Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Technologies

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The Fundamentals and Applications of Renewable Energy textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles and technologies of renewable energy systems. It covers key renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, biomass, and ocean energy. The book explores the technical aspects of these systems, such as energy conversion, storage, and efficiency, while providing insights into the environmental benefits and challenges associated with transitioning from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources. Each chapter includes practical examples, problem sets, and case studies to illustrate the application of theoretical concepts in real-world scenarios, making it suitable for undergraduate students and professionals interested in renewable energy.

Additionally, the book reviews essential thermal sciences, including thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics, to support the analysis of renewable energy systems. It addresses the design and operation of technologies like solar collectors, wind turbines, geothermal heat pumps, and biofuel conversion processes. Economic analysis, including cost-benefit and life cycle analysis, is also covered to provide a holistic view of the feasibility and impact of renewable energy projects. Through this multidisciplinary approach, the textbook equips students with the technical knowledge and analytical skills necessary for understanding, evaluating, and contributing to the growing field of renewable energy technologies.

Course Title: Introduction to Renewable Energy Technologies
Course Number: 70-122
Instructor: Dr. Michel E. AlSharidah
Course Duration: 12 weeks
Credits: 3
Textbook: Fundamentals and Applications of Renewable Energy, by Mehmet Kanoğlu, Yunus A. Çengel, and John M. Cimbala

This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of renewable energy technologies, focusing on the principles, applications, and potential of various renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and ocean energy. The course covers both theoretical and practical aspects of renewable energy systems.

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Grade distribution:

• Attendance: 10%
• Homework/Quizzes: 40%
• Two Midterm Exams: 20% (10% each)
• Final Exam: 30%

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Weekly Course Content:

Week	Chapter	Topics Covered
1	Chapter 1	Introduction to Renewable Energy, Importance, and Overview of Energy Sources
2	Chapter 2	Review of Thermal Sciences, Energy Transfer, and Thermodynamics Principles
3	Chapter 3	Fundamentals of Solar Energy, Solar Radiation, and Radiative Properties
4	Chapter 4	Solar Energy Applications: Solar Collectors, Photovoltaic Cells, Solar Power Systems
5	Chapter 5	Wind Energy: Wind Turbines, Power Performance, and Efficiency
6	Chapter 6	Hydropower: Types of Turbines, Hydroelectric Power Plants
7	Midterm 1	Covers Chapters 1-5
8	Chapter 7	Geothermal Energy: Applications, Power Production, and Heat Pump Systems
9	Chapter 8	Biomass Energy: Resources, Conversion Processes, and Biofuel Production
10	Chapter 9	Ocean Energy: Wave, Tidal, and Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)
11	Chapter 10	Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: Principles and Applications
12	Chapter 11	Economics of Renewable Energy: Cost-Benefit Analysis, Payback Period, and Life Cycle Costing
13	Midterm 2	Covers Chapters 6-10
14	Final Exam Review	Comprehensive Review and Q&A
15	Final Exam	Covers Chapters 1-11

Chapter 1

Slide 1: Introduction to Energy Needs

• Global Energy Demand: Overview of increasing energy needs.
• Energy Consumption by Sector: Industrial, residential, transportation.
• Importance of Sustainable Energy Sources.

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Slide 2: Fossil Fuels and Their Impact

• Types of Fossil Fuels: Coal, oil, natural gas.
• Environmental Impact: Greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.

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Slide 3: Climate Change and CO₂ Emissions

• CO₂ as a Greenhouse Gas: Role in global warming.
• Historical Trends: CO₂ concentration over time.
• Impact on Climate: Temperature rise and its consequences.

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Slide 4: Why Renewable Energy is Necessary

• Resource Depletion: Limits of fossil fuel reserves.
• Sustainability Goals: Global efforts for sustainable energy.

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Slide 5: What is Renewable Energy?

• Definition: Energy sources that are naturally replenished.
• Examples: Solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and hydropower.

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Slide 6: Solar Energy Overview

• Solar Power: Photovoltaic (PV) cells and solar thermal systems.
• Energy Potential: Availability of solar energy worldwide.

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Slide 7: Wind Energy Basics

• Wind Turbines: Horizontal and vertical axis types.
• Power Extraction: Basic principles of wind energy conversion.

