Lecturer: Carlo Belli  

Course name: Energy Conversion And Renewable Energy Sources
Course code: 502470
Degree course: Ingegneria Industriale
Disciplinary field of science: ING-IND/33
University credits: ECTS 6
Course website: http://ingegneria.unipv.it/servizi/download.php?chiave=
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Specific course objectives

The course deals with the main features of energy conversion systems, referring particularly to electricity generation. Plant engineering of various kinds of modern and most efficient power plants is investigated. Main cycles, different ways of operation, maintenance problems, technical and economical estimations are described. Numerous exercises, based on tests already carried out, are offered to students.

Course programme

General principles: energy sources, supply transformation and consumption of all major energy sources, electricity generation, efficiency, generation prices. Hydroelectric power plants: hydropower, pumped-storage hydroelectricity, run-of-the-river hydroelectricity, configuration of a hydroelectric power plant (reservoir, dam, intake, penstock, turbine, alternator). Thermoelectric power plants: thermodynamic cycles, fuels, steam generators, turbines, electric generators, condensers, pumps, heaters, auxiliary systems, load control, monitoring and alarm system, chemical problems, emissions. Gas turbine combined-cycles: industrial gas turbines for electrical generation, combined-cycle power plants, heat recovery steam generators, configuration of CCGT plants, IGCC power plants. Other thermoelectric generations: combined heat and power plants, distributed generation, geothermal generation. Nuclear power plants: nuclear reactions, reactor types, economics of nuclear power, plans for new reactors. Renewable energy sources: wind, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, biomass-powered generation. New generation systems: fuel cells, MHD conversion, EGD conversion, energy from waves, ocean thermal energy conversion, nuclear fusion.

Course entry requirements

Basic knowledge of hydraulics, thermodynamics, building science, engines and machines, electrotechnics.

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 42
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 8
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0

Suggested reading materials

C. Belli - P. Chizzolini. Conversione dell'energia (Manual comprising university lectures and exercises updated annually by the lecturer and available on-line at the website of the University of Pavia, Department of Industrial Engineering.

Testing and exams

Two written tests will be taken: students may take an oral if they wish to increase the final vote. Students who want to take the oral only must solve the exercises reported at the website http://www.unipv.it/ingegneria/copisteria_virtuale/belli/esercizi_casa.zip and send them to the lecturer beforehand.