UNIT-IV

Conventional & non-conventional energy source:

What is the biological energy?

"biological energy" as a convention to refer to a specific social and technological

endeavor: to use the metabolic capacities of organisms to convert some
combination of light, biomass, organic compounds, gases and water into useful
chemical-bond energy; i.e. storable, transportable, energy yielding.

Examples include hydrogen, methane, alcohols, ammonia and bioplastics. The

purpose of designing and developing biological energy systems is to reduce the
emissions of greenhouse gases and provide environmentally friendly alternatives to
some industrial processes. Biological energy is sustainable technology.

What is fossil fuel?

A fossil fuel is a fuel formed by natural processes, such as anaerobic

decomposition of buried dead organisms, containing energy originating in
ancient photosynthesis. Such organisms and their resulting fossil fuels typically
have an age of millions of years, and sometimes more than 650 million years.
Fossil fuels contain high percentages of carbon and include petroleum, coal,
and natural gas. Commonly used derivatives of fossil fuels
include kerosene and propane. Fossil fuels range from volatile materials with
low carbon-to-hydrogen ratios (like methane), to liquids (like petroleum), to
nonvolatile materials composed of almost pure carbon, like anthracite coal.

What is Wind Energy? and their major components:-

Wind energy is a form of solar energy. Wind energy (or wind power) describes the
process by which wind is used to generate electricity. Wind turbines convert the
kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. A generator can convert
mechanical power into electricity.

Wind Energy Parts And Working:-

Anemometer:
Measures the wind speed and transmits wind speed data to the controller.
Blades:
Lifts and rotates when wind is blown over them, causing the rotor to spin.
Most turbines have either two or three blades.
Brake:
Stops the rotor mechanically, electrically, or hydraulically, in emergencies.
Controller:
Starts up the machine at wind speeds of about 8 to 16 miles per hour (mph)
and shuts off the machine at about 55 mph. Turbines do not operate at wind
speeds above about 55 mph because they may be damaged by the high
winds.
Gear box:
Connects the low-speed shaft to the high-speed shaft and increases the
rotational speeds from about 30-60 rotations per minute (rpm), to about
1,000-1,800 rpm; this is the rotational speed required by most generators to
produce electricity. The gear box is a costly (and heavy) part of the wind
turbine and engineers are exploring "direct-drive" generators that operate at
lower rotational speeds and don't need gear boxes.
Generator:
Produces 60/50-cycle AC electricity; it is usually an off-the-shelf induction
generator.
High-speed shaft:
Drives the generator.
Low-speed shaft:
Turns the low-speed shaft at about 30-60 rpm.
Nacelle:
Sits atop the tower and contains the gear box, low- and high-speed shafts,
generator, controller, and brake. Some nacelles are large enough for a
helicopter to land on.
Pitch:
Turns (or pitches) blades out of the wind to control the rotor speed, and to
keep the rotor from turning in winds that are too high or too low to produce
electricity.
Rotor:
Blades and hub together form the rotor.
Tower:
Made from tubular steel (shown here), concrete, or steel lattice. Supports the
structure of the turbine. Because wind speed increases with height, taller
towers enable turbines to capture more energy and generate more electricity.
Wind direction:
Determines the design of the turbine. Upwind turbines—like the one shown
here—face into the wind while downwind turbines face away.
Wind vane:
A measure wind direction and communicates with the yaw drive to orient the
turbine properly with respect to the wind.
Yaw drive:
Orients upwind turbines to keep them facing the wind when the direction
changes. Downwind turbines don't require a yaw drive because the wind
manually blows the rotor away from it.
Yaw motor:
Powers the yaw drive.

Wind-turbine aerodynamics

The primary application of wind turbines is to generate energy using the wind.
Hence, the aerodynamics is a very important aspect of wind turbines. Like most
machines, there are many different types of wind turbines, all of them based on
different energy extraction concepts. Though the details of the aerodynamics
depend very much on the topology, some fundamental concepts apply to all
turbines. Every topology has a maximum power for a given flow, and some
topologies are better than others. The method used to extract power has a strong
influence on this. In general, all turbines may be grouped as being either lift-based,
or drag-based; the former being more efficient. The difference between these
groups is the aerodynamic force that is used to extract the energy.

The most common topology is the horizontal-axis wind turbine. It is a lift-based

wind turbine with very good performance. Accordingly, it is a popular choice for
commercial applications and much research has been applied to this turbine.
Despite being a popular lift-based alternative in the latter part of the 20th century,
the Darrieus wind turbine is rarely used today. The Savonius wind turbine is the
most common drag type turbine. Despite its low efficiency, it remains in use
because of its robustness and simplicity to build and maintain.