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Slide 8: Hydropower Systems

• How it Works: Dams, turbines, and water flow.
• Energy Conversion: Kinetic to electrical energy.

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Slide 9: Biomass Energy

• Biomass Resources: Organic materials like wood, agricultural waste.
• Conversion Technologies: Biofuels, biogas, and direct combustion.

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Slide 10: Geothermal Energy

• Heat from the Earth: Use of geothermal reservoirs.
• Applications: Power generation and direct heating.

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Slide 11: Ocean Energy

• Types: Wave energy, tidal energy, and OTEC.
• Challenges: Cost and technological maturity.

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Slide 12: Challenges in Adopting Renewable Energy

• Intermittency Issues: Solar and wind variability.
• Storage Solutions: Batteries, pumped hydro storage.

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Slide 13: The Role of Governments and Policies

• Incentives: Subsidies, tax breaks, and feed-in tariffs.
• International Agreements: Paris Agreement, Kyoto Protocol.

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Slide 14: Economic Analysis of Renewable Energy

• Cost Comparison: Renewable vs. fossil fuels.
• Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE): Definition and examples.

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Slide 15: Case Study: Solar Energy Adoption in Germany

• Growth of Solar Power: Installed capacity over years.
• Impact on Energy Mix: Reduction in fossil fuel dependency.

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Slide 16: Global Trends in Renewable Energy

• Installed Capacity: Trends in wind, solar, and hydro.
• Leading Countries: China, USA, EU.

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Slide 17: Technological Innovations in Renewables

• Advancements: Improvements in PV efficiency, wind turbine design.
• Future Technologies: Floating solar farms, offshore wind.

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Slide 18: Barriers to Transitioning to Renewables

• Financial Barriers: High upfront costs.
• Infrastructure Needs: Grid upgrades and energy storage.

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Slide 19: Social and Environmental Benefits of Renewables

• Job Creation: Employment in the renewable energy sector.
• Reduction in Pollution: Cleaner air and water.

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Slide 20: Summary and Key Takeaways

• Importance of Renewable Energy: For sustainable development.
• Key Technologies: Solar, wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal.
• Next Steps: Review of thermal sciences in Chapter 2.

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Chapter 2

Slide 1: Introduction to Thermal Sciences

• Overview: Importance in analyzing renewable energy systems.
• Key Areas: Thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics.

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Slide 2: Thermodynamics Basics

• Definition: Study of energy transformations.
• Key Concepts: System, surroundings, and boundary.

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Slide 3: Forms of Energy

• Types: Kinetic, potential, internal, thermal, and chemical energy.
• Energy Conversion: Examples in renewable energy systems.

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Slide 4: First Law of Thermodynamics

• Statement: Energy cannot be created or destroyed.
• Equation: (\Delta U = Q - W).
• Example: Energy balance in a solar collector.

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Slide 5: Energy Balance for Closed Systems

• Closed System: No mass transfer.
• Energy Balance Equation: Detailed breakdown.

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Slide 6: Energy Balance for Open Systems

• Open System: Allows mass transfer.
• Examples: Wind turbines, geothermal power plants.

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Slide 7: Specific Heat and Heat Capacity

• Definition: Amount of heat required to change temperature.
• Applications: Design of solar thermal systems.

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Slide 8: Second Law of Thermodynamics

• Concept of Entropy: Measure of disorder.
• Applications: Efficiency limits of heat engines.

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Slide 9: Heat Transfer Overview

• Methods: Conduction, convection, and radiation.
• Examples in Renewable Systems.

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Slide 10: Conduction Heat Transfer

• Fourier’s Law: ( q = -k \frac{\Delta T}{\Delta x} ).
• Example: Insulation in solar panels.

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Slide 11: Convection Heat Transfer

• Newton’s Law of Cooling: ( q = h A \Delta T ).
• Applications: Heat dissipation in wind turbine blades.

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Slide 12: Radiation Heat Transfer

• Stefan-Boltzmann Law: ( q = \sigma \epsilon A (T^4 - T_s^4) ).
• Example: Solar radiation absorption by PV cells.

