Sustainable energy processes

1. BT 362 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROCESSES

3. BT 362 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROCESSES
Course Objectives:
To introduce the current and potential future energy systems, covering resources, extraction, conversion,
and applications, with emphasis on meeting regional and global energy needs in a sustainable manner.
Syllabus
Classification of energy, extraction, conversion, and applications of solar energy, wind energy, ocean energy,
biomass energy, fuel cells and hydro-dynamic systems, merits and demerits of various energy systems,
energy storage.
Expected outcome:
Students who successfully complete this course should be able to
i. Identify global and Indian energy sources.
ii. Explain capture, conversion and application of solar and wind energy.
iii. Explain conversion of biomass to energy.
iv. Explain the capture of energy from oceans.
v. Explain fuel cells and energy storage routes.

4. References Books:
1. Bansal N K, Kleemann M, Michael Meliss, Renewable Energy Sources & Conversion Technology, Tata
McGraw Hill publishing Company, New Delhi, 1990.
2. Boyle, Godfrey, Renewable Energy, 3/e, Oxford University Press, 2012.
3. S P Sukhatme, Solar Energy - Principles of Thermal Collection and Storage, 2/e, Tata McGraw- Hill
Publishing company, New Delhi,1996.
4. Pramod Jain, Wind Energy Engineering, McGraw Hill, 2011.
5. Donald L Klass, Biomass for Renewable Energy, Fuels and Chemicals, Academic Press, 1998.

5. Question Paper Pattern
Maximum Marks: 100 Exam Duration: 3 hours
The question paper consists of Part A, Part B and Part C.
Part A consists of three questions of 15 marks each uniformly covering Modules I and II. The student
has to answer two questions (15×2=30 marks).
Part B consists of three questions of 15 marks each uniformly covering Modules III and IV. The student
has to answer two questions (15×2=30 marks).
Part C consists of three questions of 20 marks each uniformly covering Modules V and VI. The student
has to answer two questions (20×2=40 marks).
For each question there can be a maximum of 4 subparts.

8. Introduction
The word energy derives from the Ancient Greek: energeia, lit. 'activity, operation which possibly appears for
the first time in the work of Aristotle in the 4th century BC. In contrast to the modern definition, energeia was
a qualitative philosophical concept, broad enough to include ideas such as happiness and pleasure.
In physics, energy is the quantitative property that must be transferred to an object in order to
perform work on, or to heat, the object.
Energy is a conserved quantity; the law of conservation of energy states that energy can be converted in form,
but not created or destroyed. The SI unit of energy is the joule, which is the energy transferred to an object by
the work of moving it a distance of 1 metre against a force of 1 newton.
Energy is one of the major inputs for the economic development of any country.
Living organisms require energy to stay alive, such as the energy humans get from food. Human civilization
requires energy to function, which it gets from energy resources such as fossil fuels, nuclear fuel, or renewable
energy. The processes of Earth's climate and ecosystem are driven by the radiant energy Earth receives from
the sun and the geothermal energy contained within the earth.

9. Forms of energy

10. Energy Scenario
Energy is one of the major inputs for the economic
development of any country.
In the case of the developing countries, the energy
sector assumes a critical importance in view of the
ever- increasing energy needs requiring huge
investments to meet them.
Energy can be classified into several types based
on the following criteria:
• Primary and Secondary energy
• Commercial and Non commercial energy
• Renewable and Non-Renewable energy

11. Primary and Secondary Energy
Primary energy sources are those that are
either found or stored in nature.
▪ (coal, oil, natural gas, and biomass )
▪ nuclear energy from radioactive
substances, thermal energy stored in
earth's interior, and potential energy
due to earth's gravity
Primary energy sources are mostly converted in
industrial utilities into secondary energy sources
▪ Electricity
▪ Steam
▪ Heat
Major Primary and Secondary Sources

12. Commercial Energy and Non Commercial Energy
Commercial Energy
The energy sources that are available in the market for a definite price are known as commercial energy.
Examples: Electricity, lignite, coal, oil, natural gas, etc.
Non-Commercial Energy
The energy sources that are not available in the commercial market for a price are classified as non-
commercial energy.
Examples: Firewood, agro- waste in rural areas; cow dung, solar energy (for water heating, electricity
generation, for drying grain, fish and fruits); animal power (for transport, threshing, lifting water for
irrigation, crushing sugarcane); wind energy for lifting water and electricity generation.

13. Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is energy obtained from sources that are essentially inexhaustible.
Examples of renewable resources include wind power, solar power, geothermal energy, tidal power
and hydroelectric power .The most important feature of renewable energy is that it can be harnessed
without the release of harmful pollutants.
Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy

14. Global Primary Energy Reserves
Coal
The proven global coal reserve was estimated to be 9,84,453 million tonnes by end
of 2003. The USA had the largest share of the global reserve (25.4%) followed by
Russia (15.9%), China (11.6%). India was 4th in the list with 8.6%.
Oil
The global proven oil reserve was estimated
to be 1147 billion barrels by the end of 2003.
Saudi Arabia had the largest share of the
reserve with almost 23%. (One barrel of oil is
approximately 160 litres)
World oil and gas reserves are estimated at just
45 years and 65 years respectively. Coal is likely
to last a little over 200 years