Wind energy benefits

 Renewable energy
 Inexhaustible
  Not pollutant
 Reduces the use of fossil fuels
 Reduces energy imports
 Creates wealth and local employment
 Contributes to sustainable development

Types of wind turbines

There are two different types of wind turbines. These turbines are often
used for microgeneration, meaning that they can be installed for a home
to generate electricity. Both of these types of wind turbines have
advantages and disadvantages.

Horizontal axis wind turbines

Horizontal axis wind turbines are the most commonly used turbines due to their
strength and efficiency. The base of the towers have to be extremely strong,
allowing the rotor shaft to be installed at the top of the tower which allows the
turbine to be exposed to stronger winds. With the blades of the turbine being
perpendicular to the wind, the rotation of the blades can generate
more power compared to the vertical axis wind turbine. However, the construction
of this type of turbine requires a heavy support for the tower to support the weight
of the blades, gearbox and generator as well as utilizing a sizable crane to lift the
components to the top of the tower.
In a situation where the wind is blowing downwards, the turbine structure may
suffer from metal fatigue which could lead to a structural failure. This is resolved
by designing the turbines with an upwind design. Additional yaw control is needed
for the horizontal axis wind turbines in order to track the direction of the wind, to
prevent damaging the turbine.
Vertical axis wind turbines
Vertical axis wind turbines are less affected by frequent wind direction changes as
compared to the horizontal axis wind turbines due to the blades being rotated on
the rotor shaft perpendicular to the ground. With the blades and shaft installed in
this way, the turbine does not need to rotate to track wind direction. The shaft is
mounted near ground level due to the difficulties of mounting the shaft and its
components on the tower. An advantage of being mounted at ground level is that
maintenance of the turbine is easier and can be installed at locations such as
rooftops. Disadvantages to this turbine installation is that the efficiency is lower
due to air drag and the lower wind speeds compared to the higher wind speeds
encountered at higher elevations.

Wind Farm:-
• A wind farm or wind park, also called a wind power station or
wind power plant, is a group of wind turbines in the same location
used to produce electricity. Wind farms vary in size from a small
number of turbines to several hundred wind turbines covering an
extensive area. Wind farms can be either onshore or offshore.
 Types Of Generators Used In Wind Turbine System
Several different types of generators which are used in wind turbines are as
follows. Asynchronous (induction) generator and synchronous generator.
Squirrel cage induction generator (SCIG) and wound rotor induction
generator (WRIG) are comes under asynchronous generators. Wound
rotor generator (WRSG) and permanent magnet generator (PMSG) are
comes under synchronous generator. Detailed explanation is given.
1. Asynchronous Generator:- Squirrel Cage Induction Generator The fixed
speed concept is used in this type of wind turbine. In this configuration the
Squirrel Cage Induction Motor is directly connected to the wind through a
transformer is shown in the figure. A capacitor bank is here for reactive
power compensation and soft starter is used for smooth grid
connection. It does not support any speed control is the main disadvantage
`
2. Wound rotor induction generator ( WRIG ):- The variable speed
concept is used in this type .In this type of turbine Wound Rotor Induction
Generator is directly connected to the grid as shown in the figure. The
variable rotor resistance is for controlling slip and power output of the
generator. The soft starter used here for reduce inrush current and reactive
power compensator is used to eliminate the reactive power demand .The
speed range is limited , poor control of active and reactive power, the
slip power is dissipated in the variable resistance as losses are the
disadvantages of this configuration.

3. Wound Rotor Generator:- Turbine with wound rotor connected to the

grid is shown in fig.4.This configuration neither require soft starter nor a
reactive power comparator is its main advantage. The partial scale
frequency converter used in the system will perform reactive power
compensation as well as smooth grid connection. The wide range of
dynamic speed control is depends on the size of frequency converter .the
 main disadvantage is that in the case of grid fault it require additional
protection and use slip rings, this makes electrical connection to the rotor.

4. Permanent Magnet Generator:- The generator is connected to the grid

via full scale frequency converter. The frequency converter helps to
control both the active and reactive power delivered by the generator to
grid.