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Slide 13: Fluid Mechanics in Renewable Energy

• Overview: Study of fluid flow in energy systems.
• Key Parameters: Velocity, pressure, and viscosity.

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Slide 14: Bernoulli’s Equation

• Equation: ( P + \frac{1}{2} \rho v^2 + \rho gh = \text{constant} ).
• Example: Airflow analysis in wind turbines.

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Slide 15: Viscosity and Flow Types

• Laminar vs. Turbulent Flow: Characteristics and examples.
• Impact on Efficiency: Fluid flow in geothermal systems.

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Slide 16: Pressure Drop in Pipes

• Darcy-Weisbach Equation: ( \Delta P = f \frac{L}{D} \frac{\rho v^2}{2} ).
• Applications: Design of hydropower plants.

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Slide 17: Heat Exchangers in Renewable Systems

• Types: Counter-flow, parallel flow.
• Application: Geothermal heat exchangers.

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Slide 18: Heat Transfer in Solar Collectors

• Flat-Plate Collectors: Mechanisms of heat transfer.
• Design Considerations: Maximizing efficiency.

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Slide 19: Thermal Efficiency of Power Plants

• Definition: Ratio of work output to heat input.
• Example: Efficiency calculation of a geothermal power plant.

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Slide 20: Heat Engines and Cycles

• Carnot Cycle: Idealized heat engine cycle.
• Real-World Applications: Steam turbines in biomass plants.

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Slide 21: Heat Transfer in Photovoltaic Cells

• Heat Generation in PV Cells: Efficiency drops with temperature.
• Cooling Techniques: Passive cooling and active cooling methods.
• Impact on Efficiency: Importance of maintaining optimal operating temperature.

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Slide 22: Energy Transfer in Wind Turbines

• Betz Limit: Maximum theoretical efficiency of wind turbines.
• Equation: ( Cp = \frac{P{out}}{0.5 \rho A v^3} ).
• Example Calculation: Power output for a given wind speed.

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Slide 23: Fluid Flow Around Wind Turbine Blades

• Airfoil Design: Importance of lift-to-drag ratio.
• Reynolds Number: Effect on laminar and turbulent flow.
• Visualization: Diagram showing flow patterns around blades.

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Slide 24: Thermodynamics of Biomass Combustion

• Combustion Reaction: ( \text{C}6\text{H}{10}\text{O}_5 + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{Heat} ).
• Enthalpy of Combustion: Calculation using enthalpy tables.
• Applications: Heat generation in biomass power plants.

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Slide 25: Energy Balance in Geothermal Heat Pumps

• Heat Transfer Equation: ( Q = m \dot{c}_p \Delta T ).
• Coefficient of Performance (COP):
  • Heating Mode: ( \text{COP}{heating} = \frac{Q{out}}{W_{in}} ).
  • Cooling Mode: ( \text{COP}{cooling} = \frac{Q{in}}{W_{in}} ).
• Example: COP calculation for a ground-source heat pump.

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Slide 26: Analyzing Solar Thermal Power Systems

• Working Fluid: Role of heat transfer fluids (e.g., molten salts).
• Parabolic Trough Collector: Concentration of solar energy.
• Energy Efficiency: Factors affecting the performance.

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Slide 27: Understanding Heat Exchanger Design

• Log Mean Temperature Difference (LMTD):
  • Equation: ( \Delta T_{lm} = \frac{\Delta T_1 - \Delta T_2}{\ln(\Delta T_1 / \Delta T_2)} ).
• Application: Geothermal heat exchangers.
• Example Calculation: Heat transfer rate.

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Slide 28: Heat Transfer in Solar Ponds

• Definition: Solar ponds use salt gradient to store thermal energy.
• Heat Transfer Mechanism: Conduction and convection.
• Efficiency Considerations: Design for maximum heat retention.

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Slide 29: Specific Heat Capacities of Renewable Fuels

• Definition: Heat required to raise the temperature of a substance.
• Examples: Specific heat values for water, ethanol, and biodiesel.
• Importance: Role in designing energy storage systems.

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Slide 30: Fluid Dynamics in Hydropower Systems

• Continuity Equation: ( A_1v_1 = A_2v_2 ).
• Bernoulli's Principle: Energy conservation in fluid flow.
• Application: Water flow through turbines.

