Course detail

Low power electrical sources

FEKT-NMZEAcad. year: 2019/2020

The course is focused on the use of small power sources in terms of sustainable development. They are specified the possibility of using solar, wind and hydro plants in our country with according to applicable law. It is also clarified the issue of cogeneration of low power and possibilities of using other alternative sources of energy, such as heat pumps, Stirling engines and fuel cells.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Ing. Petr Mastný, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Electrical Power Engineering (UEEN)

Offered to foreign students

Of all faculties

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Graduate of this course is able to:
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy sources
- Design photovoltaic plants
- Design small hydropower plants
- Perform basic design of energy systems with renewable energy sources
- Discuss and clarify the impact of renewable energy on the electricity grid
- Professionally evaluate the properties of hybrid energy systems

Prerequisites

The subject knowledge on the Bachelor´s degree level is requested.
Students must be able to explain and clarify the following issues:
- Structure and the parting of electric power system
- Basic terminology of power engineering
- Principle of power generation

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching methods depend on the type of course unit as specified in the article 7 of BUT Rules for Studies and Examinations.
Teaching consists of lectures, computer laboratories and practical labs. The communication platform of the course is on e-learning. Students handed over three individual projects and attend for five laboratory exercises. The course also includes two expert excursions.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

- three semestral projects - 3 x max. 10 points (30 points in total)
- laboratory projects max. 20 points
- final exam max. 50 points

The necessary condition to get credits is to obtain at least 25 points in evaluated activities.

The necessary condition to get credits is to obtain at least 20 points in evaluated activities.

Course curriculum

LECTURES:
1st Introduction to small sources, performance balance, energy potential, photovoltaic systems-Present and Future
2nd Proposal for photovoltaic systems
3rd Performance FVE, legislation and rules, solar power
4th Accumulation of electric and thermal energy
5th Small hydropower power plants - energy potential of watercourses in the Czech Republic, the basic division of SHPP, basic hydrological calculations
6th Small hydropower plants - Operating and electrical parameters, SHPP integration into the electricity grid
7th Wind power - wind conditions of Europe and in the Czech Republic (wind energy potential in the country), types of wind turbines, electrical and operating parameters
8th Wind power - control of wind power, the effects of WP on power system operation, integration of WP in power system, operation economy
9th Cogeneration units (KJ) of low power, used KJ, construction equipment
10th Cogeneration units - connection to the power grid, the analysis cycle starting and operating characteristics
11th Biomass - the use of biofuels for small power plants, sources of biomass co-burning of biomass, economic assessment systems
12th Hydrogen as an alternative energy carrier, fuel cells - principle, energy utilization
13th Energy systems for low energy buildings - heat pumps, hybrid energy systems

Laboratory exercises:
- Measurement of photovoltaic inverters
- Measurement of the Peltier thermoelectric Article
- Measurement of Savonius wind rotor
- Storage of electrical energy using Pb LiFePO4 battery
- Heat pump (Coefficient of performance)
- Energy balance of a hybrid energy system
- Excursion to photovoltaic power plants and WP
- Excursion to SHPP

Computer exercises:
- Software for the design of a photovoltaic systems
- Modelling of operating conditions of WP
- Project I and II
- Project III

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

Introducing students with the opportunities and potential of utilization of small power sources such as solar, wind, hydro and cogeneration systems in terms of sustainable development. Clarify the issue of integrating these sources into power systems and describe their impact on the operation of the electricity system.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

The content and forms of instruction in the evaluated course are specified by a regulation issued by the lecturer responsible for the course and updated for every academic year.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Renewable Energy Focus Handbook, Team of authors, Elevier 2009, ISBN: 978-0-12-374705-1 (EN)

Recommended reading

Renewable Energy in Power Systems, Freis, L., Infield, D., Wiley 2008, ISBN: 978-0-470-01749-4 (EN)
Renewable Energy, Sörensen, B., Academic Press 2011, ISBN:978-0-12-375025-9 (EN)

eLearning

eLearning: currently opened course

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme EEKR-MN Master's

    branch MN-EEN , 1. year of study, winter semester, optional specialized
    branch MN-EVM , 2. year of study, winter semester, optional interdisciplinary

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Petr Mastný, Ph.D.

Syllabus

Introduction into the problems of low power sources, power balances of low power sources, the energetic potential in the Czech Republic
The low power co-generation units (CU), machine sets used for CU, the construction of devices
The electrical equipment of a CU switchboard, basic circuit of the control and the power parts
The electric and technological protection of CU, protection setup
Connection of CU to the supply network, the analysis of the starting cycle and the operation characteristics
The analysis of voltage, current, and power parameters of various CU, the compensation of idle power.
The use of CU's energy an the optimization of a day-, week-, and season-operation of a CU
The economic evaluation of profitability for the use of CUs in small business sphere, in public buildings and households
Back-up electric power sources, accumulator sources, engine-generator sources
Small hydro-electric power stations, their use, energetic potential, the operation and electric parameters
Wind and solar power stations, their use, energetic potential, the operation and electric parameters
Low power buildings with their own energy source, the use of bio-fuels for small power stations
Other technologies usable for the small powers stations, the Stirling engine, fuel cells, thermocouples

Exercise in computer lab

6 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Petr Mastný, Ph.D.

Syllabus

A simulation of an asynchronous generator's operation on a PC
Electric power calculation on a PC.
The harmonic analysis and the evaluation of the connection of a small power station to the supply network.

Laboratory exercise

20 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Petr Mastný, Ph.D.

eLearning

eLearning: currently opened course