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UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

SECOND SEMESTER/YEARLY EXAMINATIONS

MAY 2011
PROGRAMME
BEng (Hons) Chemical & Renewable Energy Engineering Exchange Programme

MODULE NAME DATE

Applied Renewable Energy Technologies Wednesday 18 May 2011

MODULE CODE

CHE 3209(5)

TIME NO. OF QUESTIONS SET

09:30 11:30 Hrs 5

DURATION NO. OF QUESTIONS TO BE ATTEMPTED

2 hours 4

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

This paper contains FIVE (5) Questions. Candidates are requested to answer Any Four (4) Questions. All questions carry equal marks. Steam Tables will be provided and must be returned to the Invigilators after examination.

APPLIED RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES CHE 3209(5) Question 1 (a) With the help of a block flow or tree diagram give the renewable energy options/routes from sugarcane resources. State the processing techniques used for the cane energy options/routes and mention whether they are mature technologies, demonstration plants or still at the research and development stage. [11 marks] A sugar factory having a crushing capacity of 250 tonnes cane per hour includes a boiler house for generating the internal energy (steam and electricity) requirements as well as for exporting surplus electricity to the grid. The following data are available at the steam producing plant Fibre % cane Moisture % bagasse (W) Sucrose % bagasse (S) Air fed to furnace (M) Temperature of flue gas (t) Boiler pressure Superheated steam temperature Combustion efficiencies ( = = ) Temperature of water fed to boiler 15.3 % 48.5 % 1.25 % 170 % 207o C 870 psig 400o C 0.97 107o C

(b)

Determine the weight of steam produced per hour and estimate the gross potential of electricity production per tonne cane processed if the steam is to be processed in a condensing extracting steam turbine having a steam rate of 4.2 kg steam/kWh. Comment on the electricity production potential of cane bagasse compared to coal. Given data: GCV = 19.25 0.05 (S) 0.19 (W) MJ/kg NCV = 17.79 0.05 (S) 0.203 (W) MJ/kg q = {[1 (W/100)] [5.8 (M/100) + 1.6] + [2.1 (W/100)]}t KJ/kg 14.5 psi = 1 bar = 100 000 Pa [11+3 marks] Question 2 (a) Briefly describe the two common techniques for solar power generation. Suggest and explain which one of the techniques is more common. [6+2 marks] Give with the help of block flow diagrams the three typical set-up of solar power generation from small scale photovoltaic systems and state their differences and applicability. [12 marks] Give five barriers/constraints for solar water heating in households and suggest how they could be addressed. [5 marks] Page 1 of 3

(b)

(c)

APPLIED RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES CHE 3209(5) Question 3 (a) Give five key rationales for embarking in land transportation biofuel programmes. [10 marks] In view to increase production a distillery produces ethanol by direct fermentation of a mixture of cane juice and molasses derived from sugarcane. The compositions (for the fermentable components) of the feedstock used are given in the following table. Component Sucrose (C12H22O11) Glucose/fructose (C6H12O6) Starch (C6H10O5) Cane juice 8% 1% 0.3% Cane molasses 38% 16% 1.2%

(b)

(c)

The amount of cane juice and molasses obtained as a percentage of the weight of cane processed is 60% (cane juice weight % cane) and 3% (molasses weight % cane) respectively. The density of ethanol produced (C2H5OH) is 794 kg/m3. The fermentation and distillation efficiencies of the distillery are 89% and 99.5% respectively. Calculate the volume of fuel ethanol produced per hour for a plant processing 300 tonnes cane per hour. [Mr of carbon = 12, Mr of hydrogen = 1, Mr of oxygen = 16] [12 marks] Give three key drawbacks associated with large scale biodiesel production. [3 marks]

Question 4 (a) (b) Briefly describe the different components of a hydropower plant. [10 marks] Briefly discuss on ten technical parameters that you will consider for wind power production in a country. [10 marks] Distinguish between C4 and C3 plants. [5 marks]

(c)

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APPLIED RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES CHE 3209(5)

Question 5 There exist a number of alternative energy resources that can be used for energy generation. However, not all of them are commercially exploitable. (a) Suppose you have been appointed as an energy consultant and assigned to perform a resource assessment of the potential of an energy resource as well as to propose a developmental framework, suggest a strategic approach that you would adopt for the assessment. [3 marks] Suggest ten typical guidelines that you will use in assessing the energy resources. [5 marks] Illustrate your answer by taking electricity production from municipal solid waste (MSW) as an example. [12 marks] Discuss how technology development could assist in increasing the productivity of electricity from municipal solid waste. [5 marks]

(b)

(c)

(d)

END OF QUESTION PAPER


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