Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A Look at Renewable
Energy
Energy System Design Challenge
Engineering Energy Solutions
SAFETY!
Harness Renewable Energy
Store the Energy
Transport the Energy
Convert the Energy to light a light bulb
Bragging Rights:
Power Generated x System Efficiency x System Cost Index
System efficiency
Useful Work Output
Energy Input
Ecollected = water v3 Ac t
Where
Ecollected energy collected
water density of water
v water velocity
Ac cross sectional area of the pipe or tubing
t collection time
efficiency of collection
Windmills can be used to
harness the energy available
from moving air. The rotating
blades of a windmill turn a
generator to produce electricity.
The challenges for engineers in
using wind energy include
location, efficiently capturing the
kinetic energy of the wind,
environmental concerns, and
conversion efficiency. Location
is a significant challenge since
windmills must be placed in a
windy space where there is
enough room for multiple
structures. Public acceptance of
their present is also necessary.
The equation shown below describes the energy
that can be collected from the wind.
Ecollected = air v3 Ab t
Where
Ecollected energy collected
air density of air
v air velocity
Ab area swept by the blade
t collection time
efficiency of collection
Light and heat are two forms of energy that can be harnessed
from the sun. Solar panels (solar cells) convert sunlight
directly into electrical energy. Other devices know as solar
collectors harness heat from the sun. This heat can be then
converted to other usable forms of energy. The challenges
for engineers in using solar energy include cost, location,
efficient capture of the suns energy and the environmental
impact of panel construction. Technological advances in
creating solar cells will make this renewable energy much
more feasible in the future.
The equation shown below describes the light
energy that can be collected from the sun.
Ecollected = I As t
Where
Ecollected energy collected
I Solar intensity
As area of the solar panel
t collection time
efficiency of collection
Energy must be available in a convenient form when and
where it is needed. To meet this need, there are a variety of
ways to convert energy from one form to another. The
conversion allows for easy storage and transportation of
energy.
A solar panel directly converts light into electrical energy
(electricity). In this case, the energy is already in a useable
form. In other words a solar panel acts both as a collection
and conversion device. When energy is in the form of
electricity it is relatively easy to transport across power lines.
However, energy in the form of electricity cannot be easily
stored.
A generator is a commonly used device which converts
kinetic energy to electricity. In the case of hydropower and
wind power, the kinetic energy associated with the movement
of water or air must be converted to a usable form.
Internal combustion
engine:
Fuel Cell:
Converts chemical to
Converts electrical to Electric Motor:
mechanical energy
mechanical energy Converts electrical to
mechanical energy
Engineers combine all of the components weve talked
about to build efficient systems. The picture below will
remind you of the different possible steps that an
energy system may include.
The overall performance of an energy system is very
important and can be described by the equation below:
KE = () x (mass) x (velocity^2)
Potential energy (PE) results from an object's height. It
takes energy to lift an object. This energy is stored as
potential energy, which is released when the object falls
back to its starting position.