5. Doubly Fed Induction Generator:- Doubly fed induction generator based

wind turbine system have more advantages than others. DFIG wind
turbine deliver power through the stator and rotor of the generator
the reactive power can provide in two sides. Hence use the term
doubly. Reactive power can be supported either through grid side
converter or through rotor side converter. The stator part of the turbine
is directly connected to the grid and the rotor is interfaced through a
crowbar and a power converter
 What is wind Farm?
A wind farm or wind park, also called a wind power station or wind
power plant,is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to
produce electricity. Wind farms vary in size from a small number of
turbines to several hundred wind turbines covering an extensive area. Wind
farms can be either onshore or offshore.
Wind farms tend to have much less impact on the environment than
many other power stations. Onshore wind farms are also criticized for their
visual impact and impact on the landscape, as typically they need to take
up more land than other power stations and need to be built in wild and
rural areas, which can lead to "industrialization of the countryside", habitat
loss, and a drop in tourism.
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT

Geothermal energy is the heat that comes from the sub-surface of the earth. It is
contained in the rocks and fluids beneath the earth’s crust and can be found as far
down to the earth’s hot molten rock, magma. To produce power from geothermal
energy, wells are dug a mile deep into underground reservoirs to access the steam
and hot water there, which can then be used to drive turbines connected to
electricity generators. There are three types of geothermal power plants; dry steam,
flash and binary.

Dry steam is the oldest form of geothermal technology and takes steam out of the
ground and uses it to directly drive a turbine. Flash plants use high-pressure hot
water into cool, low-pressure water whilst binary plants pass hot water through a
secondary liquid with a lower boiling point, which turns to vapour to drive the
turbine.

Pros and Cons of geothermal energy:- geothermal energy as a “carbon-free,

renewable, sustainable form of energy that provides a continuous,
uninterrupted supply of heat that can be used to heat homes and office
buildings and to generate electricity.” Geothermal energy only produces one-sixth
of the CO2 produced by a natural gas plant and is not an intermittent source of
energy like wind or solar.

However, there are some drawbacks to the energy source. Despite low CO2
production geothermal has been associated with other emissions like sulphur
dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. Similar to fracking, geothermal power plants have
been the cause of mini tremors in the area they operate in and also has a high initial
cost to build. It is also described as “the most location-specific energy source
known to man” due to its activity being along the tectonic plates of the earth’s
crust.
The Future of Geothermal Energy
With current technology, geothermal power plants can only be built where steam or hot water
geothermal sources exist. Scientists are working on ways to create cost efficient power plants
that can use the geothermal sources created from the earth's magma.

OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION (OTEC)

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a process that can produce

electricity by using the temperature difference between deep cold ocean water
and warm tropical surface waters. OTEC plants pump large quantities of deep
cold seawater and surface seawater to run a power cycle and produce electricity.
OTEC is firm power (24/7), a clean energy source, environmentally sustainable
and capable of providing massive levels of energy.
Recently, higher electricity costs, increased concerns for global warming, and a
political commitment to energy security have made initial OTEC
commercialization economically attractive in tropical island communities where a
high percentage of electricity production is oil based.

HOW IT WORKS
Eighty percent of the sun’s solar energy is absorbed into the surface of the world’s
oceans, and it is replenished daily regardless of weather patterns. In a closed cycle
OTEC system, water flows through a large pipe and heat exchanger, which heats a
liquid with a low boiling point, such as ammonia. As the boiling ammonia creates
steam, it turns a turbine generator to produce electricity. A second pipe extracts
cool deep water from the ocean, which condenses the steam back to liquid form.
As the ammonia is recycled, the process repeats, creating unlimited clean energy
24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This process is known as the Rankine cycle,
commonly found in typical oil, coal, or nuclear power generation plants. The
difference with OTEC is that it uses the solar energy from the ocean – no fossil
fuels are used in OTEC’s power generation.

OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY

CONVERSION:- Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
(OTEC) is a game-changing technology that leverages the
temperature difference in the ocean between cold deep water and
warm surface water in the tropics and subtropics to generate
unlimited energy without the use of fossil fuels. It boasts a
competitive advantage over alternative sources of electricity
production regarding accessibility, predictability, affordability, and
emissions.

TIDAL POWER PLANT

Working principle of Tidal power plants:- Tide or wave is periodic rise and fall
of water level of the sea. Tides occur due to the attraction of sea water by the
moon. Tides contain large amount of potential energy which is used for power
generation. When the water is above the mean sea level, it is called flood tide.
When the water level is below the mean level it is called ebb tide.

