THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMMUNICATION
ENGINEERING
SECOND SEMESTER EXAMINATION (2022)
EE425 – RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING - YEAR 4 (POWER)
TIME ALLOWED: 3 HOURS
INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS
1. You have TEN (10) minutes to read the paper.
You must NOT begin writing during this time.
2. All answers must be written in the ANSWER BOOK supplied.
COMPLETE THE DETAILS REQUIRED ON THE FRONT
COVER OF YOUR ANSWER BOOK - DO THIS NOW.
3. Drawing instruments and calculators are permitted.
4. Mobile phones and head phones are NOT permitted
5. Answer ALL FIVE (5) questions. Total of 50 marks.
6. Marks are shown for each part of each question.
7. If you are found cheating in the Examination, the penalties specified
by the University shall apply.
Question One Biomass Energy.
Biomass is produced by green plants that use the energy of sunlight to convert
carbon dioxide and water into simple sugar and oxygen.
(a) Fast pyrolysis is characterized by high heating rate and short vapour
residence times as shown in Fig. 1.0. Describe the process of the bio-oil and
the essential features of a fast pyrolysis system. (5)
Fig. 1.0 Fast pyrolysis system
(b) Fermentation is a chemical process where glucose breaks down to form
ethanol and CO2. With the aid of a diagram (fermentation process
flowchart) describe the three processes used in fermentation of biomass to
produce 100% pure ethanol. (5)
Question Two Hydropower Energy.
The most useful source of electrical energy generation in the world is hydroelectric
plant, in which the movement of water results in power production by driving a
hydro turbine.
(a) Assume a Pelton turbine with a mean runner diameter of 1.5 m and a net
head of 400 m. The runner is spinning at N=1500 rpm. Considering the side
clearance of 15o and discharge of 0.1 m3/s, obtain the power available at the
nozzle and calculate the hydraulic efficiency of the turbine.
(5)
(b) Consider a reaction turbine running at 700 rpm, which has an
external diameter and a width of 700 mm and 400 mm, respectively.
The absolute velocity of water at inlet is equal to 50 m/s and the
guide vanes are at 25o to the wheel tangent. The parameters of the
reaction turbines are shown in Fig. 2.0. Calculate the discharge
through the turbine and the inlet vane angle.
(5)
Fig. 2.0 Parameter of the reaction turbines
Question Three Wave Energy.
The energy from ocean waves come in irregular and oscillating form at all times of
the day and night and can be harnessed to provide electricity supply.
(a) What are the advantages and disadvantages of wave power? (2)
(b) What are the four devices and their operations in converting wave energy to
electricity? (2)
(c) What are the key issues affecting wave power devices? (2)
(d) Discuss the limitations of ocean wave energy (2)
(e) State the main criteria for deciding the location of ocean wave plants (2)
Question Four Tidal Energy.
Tides are periodic rises and falls of large bodies of water in the ocean. Gravity is
one major force that creates tides and hence tidal energy on the oceans of the earth.
(a) For a typical tidal power plant shown in Fig. 4.0, the basin area is 30 × 110
m2. The tide has a range of 12 m. However, turbine stops working when the
head on it falls below 3 m. Assume that density of seawater is 1,025 kg/m 2,
acceleration due to gravity is 9.81 m/s 2, combined efficiency of turbine and
generator is 80%, and period of energy generation is 6 hours and 12
minutes.
Fig. 4.0 Single-basin tidal plant
Calculate:
(i) Work done in filling or emptying the basin. (2)
(ii) The average power (2)
(iii) The energy generated in one filling process. (2)
(b) An improvement over the single-basin system is the two-basin system.
Draw the two-basin system and describe its operation and regulation of
power output of individual tide. (4)
Question Five Geothermal Energy.
Geothermal energy is basically thermal energy stored in the Earth’s crust and has
the potential to provide long-term, secure base-load energy and greenhouse gas
(GHG) emission reductions.
(a) The most important methods used in geophysical exploration of geothermal
fields are thermal, electrical and magnetic measurements. There are three
(3) different methods of electrical measurements and setups used in the
surface exploration of geothermal energy. Name the three methods and
briefly describe each of them. (3)
(b) Direct use of geothermal resources is primarily for direct heating and
cooling. Explain the use of geothermal resource in direct heating. (3)
(c) A geothermal reservoir shown in Fig. 5.0 shows the hard dry rock resource
with a thermal gradient of 36o C/km. The minimum useful temperature is
150o C above the surface temperature. Determine the heat content per
square kilometer of the hard dry rock to a depth of 10 km, assuming density
= 2700kg/m3 and specific heat of 800 J/kg/degree. (4)
Fig. 5.0 A geothermal reservoir
