Lecturer: Roberto Preto   Giuseppe Venchi  

Course name: Impianti di energia solare e di energia da biomasse
Course code: 504115
Degree course: Ingegneria per l'Ambiente e il Territorio
Disciplinary field of science: ING-IND/32
The course relates to:
University credits: ECTS 6
Course website: n.d.

Specific course objectives

Course programme

Biomass: definition and classification. Italian rules to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Availability biomass at global, European and Italian. Regional availability of biomass. Chain of woody biomass, and herbaceous seeds and fruits. Dies possible in Italy. Properties of biomass. Types. Lignocellulose. Starchy. Sugar. Oilseed crops. Municipal solid waste (MSW). Manure. Liquid biofuels. Liquid biofuels. Gaseous biofuels. Processes for biomass conversion. Types and global analyzes of conversion systems. Reactor parameters and process analysis. Types of reactors. Process parameters. Analysis of the process. Biochemical conversion. Anaerobic digestion. Fermentation. Oil extraction, refining and esterification. Immisione, mixing, cooling, and monitoring. Entry systems. Mixing Systems. Harmful substances. Conditioning cold. Conditioning hot. Monitoring systems. Heat generation. Fireplaces. Boilers. Thermal power stations. Electricity generation. Turbomachines. Fuel cells. Description and analysis of two different systems of generation from biomass. Anaerobic digestion plants. Gasification plant. The cogeneration. Analysis of costs and revenues. Exercise in parallel to the electrical systems in biomass. Incentive systems and withdrawal commercial electricity delivered to the grid. Elements of capital budgeting. Impiante biomass projects.

Photovoltaic plants

• What is solar energy and how to take advantage of it: the source and the available power, air mass, istruments to measure irradiation, fotoelectric effect, physical structure of the photovoltaic cell, various types of cells.
• Photovoltaic cells and modules: eletrical model of the cell, output power of the cell, modules, concentrated panels, standard test conditions, interconnections of cells and modules.
• Production of electric energy: principle schematics of a photovoltaic plant, production rate of the palnt, efficiency of the plant, producibility calculation, consumed power and power injected into the grid.
• The photovoltaic inverter: priciple, inverter for off-grid plants, block schematics of grid-connected inverters, synchronization with the grid, maximum power point tracking, anti islanding, peak efficiency and European efficiency, installation issues of the inverter.
• Photovoltaic plant design: general aspects, power dimensioning and choice of the panels, verification of the shadows, photovoltaic genrator and inverter voltages, plant topology, interface with the grid, grounding, cabling, protection devices.
• Econonomy: the Italian law "V Conto Energia", payback period.

Course entry requirements

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 45
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0

Suggested reading materials

R. PRETO. Notes from lessons..

Luca Rubini. Biomasse per l'energia. ISES ITALIA.

METCALF & EDDY. Wastewater engineering. Treatment and reuse.. MC GRAW HILL 2005.

Caye M. Drapcho, Phu Nhuan Nghiem, Terry H. Walker.. Biofuels Engineering Process Technology. Mc Graw Hill 2008.

APAT Agency for the Protection of the Environment and for Technical Services.. Anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste "- Handbooks and Guidelines 13/2005. .

Testing and exams