ME-604-C Renewable Energy Technology - May 2022 Question Paper

Under each question, How to answer lists the points an answer should cover, outlined by CampusPrep from the syllabus. Check the details against your textbook.

1. 7 Marks
   aWhat is Renewable Energy?
   How to answer

   • Definition of renewable energy as naturally replenished, inexhaustible source
   • Contrast with non-renewable/fossil fuels
   • Examples: solar, wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal
   • Key characteristics: sustainability, low emissions
2. 7 Marks
   bExplain the need of Renewable Energy.
   How to answer

   • Growing energy demand and fossil fuel depletion
   • Environmental concerns: pollution, climate change, global warming
   • Energy security and import dependence
   • Need for sustainable, clean and decentralized supply
3. 7 Marks
   aClassify the renewable energy sources.
   How to answer

   • Classification basis: solar-derived, non-solar, etc.
   • List: solar, wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal, tidal, wave
   • Brief feature of each category
   • Conventional vs non-conventional grouping
4. 7 Marks
   bWhat is energy storage management?
   How to answer

   • Definition of energy storage management
   • Need due to intermittency of renewables
   • Types: thermal, electrical, mechanical, chemical storage
   • Role in demand-supply matching and grid stability
5. 7 Marks
   aExplain the effect of use of fossil fuel on Climate change and Global warming.
   How to answer

   • Fossil fuel combustion and CO2/GHG emissions
   • Greenhouse effect enhancement leading to global warming
   • Climate change impacts: temperature rise, sea level, extreme weather
   • Air pollution and health/ecological effects
6. 7 Marks
   bWrite and explain sensible heat and latent heat.
   How to answer

   • Definition of sensible heat: temperature change without phase change, formula $Q=m c \Delta T$
   • Definition of latent heat: phase change at constant temperature, $Q=m L$
   • Types of latent heat: fusion, vaporization
   • Examples and applications in solar thermal storage
7. 7 Marks
   aWhat is green house effect?
   How to answer

   • Definition of greenhouse effect
   • Role of greenhouse gases: CO2, methane, water vapour
   • Mechanism: short-wave in, long-wave trapped
   • Natural vs enhanced greenhouse effect
8. 7 Marks
   bExplain Sun and Earth relationship in solar radiation.
   How to answer

   • Sun as source of radiation, Earth as receiver
   • Distance, solar constant and extraterrestrial radiation
   • Orbit, declination and seasonal variation
   • Effect on intensity and distribution of solar radiation
9. 7 Marks
   aExplain effect of Sun and Earth movement on solar radiation.
   How to answer

   • Earth rotation and revolution, tilt of axis
   • Declination angle and seasons
   • Variation in day length and solar altitude
   • Effect on solar insolation availability
10. 7 Marks
    bExplain concept of Solar geometry.
    How to answer

    • Definition of solar geometry
    • Key angles: latitude, declination, hour angle, zenith, azimuth
    • Altitude and incidence angle concepts
    • Use in collector orientation and tracking
11. 7 Marks
    aExplain thermo syphon system for water heating.
    How to answer

    • Principle of natural circulation by density difference
    • Components: collector, storage tank above collector, piping
    • Working cycle of thermosyphon flow
    • Advantages, limitations and applications
12. 7 Marks
    bExplain forced circulation system in water heatings.
    How to answer

    • Principle of pump-assisted forced circulation
    • Components: collector, tank, pump, controller, heat exchanger
    • Working and control strategy
    • Comparison with thermosyphon, suitability for large systems
13. 7 Marks
    aExplain flat plate collector with neat figure.
    How to answer

    • Construction: absorber plate, glazing, insulation, casing, tubes
    • Working principle of heat absorption and transfer
    • Neat labelled cross-sectional figure
    • Advantages and applications
14. 7 Marks
    bState application of solar thermal energy.
    How to answer

    • Water heating, space heating and cooling
    • Industrial process heat, drying, desalination
    • Power generation, cooking
    • List with brief use of solar thermal energy
15. 7 Marks
    aExplain brief P-V conversion.
    How to answer

    • Photovoltaic effect definition
    • P-N junction and photon to electron-hole pair generation
    • P-V conversion chain: photon to DC power
    • Brief block flow of PV cell to module
16. 7 Marks
    bExplain working principle of solar cells.
    How to answer

    • Construction of solar cell: P-type, N-type silicon, contacts
    • Photon absorption and E-H pair creation
    • Charge separation by junction field and current flow
    • I-V characteristics and factors affecting efficiency