1. Energy System Design: A Look at Renewable Energy Summary Lecture

2. Energy is an important commodity in the modern world. We use it everyday in many different ways. Here are some examples: –Transportation –Entertainment –Communication –Personal Comfort –Agriculture –Manufacturing

3. To meet these needs, efficient and innovative new energy systems will have to be developed. An effective energy system has to harness the energy and then provide the energy to the consumer in a useable form on demand. For example, in order to drive your car, many steps are involved.

4. Turning on the light in your room is another example of an energy system with many steps. Note in this example there is no storage step. Electricity is difficult to store and must be continuously produced. Our society has an infrastructure in place to provide electricity continuously. When the existing infrastructure can not meet demand, blackouts occur.

5. Our ability to meet the future needs of society lies in the utilization of renewable sources. These are the sources of energy which are essentially unlimited.

6. In hydropower systems, flowing water (which has kinetic energy) spins a turbine, which runs a generator to produce electricity. Although this energy source has been utilized for a long time, engineers face challenges with location, efficiently capturing the kinetic energy, environmental concerns, and conversion efficiency.

7. The equation shown below describes the energy that can be collected from flowing water. E collected = ½ ρ water v 3 A c t ε Where E collected – energy collected ρ water – density of water v – water velocity A c – cross sectional area of the pipe or tubing t – collection time ε – efficiency of collection

8. Windmills can be used to harness the energy available from moving air. The rotating blades of a windmill turn a generator to produce electricity. The challenges for engineers in using wind energy include location, efficiently capturing the kinetic energy of the wind, environmental concerns, and conversion efficiency. Location is a significant challenge since windmills must be placed in a windy space where there is enough room for multiple structures. Public acceptance of their present is also necessary.

9. The equation shown below describes the energy that can be collected from the wind. E collected = ½ ρ air v 3 A b t ε Where E collected – energy collected ρ air – density of air v – air velocity A b – area swept by the blade t – collection time ε – efficiency of collection

10. Light and heat are two forms of energy that can be harnessed from the sun. Solar panels (solar cells) convert sunlight directly into electrical energy. Other devices know as solar collectors harness heat from the sun. This heat can be then converted to other usable forms of energy. The challenges for engineers in using solar energy include cost, location, efficient capture of the sun’s energy and the environmental impact of panel construction. Technological advances in creating solar cells will make this renewable energy much more feasible in the future.

11. The equation shown below describes the light energy that can be collected from the sun. E collected = I A s t ε Where E collected – energy collected I – Solar intensity A s – area of the solar panel t – collection time ε – efficiency of collection

12. Energy System Design Challenge Engineering Energy Solutions –SAFETY! –Harness Renewable Energy –Store the Energy –Transport the Energy –Convert the Energy to light a light bulb –Bragging Rights: Power Generated x System Efficiency x System Cost Index System efficiency Useful Work Output Energy Input System Cost Index Minimum Total Energy System Cost. Your Team Total Energy System Cost

13. Your Design Solution should have included each step of the Engineering Design Loop

14. You should have discovered that successful energy system designs can utilize any of the three renewable energy sources which were available for this project:

15. Energy System Designs

18. Engineers must develop new methods and improve current technology for harnessing renewable energy. In addition, it is important to improve the efficiency of every step of existing energy systems. Increasing the overall system efficiency will allow more of the energy collected to be converted into useful work.

19. The most successful designs had efficient conversion steps

21. Some of the most successful energy system designs included: Any of the three renewable sources of energy (hydro, solar and wind) Rechargeable batteries for energy storage Diodes Disassembled shaker flash light for harnessing energy Designs were able to illuminate the light bulb up to 8 hours

22. In the future our society will be faced with many challenges in the area of energy efficiency and conservation. It will be up to the engineers of the future to develop sustainable energy solutions. Develop more efficient energy systems Reduce energy consumption through new technology Reduction in cost, pollution and energy use in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells Improve technology for harnessing renewable energy Improve energy storage and transport technologies Develop new approaches to conservation