QUESTION BANK

ME6003 – RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY

UNIT 1
 List the renewable energy power sources tapped in India for power generation and their contribution
in MW to the national energy basket.
 Write short notes on any two energy storage system.
 Discuss the importance of renewable energy sources usage in the context of global warming.
 Discuss in detail about the application of renewable energy.
 Brief the demerits/limitations of renewable energy sources.
 Discuss the merits/demerits of renewable energy sources that are relevant in India.
 Describe the environmental aspects of energy utilization.
 Write on green power and green house gas
 Write on the economics of a solar & a wind energy system in terms of simple payback period.
 Briefly explain about the renewable energy potential in India.
UNIT 2
 Discuss the factors that affect the performance of a solar flat plate collector.
 Define the following
1) Zenith angle
2) Beam radiation
3) Hour angle
4) Incident angle and
5) Short wave radiation
 Explain the construction and principle of operation of a solar desalination plant.
 List the components of a solar PV system integrated with a power grid and explain.
 Write the principle of operation of a solar tower & solar pond with a simple sketch.
 Explain the principle of operation and construction of Angstrom pyrheliometer
 Differentiate active and passive solar heating system.
 Establish the conversion efficiency of a 175 W solar pond (size: 750 mm × 1500 mm) for a solar
insolation of 1180 W/m2.
 With the help of a schematic diagram explain the operation of solar photovoltaic power plant.
UNIT 3
 Derive an expression for estimating energy available in wind.
 Explain how the wind energy data are collected and energy available in the wind is estimated.
 Make a technical comparison between horizontal and vertical axis wind turbines.

S.K.Ayyappan, AP/Mech, A.V.C.College of Engineering

  A wind mill generates 2 MW power (conditions: speed 25 kmph, Temp. 25°C, Atm Pr.). Calculate the
change in the power output for the altered conditions of speed = 30 kmph, Pr = 0.9 atm, T=20°C and
Altitude=1800 m.
 Define the COP of a Wind Mill and mention the theoretical value for it.
 Describe with a neat sketch the working of a horizontal axis wind energy system indicating clearly all
the components.
 Write a technical note on “Off shore Wind Energy” and also indicate the necessary for it.
 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of horizontal and vertical axis wind mill. What methods
are used to overcome the fluctuating power generation of wind mill?
 Comment on the Environmental impact of Wind Energy.
A propeller type wind turbine has the following data;
Speed of free wind at a height of 10 m = 12 m/s
Temperature of air = 28°C,
Incidence angle = 0.14°,
Height of tower = 100 m,
Diameter of rotor = 80 m,
Wind velocity at the turbine reduces by 20 %,
Generator efficiency = 85%,
Find the total power available in the wind, power extracted by the turbine, electrical power
generated and axial thrust on the turbine.
UNIT 4
 Write the governing equations for combustion, gasification, pyrolysis and biomethanation and brief.
 Calculate the volume of a biogas digester suitable for the output of four cows and the power available
from the digester with the following data; retention time is 20 days, temperature is 30°C, dry matter
consumed is 2 kg/day, biogas yield is 0.24 m3 per kg. Burner efficiency is 60 %; methane proportion is
0.8. The heat of combustion of methane may be assumed as 28 MJ/m3 at STP.
 Explain with a neat sketch the production process of biogas indicating its composition & calorific value.
 Discuss any two methods of biodiesel production with their neat sketches.
 Write notes on energy plantation & ethanol production from sugarcane.
 Explain the constructional details and working of KVIC digester.
 List out 3 types of gasifiers and write about any 2 in detail indicating working principle, merits and
limitations.
 Discuss a method of producing ethanol.

S.K.Ayyappan, AP/Mech, A.V.C.College of Engineering

 UNIT 5
 List the merits and disadvantages of a geothermal energy extraction process.
 With a schematic, explain the operation of open cycle OTEC systems.
 Differentiate technically the tidal energy and wave energy.
 Explain the working principle of a OTEC system and show that its overall efficiency is quite low (Hint :
Use Carnot cycle η assuming suitable T1 and T2)
 With a neat sketch, explain the operation of a small hydro plant.
 Draw a schematic, layout of tidal plant and explain its operation.
 Write a note on the ‘classification of fuel cells’.
 Discuss the operation of any one geothermal plant with a neat sketch.
 Discuss the demerits of hydroelectric power plants.
 Discuss the principle of working of a fuel cell with reference to H2-O2 cell.
 Write a short note on: Claude cycle system (OTEC) and H2 storage.
 Explain the role of hydrogen in automobile sector.

S.K.Ayyappan, AP/Mech, A.V.C.College of Engineering