Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MEC5200

 
TITLE Renewable Energy Technologies - Mechanical and Civil

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Mechanical Engineering

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit will focus on three specific areas of renewable energy:
(1) load and stress analysis on structures of renewable energy systems including solar, wind and wave energy systems.
(2) solar cooling technologies
(3) low geothermal energy technologies for cooling/heating

The theoretical background forming the basis for undertaking loads and stress calculations on renewable energy devices and the associated supporting structures will be presented. This will cover aerodynamic/hydrodynamic, gravitational and dynamic loads acting on systems under the influence of the wind and sea waves. The relevant design methodologies and standards used for design of structures will also be covered. Emphasis will be made on the structural design on onshore and offshore wind turbines. Design of bottom-mounted and floating wind energy systems for deep water applications will also be tackled.

The various systems used for solar cooling will be introduced, together with mathematical models used to assess their performance. The study-unit will finally cover geothermal systems used for heating/cooling of buildings. The current status of these technologies will be highlighted.

Study-unit Aims:

The main scope of this unit is to equip the student with sufficient knowledge to be able to assess:
1. the loads acting on renewable energy structures,
2. the performance of solar cooling systems and low-grade geothermal energy for the purpose of heating/cooling.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- identify the various types of loads acting on renewable energy devices, including solar, wind and wave energy systems,
- obtain an understanding of the solar cooling and low-grade geothermal energy technologies,
- explain the advantages and limitations of solar cooling and low-grade geothermal energy technologies.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- apply the scientific theory that form the basis for calculating the aerodynamic/hydrodynamic, gravitational and dynamic loads on renewable energy devices and their supporting foundations,
- apply the relevant design methodologies and standards used for designing onshore and offshore wind turbines,
- calculate the loads and stress acting on wind turbine support structures under different operating environmental conditions,
- apply engineering knowledge for the fatigue design of structural joints,
- evaluate the performance of solar cooling and low-grade geothermal energy technologies,
- estimate the required capacity of a solar cooling/low-grade geothermal energy systems for a particular application.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

1. Dynamics of Offshore Structures (Hardcover)
James F. Wilson (Author); Wiley (2002), ISBN-10: 0471264679

2. Renewable Energy, Third Edition (Hardcover)
Bent Sorensen (Sørensen) (Author); Academic Press (2005), ISBN-10: 0126561532

3. Wind Energy Explained: Theory, Design and Application
James Manwell (Author), J G Mc Gowan (Author) , A Rogers (Author); John Wiley & Sons (2007); ISBN: 0471499722

 
RULES/CONDITIONS Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE MEC3108 OR TAKE MEC1405 OR TAKE MEC3307

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture, Independent Study & Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM2 Yes 50%
Examination (2 Hours) SEM2 Yes 50%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit