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Course Syllabus
ENGR 4490/6490 Renewable Energy Engineering
Fall 2012
Room #316A (DEC)
Hours: 1.25 - 2.15 PM (M, W, F)
Course Instructor
Dr. Sudhagar Mani
College of Engineering
511 Driftmier Engineering Centre
Ph: (706) 542-2358
email: smani@engr.uga.edu
UGA Bulletin Course Description
Basic principles and technical details of various renewable energy technologies (solar,
biomass, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, tidal and wave energy) for the sustainable
future. Process design, energy analysis, engineering economics and environmental
assessment of renewable energy systems
Offered Credits Level Weekly Instruction Pattern
Fall 2012 3 Split Three 50 min lectures
Meeting Time
1.25 - 12.15 PM (M, W, F)
Room 316, Driftmier Engineering Centre
Prerequisites
ENGR 3150 Heat Transfer
ENGR 3140 Engg. Thermodynamics
Courses that Require this Course as a Prerequisite
None

Grading system

Mid-term exam (October 3
rd
, 2012) 25%
Assignments 30%
Class Participation 5%
Sustainable Energy Project 40% [Details will be provided]
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Grades
A 93.1-100
A- 90.1-93.0
B+ 87.1-90.0
B 83.1-87.0
B- 80.1 83.0
C+ 75.1-80.0
C 70.1-75.0
C- 65.1-70.0
D 60.1-65.0
F 0.0-60.0

Course objectives or expected learning outcomes

Undergraduates:
This course provides the principles of renewable technologies for sustainable future. It
also provides the details of renewable resources, energy conversion techniques and
applications of solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydro-electric, wave and tidal energy
technologies. More emphasis is given to bioenergy technologies to convert biomass into
fuels, energy, chemicals and bioproducts.
Upon completion of this course, the students should be able to
1) recognize the need of renewable energy technologies and their role in the US
and world energy demand.
2) distinguish between the sustainable energy sources and fossil energy sources
3) describe the principles of renewable energy production from various
renewable sources
4) apply the knowledge of thermodynamic and heat transfer principles to
evaluate the performance of energy conversion systems for maximum
efficiency
5) compare the pros and cons of various renewable energy technologies and
propose the best possible energy conversion system for a particular location

ABET Program Outcomes:
(a) an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
Moderate coverage
(c) an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within
realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health
and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability high coverage
(d) an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams moderate coverage
(e) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems High coverage
(f) an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility Low coverage
(g) an ability to communicate effectively Moderate coverage
(h) the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in
a global, economic, environmental, and societal context Low to moderate coverage
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(j) a knowledge of contemporary issues Moderate to High coverage

Topical outline
1. Introduction
1.1. US & World energy consumption & Demand
1.2. Renewable vs fossil energy sources
1.3. Future outlook
2. Overview of renewable energy technologies
2.1. Renewable energy sources
2.2. Advantages and benefits
2.3. Available technologies and challenges
3. Solar energy
3.1. Solar thermal energy
3.2. Solar photovolatics
4. Biomass and Bioenergy
4.1. Biomass resources
4.1.1. Feedstock collection, transport methods
4.1.2. Feedstock preprocessing and treatment methods
4.2. Biomass conversion technologies
4.2.1. Thermo-chemical platform
4.2.1.1.Combustion technology
4.2.1.2.Gasification technology
4.2.1.3.Pyrolysis technology
4.2.1.4.Trans-esterification or biodiesel technology
4.2.2. Biological platform
4.2.2.1. Hydrolysis and fermentation of biomass into ethanol
4.2.2.2. Anaerobic fermentation of wastes into methane
4.3. Recent advances and applications of bioenergy technology
5. Wind energy
5.1. Wind resources
5.2. Wind turbines and power generating systems
5.3. Current status and R& D needs
6. Geothermal energy
6.1. geothermal resources
6.2. Principles, operation and recovery of energy
6.3. Current status and R & D needs
7. Hydro power energy
7.1. Stored hydro energy
7.2. Principles of hydro power technology
8. Wave & tidal energy
8.1. Energy from tides and waves
8.2. Technological and economic prospects
9. Energy, economics and environmental assessments
9.1. Technical and economical assessment of renewable technology
9.2. Environmental impact assessments and sustainability issues
9.3. Renewable energy technologies software use RETScreen International
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Resources:
1. Lecture notes on Renewable Energy Engineering will be posted on the course
website. (www.elc.uga.edu ).