Working:- The arrangement of this system is shown in figure. The ocean tides rise
and fall and water can be stored during the rise period and it can be discharged
during fall. A dam is constructed separating the tidal basin from the sea and a
difference in water level is obtained between the basin and sea.

During high tide period, water flows from the sea into the tidal basin through the
water turbine. The height of tide is above that of tidal basin. Hence the turbine unit
operates and generates power, as it is directly coupled to a generator.

During low tide period, water flows from tidal basin to sea, as the water level in
the basin is more than that of the tide in the sea. During this period also, the
flowing water rotates the turbine and generator power.

Figure : Low tide

Advantages of tidal power plants.
1. It is free from pollution as it does not use any fuel.
2. It is superior to hydro-power plant as it is totally independent of rain.
3. It improves the possibility of fish farming in the tidal basins and it can
provide recreation to visitors and holiday makers.
Disadvantages
1. Tidal power plants can be developed only if natural sites are available on
the bay.
2. As the sites are available on the bays which are always far away from load
centres, the power generated has to be transmitted to long distances. This
increases the transmission cost and transmission losses.

Wave energy
Wave energy (or wave power) is the transport and capture of energy by ocean
surface waves. The energy captured is then used for all different kinds of useful
work, including electricity generation, water desalination, and pumping of water.
Wave energy is a form of renewable energy that can be harnessed from the motion of the
waves. There are several methods of harnessing wave energy that involve placing electricity
generators on the surface of the ocean.

How Does Wave Energy Work?

Depending on the lunar cycles, tides, winds, and weather, waves can vary in size
and strength. As waves roll through the ocean, they create kinetic energy, or
movement. This movement can be used to power turbines, which, in turn, create
energy that can be converted into electricity and power. There are also several
ways of harnessing wave energy that utilize the up and down motion of the waves
to power pistons/turn generators.

Wave energy or wave power is essentially power drawn from waves. When wind
blows across the sea surface, it transfers the energy to the waves. They are
powerful source of energy. The energy output is measured by wave speed, wave
height, wavelength and water density.

HYDRO POWER PLANT

Hydropower plants capture the energy of falling water to generate electricity. A

turbine converts the kinetic energy of falling water into mechanical energy. Then a
generator converts the mechanical energy from the turbine into electrical energy.

Layout and working of hydroelectric power plant

Dam and Reservoir: The dam is constructed on a large river in hilly areas to
ensure sufficient water storage at height. The dam forms a large reservoir behind it.
The height of water level (called as water head) in the reservoir determines how
much of potential energy is stored in it.

Control Gate: Water from the reservoir is allowed to flow through the penstock to
the turbine. The amount of water which is to be released in the penstock can be
controlled by a control gate. When the control gate is fully opened, maximum
amount of water is released through the penstock.

Penstock: A penstock is a huge steel pipe which carries water from the reservoir to
the turbine. Potential energy of the water is converted into kinetic energy as it
flows down through the penstock due to gravity.

Water Turbine: Water from the penstock is taken into the water turbine. The
turbine is mechanically coupled to an electric generator. Kinetic energy of the
water drives the turbine and consequently the generator gets driven. There are two
main types of water turbine; (i) Impulse turbine and (ii) Reaction turbine. Impulse
turbines are used for large heads and reaction turbines are used for low and
medium heads.
Generator: A generator is mounted in the power house and it is mechanically
coupled to the turbine shaft. When the turbine blades are rotated, it drives the
generator and electricity is generated which is then stepped up with the help of a
transformer for the transmission purpose.

Surge Tank: Surge tanks are usually provided in high or medium head power
plants when considerably long penstock is required. A surge tank is a small
reservoir or tank which is open at the top. It is fitted between the reservoir and the
power house. The water level in the surge tank rises or falls to reduce the pressure
swings in the penstock. When there is sudden reduction in load on the turbine, the
governor closes the gates of the turbine to reduce the water flow. This causes
pressure to increase abnormally in the penstock. This is prevented by using a surge
tank, in which the water level rises to reduce the pressure. On the other hand, the
surge tank provides excess water needed when the gates are suddenly opened to
meet the increased load demand.

Advantages of a hydroelectric power plant

 No fuel is required as potential energy is stored water is used for electricity

generation
 Neat and clean source of energy
 Very small running charges - as water is available free of cost
 Comparatively less maintenance is required and has longer life
 Serves other purposes too, such as irrigation
Disadvantages
 Very high capital cost due to construction of dam
 High cost of transmission – as hydro plants are located in hilly areas which
are quite away from the consumers