These resources must be easily
accessible to students.]
Delmar’s Standard Textbook of Electricity by Stephen Herman
5th Edition, Cengage Delmar Publishing ISBN-13: 978-1111539153
National Electrical Code 2008
ISBN-10: 0877657904, ISBN-13: 978-0877657903 OR
[C], National Electrical Code 2008 Handbook, ISBN-10: 0877657939
ISBN-13: 978-0877657934
9.
Prepared by Faculty Member: Robert B. Meyers, Jr.
Date: 9/20/11
10.
Approved by Department Chairperson: Michael Salisbury Date: 9/20/11
11.
Approved by Academic Division Dean: Virgil C. Ganescu
Date: 9/20/11
This course meets all reimbursement requirements of Chapter 335,
subchapters A / B.
This course was developed, approved, and offered in accordance with the
policies, standards, guidelines, and practices established by the College. It is
consistent with the college mission.
If the course described here is a transfer course, it is comparable to similar
courses generally accepted for transfer to accredited four-year colleges and
universities.
12.
Associate Dean, Curriculum & Assessment: Karen Tombs-Harling
Date: 9/26/11
13.
Provost & VP, Academic Affairs: Ronald R. Young
12/1/04
Form Template Reviewed & Updated: 10/26/07; 1/11/08; 1/16/09; 7/14/09; 7/14/11
Date: 9/27/11
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Department: Engineering & Technology
Discipline: Engineering
Subject Code: GREN
Course #: 125
Course Title: Distributed Generation & Storage I
14.
Original Date of course approval by the college: 201220
15.
Date(s) of subsequent reviews [Indicate change: Learning Outcomes; textbook(s)]:
9/20/11 – textbooks
7/1/15 – Inserted approved max enrollment numbers for Fall 15 - ers
12/1/04
Form Template Reviewed & Updated: 10/26/07; 1/11/08; 1/16/09; 7/14/09; 7/14/11
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