Recommended textbooks
1. Duffie, J . A. & W. A. Beckman. 2006. Solar Engineering of Thermal
Processes, 3
rd
ed. J ohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.
2. Boyle, G. 2004. Renewable energy: Power for a sustainable future. Oxford
University press, Oxford, UK.
3. Demirbas, A. 2010. Biorefineries for biomass upgrading facilities. Springer
publishers.

Additional references:

4. RETScreen International. 2006. Users guide. Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa,
Canada.
5. Sims, R. 2002. The Brilliance of Bioenergy. J ames and J ames Publications,
London, UK.
6. Frank Rosillo-Calle, Sarah Hemstock, Peter de Groot and J eremy Woods. 2006.
The Biomass Assessment Handbook, J ames and J ames Publications, London, UK.

7. J ournals related to Renewable energy engineering
a. Biomass and Bioenergy
b. International J ournal of Renewable Energy Engineering
c. Bioresource Technology]
d. Bioresouces
e. BioProducts, BioFuels & BioRefinery (BioPFR)
f. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
g. Energy Conversion Management
h. Solar Energy
i. Applied Energy
8. CIGR Handbook of Agricultural Engineering Volume V: Biomass Engineering.
ASABE Publications, MN, USA.

Assignments
Assignment due date will be specified, when the questions are assigned. You are
encouraged to discuss problems with other students, however, duplicating another
student's work and copying in group will be considered plagiarism, and this practice is
unacceptable (see Academic Honesty below). If you receive considerable aid on a
particular problem you are to indicate so on your homework. Neatness and clarity will
be important factors in assigning homework grades. Excused late homework will only be
accepted under extreme circumstances (e.g., personal crises). Unexcused homework, one
class period late will receive 25% of maximum possible credit; beyond one week
unexcused late homework will not be given a credit.
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Tests and Exam
You may bring pencils, paper, erasers, and calculators to tests and final exam. If
necessary, you may be allowed to bring one page formula sheet. There will be absolutely
no sharing of calculators and no talking during test periods. Testing dates will not be
altered, and "make-up" tests will only be given under extreme circumstances.
Academic Honesty
All academic work must meet the standards contained in "A Culture of Honesty."
Students are responsible for informing themselves about those standards before
performing any academic work. The document for academic dishonesty may be found at
the web site for The University of Georgia Office of the Senior Vice President for
Academic Affairs and Provost: Academic Honesty
Other Responsibilities
A student may be withdrawn from this course by the instructor without notification to the
student for excessive absences or for failure to complete necessary prerequisites. For this
course, "excessive absences" is defined as absences from all of the first three class
meetings or five (5) or more absences from any contiguous ten (10) scheduled class
meetings. A student may also be withdrawn from this course by the instructor after one
warning for disruption of class. Ringing of a cell phone during the lecture constitutes a
"disruption of class."
The instructor will provide students with an opportunity to complete academic
responsibilities resulting from absences due to (for example) 1) observation of religious
holidays, 2) significant illness, 3) death in family and 4) emergencies. The instructor
requires reasonable written notice of absences (one week, when possible). Please
communicate promptly in writing (email) with instructor such absences, including date
and reason for absence, and proposed alternative for academic responsibilities. Failure to
communicate with the instructor in a timely fashion may cause the loss of opportunity to
complete academic responsibilities.
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Required Prerequisites for 6490 course
Permission from the instructor

Additional requirements for Graduate Students
Individual graduate student will be expected to conduct energy and economic analyses of
selected energy technology and prepare a term report on their selected research topics and
expected give a 10-15 min presentation at the end of the term. Graduate students will be
trained to use RETScreen International software developed by Natural Resources Canada
and will be used in their term report.

Course objectives or expected learning outcomes for Graduate Students
Upon completion of this course, the students should be able to
1) meet all the above objectives and
2) use an engineering economic tool (Retscreen International Software) to
perform energy balance and economic evaluation of renewable energy
systems
3) apply engineering principles to assess and evaluate renewable energy systems
for maximum performance
4) conduct a comprehensive economic assessment of energy conversion systems
for both large and small scale applications
5) modify or propose a new process design to increase energy efficiency and
reduce environmental impacts
6) demonstrate energy technology systems and communicate effectively by both
oral and written presentations.

Grading system for Graduate Students

Mid-term exam (Oct. 3
rd
) 25%
Assignments 30%
Class Participation 5% =75%
Sustainable Energy Project 40%

RETSCREEN Term report =25%