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Slide 31: Convection Heat Transfer in Solar Water Heaters

• Free vs. Forced Convection: Differences and applications.
• Nusselt Number: ( \text{Nu} = \frac{hL}{k} ).
• Example: Heat transfer in a solar water heater.

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Slide 32: Thermal Conductivity of Insulation Materials

• Importance: Reducing heat losses in renewable energy systems.
• Equation: ( q = \frac{kA \Delta T}{d} ).
• Example: Selecting insulation for geothermal pipes.

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Slide 33: Radiation Losses in Solar Energy Systems

• Emissivity: Surface property affecting radiation.
• Equation: ( q_{rad} = \sigma \epsilon A (T^4 - T_s^4) ).
• Example: Radiative losses from a solar panel.

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Slide 34: Thermodynamic Cycles in Renewable Energy

• Rankine Cycle: Common in biomass and geothermal plants.
• Brayton Cycle: Applications in concentrated solar power (CSP).
• Efficiency Calculations: Comparing different cycles.

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Slide 35: Heat Transfer Optimization in Heat Exchangers

• Effectiveness-NTU Method:
  • Effectiveness: ( \epsilon = \frac{Q{actual}}{Q{max}} ).
• Example: Sizing a heat exchanger for a geothermal system.

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Slide 36: Energy Storage in Renewable Systems

• Thermal Energy Storage (TES): Storing heat in molten salts, water.
• Phase Change Materials (PCMs): Using latent heat for energy storage.
• Example: Solar energy storage using molten salt.

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Slide 37: Calculating Work in Renewable Systems

• Work Done by Turbines: ( W = \dot{m} \cdot (h_1 - h_2) ).
• Applications: Wind turbines, hydroelectric generators.
• Example: Calculating work output of a wind turbine.

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Slide 38: Heat Losses in Renewable Systems

• Sources of Losses: Conduction, convection, and radiation.
• Minimizing Losses: Design considerations.
• Example: Reducing heat loss in solar thermal systems.

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Slide 39: Overview of Geothermal Power Plant Efficiency

• Energy Extraction: Use of heat exchangers and turbines.
• Efficiency Calculations: Comparison with other renewable sources.
• Example: Calculating overall efficiency of a geothermal power plant.

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Slide 40: Summary and Review of Chapter 2

• Key Concepts: Thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics.
• Applications in Renewable Energy: Solar, wind, geothermal, and more.
• Preparation for Next Chapter: Fundamentals of Solar Energy.

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Global Energy Consumption

• Industrial: 54.6%
• Transportation: 25.6%
• Residential: 12.7%
• Commercial: 7.1%

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Global Energy Supply

• Fossil fuels: 82.7%
  • Coal: 27.1%
  • Oil: 33.4%
  • Natural gas: 22.2%
• Renewable energy: 12.7%
• Nuclear: 4.6%

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Global Electricity Generation

• Fossil fuels: 66.3%
• Renewable energy: 23.1%
• Nuclear: 10.6%

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U.S. Electricity Generation

• Coal, natural gas, nuclear: 83.9%
• Renewables: 16.1%
  • Hydro: 6.5%
  • Wind: 5.5%
  • Others: 4.1%

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Consequences of Fossil Fuel Combustion

• CO2: Global warming
• NOx and HC: Smog
• CO: Toxic
• SO2: Acid rain
• Particulate matter: Health effects

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Main Renewable Energy Sources

• Solar
• Wind
• Hydro
• Biomass
• Geothermal

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Renewable Energy Growth

• Fastest growing: Solar and Wind
• Largest contributor: Hydropower

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Energy Efficiency and Conservation

• Reduce energy use without reducing quality of life
• Complement to renewable energy adoption
• Key to reducing fossil fuel dependence

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The Inevitable Transition

• Limited fossil fuel reserves
• Environmental concerns
• Growing renewable technologies
• Decreasing costs of renewables

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Thermal Sciences Overview

• Thermodynamics
• Heat Transfer
• Fluid Mechanics

Application example: Solar collector design

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Thermodynamics: Key Concepts

1. First Law of Thermodynamics
2. Second Law of Thermodynamics
3. Energy, Enthalpy, and Specific Heat
4. Energy Transfer: Heat and Work
5. Steady-Flow Energy Balance

