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Energy Conversion and rural Electrification

By Jemal H.

Course Outline
Course Description:
The course discusses the use of various technologies harnessing various sources to furnish electrical energy. Issues relevant to energy efficiency and energy storage are discussed.

Course Objective:
To introduce technologies of conventional and nonconventional power plants. To provide an overview of renewable energy resources and technologies. To give an insight into harnessing potential energy sources for off-grid and grid-integrated electrical power systems. To introduce techniques of planning and designing rural electrification.

Contents
Introduction to Energy Conversion Review of Thermodynamic Fundamentals: First and second laws, Carnot cycle. Hydropower : Basic concepts, Site selection, and Types of turbines, Small- scale hydropower design. Solar Energy : Introduction, Solar radiation, Solar Collectors, Solar cells and PV systems, Applications of Solar Energy. Lab- Solar panel characteristics study. Biomass Energy: Introduction, Biomass conversion and Direct combustion applications. Wind Energy: Basic theory, Types of turbines, Wind resource analysis, Applications.

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Geothermal Energy: Introduction, Geothermal resource types, Applications or heating and electricity generation. Non-Conventional Energy Sources: Introduction to Fuel Cells, Hydrogen Fuels and Other Sources Introduction Rural Electrification: Rural electrification policy, Load forecasting, Feasibility study of small-scale power systems, Planning and design of rural electrification, techniques of connecting rural villages to national grids. Thermal Power Plants: Steam cycle, Fuels and combustion, Gas turbines and combined cycles, Operating practices. Nuclear Power Plant : Nuclear Fuel, Fission, Fusion, Radioactive decay, Nuclear power plant

Introduction to Energy Conversion

Background on Energy Sector of Ethiopia


Ethiopias energy consumption is predominately based on biomass energy sources (94%). Traditional Energy Sources are Fuelwood, Charcoal, dung Modern Energy is mainly products of petroleum and Electricity Petroleum product is the major part from modern energy and it is mainly used for transport sector Per capita electricity consumption is 28kWh(2006)

The major source of electricity is hydro power plant Reading assignment , what is the current installed capacity of hydropower in Ethiopia? Ethiopia has potential of more than 45,000 MW from hydropower Geothermal resource potential is estimated 1070 MW Coal reserve is 70 Million Tones Natural Gas Reserve 4 TCF ( Terra Cubic Feet)

Energy Issues in Ethiopia


Ethiopia has faced serious problems in energy supply and utilization The new economic policy has created favorable conditions for the private sector and encourages investment which entails heavy investment burden in the energy sector The need to transform from traditional to modern energy sources which demand for heavy investment in terms of foreign currency and domestic resources The continued destruction of forestry resources for firewood has resulted in environmental problems, loss of productivity and ecological imbalance

Increasing scarcity and cost of household fuels, particularly firewood increased stress on women and children who usually are supposed to collect fuel Traditional energy consumption in Ethiopia is associated mainly with environmental problems The cost of petroleum imports has brought worsening impact on Ethiopias trade balance and foreign exchange availability Low efficiency of energy utilization in all sectors The agricultural sector is still at primitive stage and highly dependent on animate power Lack of access and/or unavailability to modern energy sources in rural areas

Energy sources and conversion processes

Energy Conversion is the Process by/in which one energy form is transformed into a different form of energy. Henceforth an energy conversion process transforms primary energy into secondary energy Transitional Energy: Energy in motion, e.g. kinetic energy (K..E.); thermal energy; electric energy in transmission/distribution systems; radiated electromagnetic energy (e.g. solar energy, radio waves, other electromagnetic energies) Stored Energy: Energy sources which exist in the forms of sitting masses at higher positions or elevations, and commonly referred to as potential energy (P.E.)

Classification of Sources of Energy


Primary (initial) energy sources; e.g. fossil fuels ( coal, oil, natural gas); hydropower. biomass fuels (i.e. fuel wood, branches, twigs, leaves, charcoal, agricultural wastes), different forms of solar energy (e.g. radiant energy, hydropower, and wind energy). Subdivided into Renewable energy sources solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, biomass sources; geothermal energy are seasonally and slowly recovered energy sources. Non-renewable energy sources: fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas (CH4) Note: Once combusted fossil fuels will not be recovered; instead the resulting washes and ashes are removed as wastes

Secondary energy: is energy derived after a conversion process e.g.


Electrical Energy (Electricity) coming out from a generator Mechanical Energy or useful work provided by an electric motor or a diesel engine Thermal Energy provide as high enthalpy or potential chemical energy) coming out from a thermal process.

Conventional energy sources: are mixes of common nonrenewable and renewable energy sources in generating electricity in conventional thermal and hydro power plants, i.e. fossil fuels, hydropower sources and nuclear energy. Non-conventional energy sources: are mixes of common nonrenewable and renewable energy sources not commonly used in standard generating plants, but found applicable in generating electricity in small or isolated power systems, e.g. in generating electricity single photovotaic systems, small-scale wind generators. Note: All types of energy sources that are not of adequate volume to operate conventional power plants (typically of low power capacities) are mostly renewable energy sources except for hydropower, biomass energy sources, including those that are carbonized like charcoal, briquets (i.e. dried cakes of biomass or coal dust mixed with mud)

Essentials of an energy Conversion Process


1. An Energy Conversion Process without Storage facilities on Either Side of the Converter (i.e. on the input side before conversion and on the output side after conversion) of the Energy Converter

2. An Energy Conversion Process with Storage facilities on the Primary Energy (input) side of the Energy Converter

3. An Energy Conversion Process with Storage facilities on the Secondary Energy (output) side of the Energy Converter

Definition of Renewable Energy


Energy sources are categorized in to two basic parts:
1. Renewable Energy 2. Non Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is the term used to cover those energy that occur naturally and Repeatedly in the environment and can be harnessed for human benefit. The ultimate sources of most of these energy are the sun, gravity and the earths rotation.

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