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First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy balance for a system:

$E_{in} - E_{out} = \Delta E_{system}$

For steady-flow:

$\dot{E}_{in} = \dot{E}_{out}$

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Second Law of Thermodynamics

• Energy has quality and quantity
• Processes occur in the direction of decreasing energy quality
• Example: Heat flows from hot to cold

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Energy, Enthalpy, and Specific Heat

• Internal energy (U): Sum of all microscopic energies
• Enthalpy (H): H = U + PV
• Specific heat: Energy required to raise temperature of unit mass by one degree

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Energy Transfer: Heat and Work

• Heat (Q): Energy transfer due to temperature difference
• Work (W): Energy transfer that is not heat
• Power: Work per unit time

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Steady-Flow Energy Balance

For a system with negligible kinetic and potential energy changes:

$\dot{Q} = \dot{m}\Delta h = \dot{m}c_p\Delta T$

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Heat Transfer Modes

1. Conduction
2. Convection
3. Radiation

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Conduction Heat Transfer

Fourier's law:

$\dot{Q}_{cond} = -kA\frac{dT}{dx}$

Where:

• k: Thermal conductivity
• A: Heat transfer area
• $\frac{dT}{dx}$: Temperature gradient

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Convection Heat Transfer

Newton's law of cooling:

$\dot{Q}_{conv} = hA_s(T_s - T_\infty)$

Where:

• h: Convection heat transfer coefficient
• $A_s$: Surface area
• $T_s$: Surface temperature
• $T_\infty$: Fluid temperature

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Radiation Heat Transfer

Stefan-Boltzmann law:

$\dot{Q}_{rad} = \varepsilon\sigma A_s(T_s^4 - T_{surr}^4)$

Where:

• $\varepsilon$: Emissivity
• $\sigma$: Stefan-Boltzmann constant
• $T_s$: Surface temperature
• $T_{surr}$: Surrounding temperature

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Fluid Mechanics: Key Concepts

1. Properties of fluids
2. Viscosity
3. Fluid flow in pipes

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Viscosity

• Measure of fluid's resistance to deformation
• Dynamic viscosity (μ) and kinematic viscosity (ν)
• Temperature dependence:
  • Liquids: Decreases with temperature
  • Gases: Increases with temperature

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Fluid Flow in Pipes

Pressure drop for all types of internal flows:

$\frac{\Delta P}{L} = f\frac{L}{D}\frac{\rho V^2}{2}$

Where:

• f: Friction factor
• L: Pipe length
• D: Pipe diameter
• $\rho$: Fluid density
• V: Average fluid velocity

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Thermochemistry: Key Concepts

1. Combustion processes
2. Enthalpy of formation and combustion
3. Heating values of fuels

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Combustion Processes

• Complete vs. incomplete combustion
• Stoichiometric (theoretical) air
• Excess air and air-fuel ratio

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Enthalpy of Formation and Combustion

• Enthalpy of formation: Energy content due to chemical composition
• Enthalpy of combustion: Energy released during complete combustion

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Heating Values of Fuels

• Higher Heating Value (HHV)
• Lower Heating Value (LHV)
• Relationship: HHV = LHV + (mh_fg)_H2O

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Heat Engines and Power Plants

• Thermal efficiency:

  $\eta_{th} = \frac{W_{net,out}}{Q_{in}} = 1 - \frac{Q_{out}}{Q_{in}}$

• Carnot efficiency:

  $\eta_{th,Carnot} = 1 - \frac{T_L}{T_H}$

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Refrigerators and Heat Pumps

• Coefficient of Performance (COP):

  • Refrigerator: $COP_{R} = \frac{Q_L}{W_{net,in}}$
  • Heat Pump: $COP_{HP} = \frac{Q_H}{W_{net,in}}$
• Carnot COP:
  • Refrigerator: $COP_{R,Carnot} = \frac{T_L}{T_H - T_L}$
  • Heat Pump: $COP_{HP,Carnot} = \frac{T_H}{T_H - T_L}$

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Conclusion

• Thermal sciences are crucial for understanding renewable energy systems
• Thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics form the foundation
• Applications range from solar collectors to power plants and refrigeration systems

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